Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Mable John – (I Guess There’s ) No Love – 196o
Mable was the very first female artist Berry Gordy, Jr. signed to a recording contract. The signing was in 1959 with his Tamla label, that came before the Motown label.
Mable had come to Detroit by way of her Louisiana birthplace, making a pit stop in Arkansas, and sang the blues as did her musical family. That family was made up of nine siblings that included the late great singer Little Willie John of “Fever” fame.
Gordy drifted away from the blues after a short while, moving to a crossover sound, and eventually let Mable go in 1962.
Though hitless at Tamla, Mable went on to the Stax label where she had a top ten R&B hit with “Your Good Thing (Is About to End).”
In addition to her singing singing career, Johns had a very long and productive career as musical director of Ray Charles’ Raylettes.
You may learn more about Miss John at MableJohn.Com
Trivia: Initially The Supremes would sing backup for Mabel. Of course after three single releases that didn’t hit big, Gordy used Mable as a background singer before dropping her.
Ultimately both The Supremes and Mabel John went on to success. The Supremes, of course, became legends and Ray Charles’ Raylettes did too!
Musically Yours,
No related posts.
Filed under: (I Guess There's) No Love, Blues/Soul, Fabulous Female Vocalists, Mable John, Motown/Tamla, R&B/Motown, Sixties
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
k, you got me lol. i havent heard of Mable. its funny that she went from Motown to Stax when they were sort of rivals (or atleast i’ve heard). and maybe its just me but this song has a “Stax” feel to it. i like it! i also think its funny how some of the biggest groups started off as back up. the Supremes here and i heard The Temptations sang on some Marvin and Mary records (would love to hear some of those because i can always identify my Paul and Eddie! lol)
I love this song I used to play it to death when I worked in a Cinema here in Edinburgh way back in 1969.
Love Mabel John Absolutely love Motown.
Thanks Y’all.
Hi Geoff,
Welcome to OSML! Glad you found me and this song! It is one of the earlier Motown classics that you don’t hear much on the radio and music streams today, but I love it to bits and pieces so had to make it a part of the blog. Isn’t it just magical the way a song such as this can bring up the most wonderful memories to mind? I don’t know how I could make it through a day without music. How about you?