JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS
THE ORIGINALS
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Often called "Motown's best-kept secret," the Originals scored only a handful of chart hits during their lengthy career, most notably the powerful 1969 ballad "Baby I'm for Real," but their behind-the-scenes contributions as songwriters and backing vocalists cement their place in the label's enduring legacy. The Originals were led by singer Freddie Gorman, a Detroit native who in 1957 formed the Fideletones with longtime friend Brian Holland. After issuing "Pretty Girl" on Aladdin Records in 1959, the group splintered and Gorman resumed his day job as a postal carrier, eventually meeting fledgling record impresario Berry Gordy while on his route. In time Gordy hired Holland as a staff writer and producer, teaming him with fellow producer Robert Bateman to cut a single for the Motown girl group the Marvelettes. When Marvelette Georgia Dobbins suggested the title "Please Mr. Postman," Holland naturally conscripted Gorman for help with the lyrics, although his contributions to the song went unnoted for decades. "Please Mr. Postman" was nevertheless a huge hit, topping the Billboard pop chart in the fall of 1961, and Gordy returned the favor by releasing the Gorman solo single "The Day Will Come" on Motown's Miracle Records subsidiary. Holland and Gorman also continued their songwriting partnership, which expanded to a triumvirate with the addition of Lamont Dozier. After a series of Motown productions including Mary Wells' "Old Love" and the Supremes' "I Want a Guy," Gorman was edged out in favor of Holland's brother Eddie, and without any contractual leverage in his favor, he returned to his post office position, dropping from sight for several years.
Gorman finally resurfaced in 1964 alongside songwriting partner Bob Hamilton on the Motown rival Golden World with the Reflections' blockbuster "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet." The following year, he cut a pair of solo singles, "In a Bad Way" and "Take Me Back," for Golden World's sister label, Ric-Tic. When Gordy acquired Golden World's holdings Gorman was absorbed back into the Motown ranks, and in 1966 his deep, stirring bass vocal was added to the lineup of the Originals, a new vocal group also comprising lead tenor C.P. Spencer, second tenor Hank Dixon, baritone Walter Gaines, and albeit briefly, Joe Stubbs, brother of the Four Tops' renowned lead Levi Stubbs, who exited to pursue a solo career in the wake of the Originals' debut release, a rendition of the Leadbelly perennial "Goodnight Irene." The remaining quartet spent the next two years in search of a hit, contributing backing vocals to sessions spotlighting Stevie Wonder and David Ruffin. After a long hiatus from headlining, the Originals finally issued their second single, "You're the One," in 1969, quickly followed by the title track from their debut LP, Green Grow the Lilacs. Neither record charted, but the Originals did capture the attention of Motown superstar Marvin Gaye, who teamed with wife Anna to write the soulful ballad "Baby I'm for Real." After topping the R&B charts, the single crossed over to pop radio, ascending to the number 14 spot. Gaye also delivered the Originals' luminous follow-up, "The Bells," which reached the R&B Top Five and fell just shy of the pop Top Ten in 1970. The group closed out the year with two minor chart entries, "We Can Make It Baby" and "God Bless Whoever Sent You."
The Originals' commercial fortunes nosedived in the years to follow as singles like 1971's "Keep Me" and 1972's "I'm Someone Who Cares" failed to chart. C.P. Spencer exited the lineup soon after and was replaced by lead tenor Ty Hunter. The change did nothing to improve the Originals' chart outlook, however, and efforts like 1973's "Be My Love" and 1975's "Good Lovin' Is Just a Dime Away" earned little attention at radio or retail. When Motown relocated its production facilities from Detroit to Los Angeles, the group followed and in 1976 teamed with Lamont Dozier for the LP Communique, topping the disco charts with the dancefloor classic "Down to Love Town" (the first-ever 12" single released via the Motown imprint). The follow-up, "(Call on Your) Six Million Dollar Man," flopped, however, and in 1978 the Originals ended their long relationship with Motown, signing with Fantasy for "Ladies (We Need You)." By the time the group landed with the independent Phase II label for the 1981 album Yesterday and Today, Spencer was back in the lineup. The album was also noteworthy for its inclusion of the Originals' version of "Please Mr. Postman," but otherwise it generated minimal interest. Apart from a subsequent remake of "Baby I'm for Real," the group's recording career essentially ground to a halt by the mid-'80s, although they continued touring for years to follow. In 1997, Gorman also issued a solo album, It's All About My Love. Spencer died of a heart attack on October 20, 2004. Gorman lost his battle with lung cancer on June 13, 2006. -- by Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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| 01. We�ve Got A Way Out Love 02. Green Grow The Lilacs 03. Baby, I�m For Real 04. I�ve Never Begged Before 05. Red Sails In The Sunset 06. One Life We Live | 07. Moment Of Truth 08. Why When Love Is Gone 09. When Will We Learn 10. You�re The One 11. Love Is A Wonder 12. You, Mysterious You |
| 01. We Can Make It Baby 02. Wake Up Crying 03. Once I Have You (I will never let go) 04. My World Is Empty Without You 05. If You Wanna Leave (just leave) 06. Let It Be | 07. The Only Time You Love Me 08. God Bless Whoever Sent You 09. Give Yourself The Right 10. Rainy Night In Georgia 11. A Man Without Love 12. You Were My Everything |
| 01. The Exodus Song 02. The World Can�t Stop Me(from loving you) 03. The Rovin� Kind 04. Make It With You 05. I�ve Got A Need For You 06. Love Is Life | 07. I�m Someone Who Cares 08. Lie No. 2 09. Come Rain Or Shine 10. Keep Me 11. Bridge Over Troubled Water |
| 01. Why�d You Lie 02. Don�t Turn The Lights Off 03. It Could Never Happen 04. Good Lovin�s Just A Dime Away 05. California Sunset | 06. Sweet Rhapsody 07. Fifty Years 08. Let Me In Your Life 09. Financial Affair 10. Nothing Takes The Place Of Your Love |
| 01. Hurry Up And Wait 02. Down To Love Town 03. You Are A Blessing To Me 04. Six-Million Dollar Man | 05. Mother Nature�s Best 06. Sunrise 07. Been Decided |
| 01. Fantasy Interlude 02. Don�t Put Me On 03. I�ve Loved, I�ve Lost, I�ve Learned 04. Temporarily Out Of Order 05. Ladies (we need you) 06. Take This Love 07. It�s Alright | 08. Thanks For Your Love 09. Jezebel 10. J-E-A-L-O-U-S(means I love you) 11. While The Cat�s Away 12. Come Away With Me 13. Stay(with me) 14. Blue Moon |
| 01. Baby, I�m For Real 02. You�re The One 03. I�ll Wait For You 04. The Bells 05. We Can Make It Baby 06. Just To Keep You Satisfied 07. God Bless Whoever Sent You 08. I Like Your Style | 09. Suspicion 10. I�m Someone Who Cares 11. Down To Love Town 12. Good Lovin� Is Just A Dime Away 13. Game Called Love 14. Once I Have You 15. Keep Me |
| 01. Baby, I�m For Real 02. You�re The One 03. The Bells 04. I�ll Wait For You 05. I�m Someone Who Cares 06. The Only Time You Love Me 07. We Can Make It Baby 08. God Bless Whoever Sent You 09. I Like Your Style | 10. We Got A Way Out Love 11. Don�t Stop Now 12. Lie No. 2 13. Come Rain Or Shine 14. Ooh I Got A Crush On You 15. Good Lovin� Is Just A Dime Away 16. I�ve Never Begged Before 17. Don�t Turn The Lights Off 18. It Could Never Happen |
