The Velvelettes: "Needle in a Haystack" (1964)

Описание: The Velvelettes vocal quintet formed at university in 1961. A classmate of theirs at Western Michigan was Berry Gordy's nephew. He urged the Velvelettes to audition for MOTOWN. They were hired and began recording in Jan. 1963.

"Needle in a Haystack" was the first chart success for a newly created label, plus both the group and 23-year-old producer Norman Whitfield. One member left for Martha & the Vandellas after this, and a second joined her in 1972, thus for most of their existence (well into the 21st Century) they were a trio. Between Oct. 1964 and Sept. '66 the girls placed four singles on various charts, all below the Top 20.

According to 1992 CD biographer Janie Bradford, the Velvelettes were rather invisible at Motown. They came from Kalamazoo, worlds apart from their Detroit studio, and the girls' parents insisted they get diplomas, so they weren't part of the early Motor Town Revues until after graduation. The result: little publicity, poor sales and no first album.


PERSONNEL: Carolyn "Caldin" Gill (lead vocal); Mildred Gill; Norma Barbee; Betty Kelly; Bertha Barbee; plus Norman Whitfield (composer, producer); William "Mickey" Stevenson (composer); The Funk Brothers

Released Sept. 3, 1964 on styrene V.I.P. 45 #25007 (NLV-096305)

Reissued 1992 on 4-disc MOTOWN Records various artists CD longbox #3746363122,
"HITSVILLE USA The Motown Singles Collection 1959 1971"