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The five-brother singing group Tavares may be best known for such up-tempo hits as the million-selling single "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel," "More Than a Woman," and "Whodunit," but they first came to national attention with the luscious ballad "Check It Out." Their crisp vocalizing and clean-cut, young-men-next-door image made them favorites on TV shows starring Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, and Dick Clark's American Bandstand. In 1974, Tavares also had the first hit version (number one R&B) of "She's Gone" written by the then relative unknown duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates. Hall & Oates scored a number seven pop hit with the song in 1976.
The Tavares brothers � Arthur Tavares, Ralph Vierra Tavares, Perry Lee Tavares, Antone Tavares, and Feliciano Tavares nicknamed "Pooch," "Tiny," "Chubby," and "Butch" � started the group in 1964 as Chubby and the Turnpikes in New Bedford, MA. Their grandparents taught them traditional Cape Verde folk songs, while their older brother John schooled them on doo wop singing. In 1969, the group became Tavares. They began singing in New England clubs and were signed to Capitol Records in 1973. Their debut album, Check It Out , was issued in early 1974. The title track slow jam single went to number five R&B on Billboard's charts in summer 1973. The next single, the ballad "That's the Sound That Lonely Makes," hit number ten R&B in early 1974. Check It Out was followed by Hard Core Poetry in summer 1974, helmed by songwriting/production duo Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter (the Four Tops' "Aint No Woman Like the One I Got"). It listed the soaring number ten hit "Too Late," the number one hit "She's Gone," and "Remember What I Told You to Forget," which hit number four in 1975. Lambert & Potter produced In the City (summer 1975), which yielded the driving number one hit "It Only Takes a Minute," "Free Ride" (a 1973 pop smash for the Edgar Winter Group), and "The Love I Never Had." Take That's 1993 cover of "It Only Takes a Minute" was a U.K. hit.
Tavares' album Sky High (spring 1976) was the group's first collaboration with producer Freddie Perren. Perren seemed to have an affinity for family singing groups, having had hits with the Jackson 5 ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save") as a member of the Motown arrangers/songwriters/producers collective The Corporation, and would later go to have hits with the Sylvers ("Boogie Fever"). Sky High boasted the sparkling number three R&B hit "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel (Part 1)" from summer 1976. Their fifth LP, Love Storm was issued in spring 1977 and included the clever number one R&B hit "Whodunit" in spring 1977.
"More Than a Woman" was specifically written for Tavares by the Bee Gees and was issued as a single from the 11-million-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. "More Than a Woman" was also on their Future Bound LP released in spring 1978. A greatest hits set, The Best of Tavares, was released in fall 1977. On 1979's Madame Butterfly LP, the group worked with Philly soul arranger/producer Bobby Martin (the Manhattans, LTD). The sweet ballad "Never Had a Love Like This Before" went to number five R&B in early 1979.
In 1994, Canadian label Unidisc released The Best of Tavares Revisited, which had re-recordings by the group of their past hits.
Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
01. If That's The Way You Want It 02. Strangers In Dark Corners 03. That's the Sound That Lonely Makes 04. Check It Out 05. Wish You Were With Me Mary |
06. I'll Never Say Never Again 07. Little Girl 08. Let's Make The Best Of What We Got 09. I'm In Love 10. Mama's Little Girl |
01. Someone To Go Home To 02. She's Gone 03. My Ship 04. Leave It Up To The Lady 05. To Love You |
06. Too Late 07. Remember What I Told You To Forget 08. What You Don't Know 09. Hard Core Poetry |
01. It Only Takes A Minute 02. Fool's Hall Of Fame 03. The Love I Never Had 04. Nothing You Can Do 05. In The Eyes Of Love |
06. Ready, Willing, And Able 07. We Fit To A Tee 08. Free Ride 09. I Hope She Chooses Me 10. In The City |
01. Mighty Power Of Love 02. Ridin' High 03. To The Other Man 04. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel |
05. Bein' With You 06. Wonderful 07. Guiding Star 08. Don't Take Away The Music |
01. Whodunit 02. Keep In Touch 03. I Wanna See You Soon 04. Fool Of The Year 05. Watchin' The Woman's Movement |
06. One Step Away 07. Out Of The Picture 08. The Going Ups And Coming Downs 09. Goodnight My Love (pleasant dreams) |
01. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel 02. It Only Takes A Minute 03. Bein' With You 04. Don't Take Away The Music 05. Check It Out |
06. Strangers In Dark Corners 07. Remember What I Told You To Forget 08. She's Gone 09. The Love I Never Had |
01. Ghost Of Love 02. Timber 03. We're Both Ready For Love 04. All I See Is You |
05. Slow Train To Paradise 06. Honey Can I 07. More Than A Woman 08. Feel So Good |
01. Straight From Your Heart 02. Games, Games 03. Madame Butterfly 04. Let Me Heal The Bruises 05. Never Had A Love Like This Before |
06. One Telephone Call Away 07. My Love Calls 08. Positive Forces 09. I'm Back For More |
01. A Penny For Your Thoughts 02. I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me 03. Got To Find My Way Back To You 04. Mystery Lady |
05. Maybe We'll Fall In Love Again 06. Abra Ca Dabra Love You Too 07. The Skin You're In 08. Wanna Be Close To You |
01. Ten To One 02. Deeper In Love 03. Caught Short 04. My All In All 05. Words And Music |
06. Baby I Want You Back 07. I Really Miss You Baby 08. Don't Play So Hard To Get 09. Us And Love |
01. Bad Times 02. Never Had A Love Like This Before 03. I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me 04. You Are The Words, You Are The Music 05. Don't Take Away The Music 06. She's Gone 07. It Only Takes A Minute |
08. Remember What I Told You To Forget 09. Whodunit 10. Check It Out 11. Turn Your Love Around 12. More Than A Woman 13. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel |
01. Bad Times 02. Games, Games 03. Madame Butterfly 04. Too Late 05. Wonderful 06. Little Girl 07. In This Lovely World |
08. Strangers In Dark Corners 09. It Only Takes A Minute 10. Remember What I Told You To Forget 11. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel 12. Paradise 13. Break Down For Love 14. Love Uprising |
01. Bad Times 02. Never Had A Love Like this Before 03. Can't Take The Blame For Losing You 04. You Are The Words, You Are The music 05. Medley: Don't Take Away The Music/She's Gone/etc. |
06. Motown Philly 07. Turn Your Love Around 08. More Than A Woman 09. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel |
01. Whodunit 02. Straight From The Heart 03. Bein' With You 04. Love Uprising 05. Timber 06. I Wanna See You Soon |
07. Loneliness 08. Loveline 09. Never Had A Love Like This Before 10. I Can't Go On Living Without You 11. Turn Out The Nightlight 12. Goodnight My Love (pleasant dreams) |