“Backfield in Motion”Performed by Mel & Tim (1969)

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Mississippi bred “Mel Hardin and Tim McPherson were cousins who started singing together as part of the Welcome Travelers gospel group before going into secular music as “Mel & Tim.” …. The cousins were signed by Gene Chandler to his Bamboo label in the late ’60s and had a hit right out of the gate with 1969′s “Backfield in Motion,” on which the duo’s fine harmony singing was coupled with a swinging Chicago soul groove.” (SOURCE)

“The follow-up, “Good Guys Only Win in the Movies,” supplied the title for their first album and hit the R&B Top 20 later that year. Mel & Tim subsequently moved to Stax, where they landed a second Top Five R&B smash with the ballad “Starting All Over Again” (also the title track of their second album). Mel & Tim performed at the late-1972 charity concert Wattstax and were featured in the documentary film of the same name, singing “I May Not Be What You Want.”" (Source: AMG Biography by Steve Huey)

A million-selling crossover hit, “Backfield in Motion” reached number 10 on the pop chart.

Backfield In Motion – Words and music by M. McPherson and M. Harden

Backfield in motion, yeah,
I’m gonna have to penalize you
Backfield in motion, baby,
You know that’s against the rules.
Off sides and holdin’, yeah,
You ought to be ashamed of yourself baby
Off sides and holdin’ yeah,
Holdin’ on to someone else
You know you’re cheatin’ baby,
Fakin’ the bout
You know you’re balkin’, baby,
(oh yeah) strike three you’re out
And I caught you with
Backfield in motion, yeah,
I’m gonna have to penalize you
Backfield in motion, baby,
You know that’s against the rules.

First down you start cheatin’ on me
Second down, I was too blind to see
Third down, you know I love you so
Fourth down, baby I got to let you go,
‘Cos I caught you with your
Backfield in motion, yeah,
I’m gonna have to penalize you
Backfield in motion, baby,
You know that’s against the rules.
Now you will see, ah yeah, just how I felt
You beat me to the punch honey,
But you hit me below the belt
And I caught you with your
Backfield in motion, yeah,
I’m gonna have to penalize you
Backfield in motion, baby,
You know that’s against the rules.
Backfield in motion, backfield in motion…
Backfield in motion, backfield in motion…

I hope you enjoyed this track. It s one of my favorites of the era.

Thanks for stopping by.

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4. “Baby Don't Go” as Performed by Sonny & Cher (1964)
5. "Keep On Loving Me Honey" Performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968)

Filed under: Backfield in Motion, Bamboo, Dynamic Duos (Duets), Mel & Tim, Mel Hardin & Tim McPherson, R&B/Duets, Sixties