The Dells Oh What A Nite Vee-Jay 204 A

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DISCLAIMER: All rights reserved to the production companies and music labels that distributed and produced the music and performance respectively. I've only added the footage as a tribute for historical, entertainment, and creative purposes with no financial gain. Copyright infringement not intended. The Dells "Oh What A Nite" Vee-Jay 204 A 1956 The Dells started singing in 1953 in Harvey, Ill. They soon got a contract with Checker. Originally called the El Rays, they released "Darling I Know" soon afterwards. Later, they moved to VJ records of Chicago, and their fantastic career really took off. In a matter of years, they were the top group. Their smash hit, "Oh What A Nite" is now one of the all-time hits of R&B; history. The group is composed of Jerry Funches, Michael McGIll, Verne Allison, Chas. Barksdale, and Marvin Junior. One of the most beloved of all the 50s groups is the Dells. El Rays They practiced where they could: in school, in hallways, in a local ice cream parlor, on street corners (where, on one occasion, some music lover on high dumped a pail of water on them). Mickey McGill decided that the "El Rays" was a neat-sounding name; after all, it meant "the kings" in Spanish. [Insane Rant: No it doesn't! It actually means nothing at all in Spanish. You want "the kings," you've got to say "los reyes." End of Insane Rant.] In late 1953 or early 1954, they journeyed to Chicago to try out for Chess Records (Leonard Chess himself conducted the audition). Chess was impressed enough to set up a session. On February 17, 1954, the El Rays recorded four sides: "Christine," "Darling, I Know," "Whing Ding All Night," and "So Long." On at least "So Long" (and possibly "Whing Ding All Night"), they're backing up Willie Dixon. "Christine" and "Darling, I Know" were released, in May, on Chess' Checker subsidiary. Both were rated "good" on May 22, along with Chuck Willis' "I Feel So Bad," the Rivileers' "Forever," the Hawks' "Good News," the Strangers' "Blue Flowers," and the Bards' "I'm A Wine Drinker." When nothing happened with the disc, Lucius McGill, who decided that he wasn't all that interested in show business, quit to get a "real" job. The five remaining El Rays crossed South Cottage Grove Avenue to see what Vee-Jay could do for them. (In those days, Chess was at #4750; Vee-Jay was at 4747.) Not only did Vivian and Jimmy Bracken's Vee-Jay Records welcome them with open arms, but also got them to give up on that clunky (and, did I mention, incorrect) El Rays name. Now they were the "Dells." The Dells Almost a year to the day after their Checker session (February 19, 1955), the Dells recorded "Tell The World" and "Goodbye" for Vee-Jay. While "Tell The World" was a great way to start things off, I imagine that "Goodbye" was somewhat less than perfect, since it has still to see the light of day. When it came time for Vee-Jay to release "Tell The World" (April 1955), they backed it with "Blues At Three," a Count Morris instrumental that had been sitting in the can since December 20, 1953. "Oh What A Nite," recorded on May 21, 1956. The bass on that session was Calvin Carter, Vivian Bracken's brother and Vee-Jay's A&R; man. According to Carter: "Chuck Barksdale left the night of the session to go with Otis Williams and the Charms ..., so I was left without a bass singer. So I sang the bass line like I fix an automobile. It was nothing I was proud of; it was just makeshift. "Oh What A Nite" and "Jo Jo" were issued in July 1956. Stardom awaited. However, the record took it's time about taking off. The Dells were actually on the verge of giving it all up when they ran into the Moonglows, who told them the record was a hit in New York. The platter was finally reviewed (both sides "good") on September 15. Other reviews that week went to Clyde McPhatter's "Thirty Days," the Platters' "You'll Never, Never Know," the Six Teens' "Afar Into The Night," the Delegates' "The Convention," the Barons' "Don't Walk Out," and the Chestnuts' "Forever I Vow." (Note that on September 8, the week before it was reviewed, it was already a Tip in Cincinnati. Such is the wonderful world of the recording industry.) By the late summer, Chuck Barksdale had returned to the Dells, in time for their September 5 session. That day they recorded "It Takes Time," "I Wanna Go Home," "When You Kiss Me," and "Movin' On." The Dells on stage On October 12, 1956, the Dells kicked off their first appearance at the Apollo Theater as part of the "New R&B; Stars of 1956" show. Others on the bill were the Pearls, the Velours, the Channels, the Solitaires, the Flamingos, Ruth Mc Fadden, and Titus Turner. On October 13, "Oh What A Nite" was rated a Pick Of The Week and on October 20, it was a Tip in New York. Turntable used: Audio Technica AT-LP120 USB Direct Drive inputted straight into the sound card using the built-in pre-amp from the turntable. Cartridge used: SHURE M78S using 78 3 mil needle..