[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1462575_crkqt/.TheIntruders-CowboysToGirls.mp3] Cowboys to Girls – The Intruders/ 1968
This is The Intruders’ fourth single and 3rd hit. It went to #1 on the R&B Charts and #6 Pop. The LP of the same name (pictured above) went to #11 on the R&B Album Charts but only #112 on the Pop Charts (ridiculously low).
“1968, though, was the Intruders’ breakthrough year: “Cowboys to Girls,” a template for what would become Philly soul’s trademark sound, topped the R&B charts and climbed to number six on the pop side, giving the group their biggest hit. The follow-up, “(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game,” was their only other Top 40 pop hit, and the accompanying LP, Cowboys to Girls, wound up their most popular.” (Source)
Of course this is another one of those classic cuts that I can remember singing my teenaged heart out to. Here are the lyrics for you.
Cowboys to Girls – Composed by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Cowboys to girls
I remember when I used to play shoot em up
(Shoot em up, bang, bang baby)
I remember when I chased the girls and beat em up
But I was young and didn’t understand
But now I’m a grown up man
I know girls are made for kissing
Never knew what I was missing
Now my life is not the same
My whole world has been rearranged
I went from (cowboys to girls)
Oh yes I did
(Cowboys to girls)
I remember when I used to see you jumping rope
(Jumping rope up and down baby)
And I remember when you got your first baby coach
But you were young and didn’t understand
Now you want me that I’m a man
And it’s me that you’re kissing
Ain’t it fun reminiscing
Now our lives are not the same
Our whole world has been rearranged
You went from (Pretty dolls to boys)
Oh yes you did
And I went from (cowboys to girls)
Oh yes I did
Still it’s me that you’re kissing
Ain’t it fun reminiscing
Cause our life is not the same
This whole world has been rearranged
I went for (cowboys to girls)
Oh yes I did
You went from (pretty dolls to boys)
Here’s a partial clip that was found of an Intruders performance of “Coyboys to Girls”.
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1462578_5xp9n/02.TheIntruders-Together.mp3] Together – The Intruders (1967)
The Intruders’ second single and first hit, (We’ll Be) United”, only reached #78 on the Hot 100 — but #14 on the R&B Charts. Thank goodness that this fantastic third single and second hit, “Together,” fared a bit better at #48 on the Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B Charts. In addition the song appeared on the group’s first LP, “The Intruders Are Together” (OOP), produced by Kenny Gamble. The LP zoomed up the charts to peak at #23 on the R&B LP Charts in 1968.
I think that the single “Together” should have charted even higher than #9. I think it is the group’s best song out of many excellent cuts. But thier biggest hit is yet to come so stay tuned.
I generally listen to the song I am blogging about as I write the post. When I played “Together” I realized I had not listened to it in years and yet I could sing every single lyric without a second thought. It also brought back the time, that even though I knew nothing of love, I would sing this song as if my Prince Charming were really singing it to me. Those innocent times were the best! I wonder if children today are fortunate enough to have those fantasy times with everything now being just “out there” for them to see in the media and on Internet?
Oh well, here are those lyrics so that you can sing along. I don’t need them. (LOL) After listening to this I will be singing this song for the rest of the week.
Together – Composed by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
(Together, together)
Oh, oh we could be on a desert
Lost without a place (place) to (to) go (go)
And we`re so in love, in love with each other
That we wouldn`t even (even) know (know)
(Oh, I) don`t care (I don`t care)
Anyplace, anywhere (anywhere)
(Just as long as) just as long
(We are there) as we are there, baby, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Baby,just you and me) just you and me
(Woah) oh, how (happy) happy (we`ll) we`ll be (be)
And, oh, oh, oh, we could be in poverty
No one to lend a helping (helping) hand (hand)
But it`s alright (alright), alright I know
Because you always under(under)stand(stand)
(Oh, I) and I don`t care (I don`t care)
Anyplace, anywhere (anywhere)
(Just as long as) just as long
(We can share) as we share them, baby, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Baby,just you and me) just you and me
(Woah) oh, how (happy) happy (we`ll) we`ll (be) be
(Oh, I) and I don`t care (I don`t care)
Anyplace, anywhere (anywhere)
(Just as long as) just as long
(We can share) as we share them, baby, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Together) together, baby
(Baby,just you and) just (me) you and me
(Woah) oh, how happy (happy) we`ll (we`ll) be (be)
(Together) oh, we`re together
(Together) we`re gonna stay together
(Together) do it all together
(Together) gonna work together
(Together) girl, every day, ever now
(Together) gonna stay together
(Together) oh, we`re together
Hope you enjoyed singing along. Such an awesome love song that only Little Sonny could sing that way. Whenever you hear someone say “they don’t make them like that anymore” please think of this classic.
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1462579_7qu5j/TheIntruders-_We_llBe_United.mp3] (We’ll Be) United – The Intruders (1966)
Formed in 1960 Philadelphia, The Intruders were lead singer Sam “Little Sonny” Brown, Eugene “Bird” Daughtry, Phil Terry, and Robert “Big Sonny” Edwards. After singing locally for a few years the doo-wop group signed with the new Gamble label in 1966 and scored a hit with this song right out of the gate.
This new label that The Intruders signed with was the brain child of Kenny Gamble and his songwriting/producing partner Leon Huff. Kenny fronted a group called “Kenny and the Romeos”. It was while in this group that Gamble and Huff discovered how they both loved song-writing. Thom Bell was also a member of the group.
“In 1965, when legendary songwriters and record producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff first contemplated leaving the Cameo-Parkway record label to risk launching their own recording label, the vocalists on which they pinned all their hopes and venture capital were The Intruders.
Gamble and Huff’s success with The Intruders helped convince Columbia Records to grant them the money to launch Philadelphia International, which became the most successful soul label in the 1970s. Gamble and Huff acknowledged that their work with The Intruders was the very foundation of what they called “The Sound Of Philadelphia”.”(Source)
Of course you know that Gamble & Huff became “The Philly Sound” just as Holland-Dozier-Holland had become Detroit’s “Motown Sound” before them. Gotta love them both!
Stay tuned for The Intruder’s follow-up hit, also composed the Gamble and Huff, with “Little Sonny” on lead. I was a tween that was crazy for “Little Sonny’s singing! Don’t you just love his voice?
June is here! Did you know that the Birth Month Flower of June is the Rose (pictured above)?
According to this About.Com page the following special events occur in June: Dairy Month, Great Outdoors Month, National Adopt-A-Cat Month, National Drive Safe Month, National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, National Iced Tea Month (Hmmm my favorite drink of all!), National Rose Month, National Safety Month, National Tennis Month, Potty Training Awareness Month, Turkey Lovers Month and Zoo and Aquarium Month.
But not mentioned there is that the June theme for “Old School Music Lover’s Blog” is going to be Male Vocal Groups or Guy Groups! And away we go …
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1408032_plipu/Dreamlovers-WhenWeGetMarried.mp3] When We Get Married – The Dreamlovers (1961)
“When We Get Married” was the biggest hit for this Philadelphia based group, The Dreamlovers, in 1961 on Heritage Records. Written by group member Don Hogan, the song rose to #10 on the charts. In addition to Hogan on lead, the group’s flawless harmonies were sung by brothers James Dunn on bass and Clifton Dunn on baritone, Tommy Ricks and Cleveland Hammock both singing tenor.
Before releasing their big hit, the group recorded as The Romancers and The Midnighters. As the Midnighters they sang backup on Chubby Checker’s 1958 hit “The Twist”.
This 45 rpm is a precious part of my vinyl collection to this day. I always remember it being near the record player. I was never sure if it was my Mother’s or my Father’s record — but I think it was my Dad’s since I recall him singing the song around the house. Anyhoo, I played it long and often and this song always brings back great memories of my childhood whenever I hear it.
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1408031_yofdr/heIntruders-WhenWeGetMarried.mp3] When We Get Married – The Intruders (1970)
Almost a decade later another Philadelphia Do-Wop/Soul group, The Intruders, covered “When We Get Married” on an album of the same name in 1970 on the Gamble (as in Gamble & Huff) label. IMHO their version is not as good as the original. This is the only Intruders LP that the regular lead singer Little Sonny did not sing on and perhaps if he had, the song might have been more pleasing to me. He was replaced on this LP by a Philly lounge singer named Bobby Starr who did a pretty good imitation of Little Sonny. I just don’t think the notes he selected in all cases are the same ones that Sonny would have chosen. But the Intruders are also another of my favorite male vocal groups with some fabulous songs to their credit that will be discussed later this month.
Another decade goes by and Larry Graham covers the tune again in his first solo LP “One in a Million” in 1980. This version has since become a wedding classic and I love it. It is far better, to me, than the Intruder’s cover. But I still think the original is the best! When my blog theme is Male Vocalist I will be sure to post and blog on Larry’s cover here.
As always I am glad you stopped by. Keep listening to the music.
Those innocent times were the best! I wonder if children today are fortunate enough to have those fantasy times with everything now being just “out there” for them to see in the media and on Internet?
