The Velvelettes
The Velvelettes were a 60's female vocal group founded in 1961 by sisters Carolyn and Millie Gill with cousins Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Norma Barbee (both from Flint, Michigan) on the Western Michigan University campus, where they were students.

The group signed to Motown Records, but weren't given top priority, as other female vocal groups were attracting audiences and recording hits. While the group awaited their chance at stardom, they recorded backing vocals for more established Motown girl groups Read Full BioThe Velvelettes were a 60's female vocal group founded in 1961 by sisters Carolyn and Millie Gill with cousins Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Norma Barbee (both from Flint, Michigan) on the Western Michigan University campus, where they were students.

The group signed to Motown Records, but weren't given top priority, as other female vocal groups were attracting audiences and recording hits. While the group awaited their chance at stardom, they recorded backing vocals for more established Motown girl groups, including The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, and The Supremes.

The Velvelettes got their break in 1964 with "Needle In A Haystack" which peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964. The group recorded its follow-up, "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'", and spent time on various Motown-sponsored tours as an opening act.

With a song on the charts and a place on several concert tours, The Velvelettes began recording an album. Despite burgeoning success, the members of the group began to disagree about the music they were recording. Half wanted to record more mature songs and thought the material was trite, while the other half didn't want to rock the boat so early in their career.

Motown became apprehensive about the group's potential, and wary of the expense of the recordings. Not wanting to let good time and money go to waste, the label released two additional singles, "Lonely Lonely Girl Am I" and "A Bird In The Hand," as the group endured several line-up changes. Both singles flopped, and Motown cancelled the scheduled release of the group's eponymous debut album.

The last Velvelettes recordings included "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You," which became their last American single. They officially broke up in early to mid 1970.

The group reunited in 1984, when the Gill sisters and Barbee cousins re-recorded their original hits with some new songs for the album One Door Closes. The group continues to tour today.
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Needle In A Haystack
The Velvelettes Lyrics


Well well, I once believed all fellas were nice
But girls, listen to me, take my advice
Girls, you'd better get yourselves onto my track
'Cause findin' a good man, girls, is like findin' a
(Needle in a haystack)
What did I say, girls? (Needle in a haystack)
(She-doop, she-doop, la la)
(She-doop, she-doop, la la)

Girls, those fellas are sly, slick & shy
So don't you ever let 'em get you starry-eyed
Well, you may think their love is true
But they'll walk right over you
Now girls, you should know these things right off the back
'Cause findin' a good man, girls, is like findin' a
(Needle in a haystack)
What did I say, girls? (Needle in a haystack)
(She-doop, she-doop, la la)
(She-doop, she-doop, la la)

Now girls, I say I'm tellin' you the natural facts
'Cause findin' a good man, girls, is like findin' a
(Needle in a haystack)
What did I say, girls? (Needle in a haystack)

I'm tellin' you, girls, you'd better look before you leap
Still water sometimes runs very deep
You'll be sorry when you just jump
& do justice passed by love
Girls, you should know these things right off the back
'Cause findin' a good man, girls, is like findin' a
(Needle in a haystack)
What did I say, girls? (Needle in a haystack)

I say you'd better take heed (needle in a haystack)
Listen to me (needle in a haystack)

You'd better play hard to get
Or you're gonna regret
The day you were born, girl
When he leaves you alone, girl
Good guys are like findin' a (needle in a haystack)
Girls, they're like findin' a (needle in a haystack)

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GORDON MILLS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Comments from YouTube:

Adam Dudley

One of the first tracks that really kick started my love of Soul music and from that to Northern Soul, enough said!
KEEP THE FAITH!!

Delia Barkley-Delieu

Definitely one of my Desert Island discs! All time favourite. Cannot sit still while listening to this...Perfect Motown. Cannot be bettered.

Sam Twinney

I was a collector of this group in the mid 60's and still have their 45's. It's nice to see others appreciated them also, good job Ian.

Matthew Cuellar

I just don't get it. How can a handful of people get this good at something? It blows my mind. It's one thing to be a good painter or a good writer, but to work as a team and just nail it... wow! I love it!

Laurence Harrison

Brings back so many memories.Brilliant as it ever was

carbonlarge

How can you not dance to this...   brilliant   :o)

gnomely1

Thanks for posting this. I agree entirely about the less prominent Motown groups. The Velvelettes have a more robust sound than the Supremes and for me are eminently better to listen to. 

deltorso

I could listen to this for ever -- classic track

Deborah Graves

This brings back the dancing memories in the 70`s for me .... Superb times !!

Cubanarama Radio

Great group!

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