[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/2384361_8mhix/Exciters-TellHim.mp3] The Exciters – Tell Him (1963) Peaked #4 Pop, #5 R&B.
I love this song so much. Of course since I am writing about it today that means I will be singing it for the next week or two since it is one of those tunes that is catchy and it sticks in you brain a while. ; 0
Written by Bert Russell, this tune was produced by the great team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Lead singer Brenda Reid belts this out joyously accompanied by the other group members.
It is truly unbelievable that a group that sounds this great falls under the “One Hit Wonder” Banner. There just is no justice in the music business.
The Exciters only had four other singles make the Billboard Top 100. One of those songs just happened to be the original version of “Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy” that was released in 1964 as the follow-up to “Tell Him” and yet this great song only peaked at #78 on both the Pop and R&B charts. But we know it is a great song since British invasion group Manfred Mann ‘s cover, of this Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich penned classic, zoomed all the way to #1 here in the USA!
You gotta love this vintage video. This takes me back to the time when a young lady always wore gloves as part of her ensemble 
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Yeah I know they are lip singing but it is all about the visual so sit back and relax and sing along with Brenda.
TRIVIA: Group members Brenda Reid and baritone Herb Rooney married and continued to lead “The Exciters” for a while. Then they recorded some disco music as “Brenda & Herb” in the Eighties.
The couple eventually retired their group and divorced. But their son, L.A. Reid, went on to become on of the most successful music producers and label executives of our era!
MORE TRIVIA: The Exciters covered “A Little Bit of Soap” – The Jarmels “Wonderful One Hit” as previously posted here.
Related posts:
- “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” Performed by Manfred Mann (1964)
- "A Little Bit Of Soap" Performed By The Jarmels (1961)
- "Mixed-Up, Shook-Up Girl" Performed by Patty & The Emblems (1964)
- "Sukiyaki" Performed by Kyu Sakamoto (1963)
- "Don't Say Nothin' Bad" Performed by The Cookies (1963)
Filed under: Bert Berns (under the name Bert Russell), Bert Russell, Co-ed Vocal Groups, One Hit Wonder, Pop/R&B, Sixties, Tell Him, The Exciters, United Artists
