Bobby Taylor, (Washington, DC, February 18, 1934 - 22 July 2017) was raised in Washington. As a young man, he moved to New York City and sang in doo-wop groups with singers who later joined successful acts such as Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers and Little Anthony & the Imperials. In 1958 he began his music career as a member of The Four Pharaohs, who released a few locally-selling recordings in the Columbus, Ohio area.
In the early 1960s, Taylor met the Calgary group The Shades, made up of vocalist Tommie Melton, guitarist Tommy Chong, bassist Wes Henderson, pianist Bernie Sneed, drummer Floyd Sneed (later the drummer for Three Dog Night) and Dick Bird. The word Shades in the group's name referenced the fact that the band was interracial. Chong (later famous as one-half of comedy duo Cheech and Chong) was Chinese and Scottish-Irish. The other members were black Canadian, white Canadian, and aboriginal. Taylor was of African-American, Puerto Rican, and Native American heritage.
By the time Taylor joined the group as lead vocalist and producer a couple of years later, they had moved to Vancouver, changed their name to "Little Daddy & The Bachelors", and recorded a single, "Too Much Monkey Business" / "Junior's Jerk". Taylor and Chong opened a Vancouver nightclub in 1963 called the Blues Palace, which was formerly a movie theatre. They brought in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, which had never been to Vancouver before. Although Little Daddy & The Bachelors built up a small following, things soured when they went with Chong's suggestion and had themselves billed as "Four Niggers and a Chink". (or, bowing to pressure, "Four N's and a C") before taking on the moniker Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers.
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers join Motown
In 1965, Supremes members Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard heard the band โ whose repertoire consisted primarily of Motown covers โ at the Elegant Parlor in Vancouver, and alerted Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr.. Gordy brought the Vancouvers to Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan, and signed them to his Gordy Records imprint. By this time the evolving lineup consisted of Taylor, Henderson and Chong along with guitarist Eddie Patterson, organist Robbie King, and drummer Ted Lewis (aka Duris Maxwell), the latter three having come as a package when the original Vancouvers merged with another local group, the Good Shepherds. Claims have been made that future star guitarist Jimi Hendrix played with them in those early days, but Chong has been quoted as saying that any such appearance is a product of Taylor's "imagination." Nevertheless, it seems likely that Hendrix, as a regular visitor to and sometime resident of Vancouver in the early '60s, would have performed with earlier groups featuring some of future Vancouvers. Hendrix and Taylor certainly knew each other from their early days in the Seattle-Tacoma area, and Hendrix later jammed onstage with the Vancouvers in Europe.
The group recorded its debut album, an eponymous release, and their debut single, the Tommy Chong co-composition "Does Your Mama Know About Me," peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
For a July, 1968 engagement at Chicago's Regal Theater, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers had a local-area family band, The Jackson 5, as their opening act. Impressed with the children, Taylor personally brought them to Detroit and the Motown offices, arranging an audition for them with Motown executive Suzanne de Passe. de Passe and Berry Gordy were impressed with the Jacksons, and the group was signed to the label within a year.
They released two further singles, "I Am Your Man," (US #85, US R&B #40) produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, and the Smokey Robinson-written and produced "Malinda" (US #48, US R&B #16). The Vancouvers ended up performing in support of Motown artist Chris Clark. Tommy Chong and Wes Henderson were fired by Clark and Motown producer Johnny Bristol for missing a gig to apply for Green cards. The group broke up shortly afterwards, when Chong attempted to have the Vancouvers' contract halved, so that he, Taylor, and Henderson would constitute the group, while Robbie King, Eddie Patterson, and Ted Lewis would simply be regarded as sidemen and session artists. Taylor auditioned for the then-vacant lead singer position in The Temptations (following David Ruffin's expulsion from the group), but was turned down.
After the Jackson 5 signed to Motown in March 1969, Taylor became the group's first producer. He supervised the bulk of their first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, recording the Jacksons on a number of soul covers, including The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You".[8][1] Berry Gordy would later move the group to California and take personal control of their sound. Although Taylor would briefly join the Jacksons in California, he did not receive credit for working on the group's early singles such as "I Want You Back" and "ABC" alongside Gordy's team known as The Corporationโข .
As a solo artist, Taylor was shifted to Motown's V.I.P. label and continued as a solo artist. Although his "Oh, I've Been Blessed" later attained a cult status, Taylor's solo singles failed to sell well. By 1971, Taylor had departed Motown because of a financial dispute, recording sporadically into the mid-1970s.
Taylor later successfully sued Motown for a substantial amount of money. Moving to the United Kingdom, Taylor started an offshoot group, Bobby Taylor & the New Vancouvers, and recorded an album for Ian Levine's Motorcity Records. His later musical efforts were tempered by bouts with throat cancer, which he had treated by various holistic doctors.
As of 2014, Bobby resided in Hong Kong.
On Saturday, 22nd of July 2017 Bobby died in Hong Kong
Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers discography
All items issued on Gordy Records unless otherwise noted.
Singles
1968: "Does Your Mama Know About Me" (US #29, US R&B #5)
1968: "I Am Your Man" (US #85, US R&B 40)
1968: "Malinda" (US #48, US R&B #16)
Album
1968: Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
1990: Find My Way Back (Motorcity Records)
Bobby Taylor solo discography
1969: "Oh, I've Been Bless'd" (V.I.P. Records)
1969: "Blackmail" (V.I.P. Records, promo-only)
1969: "My Girl Has Gone" (Gordy Records)
1971: "Hey Lordy" (Mowest Records)
1972: "There Are Roses Somewhere In The World" (Sunflower Records)
1973: "I Can't Quit Your Love" (Tommy Zs7 Records)
1973: "Why Play Games" (Playboy Records) (US R&B #83)
1973: "I Can't Quit Your Love" (Philadelphia International, by "BT & TB"โBobby Taylor and Thom Bell).
Albums
1969: Taylor-Made Soul (Gordy Records)
2006: Motown Anthology (Hip-O/Select)
Malinda
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Malinda, Malinda
Malinda's the girl (girl)
Who came to my world
And made my interest
In all other girls stop
Malinda's a dream (dream)
Beauty to the extreme
Malinda is the cream of the crop
So many guys in love
With my Malinda (they can't get her)
You ought to see the presents
Others send her
Trying to make her surrender
Surrender them some of that tender
Love she's giving me (Malinda)
Oh, but she doesn't know
She'll never go
She's where she'd rather be
In the arms of a man
Who fits in her plan
(Fits into her plan)
She lets them know that man is me
So many guys have
Tried for my Malinda
(But they can't get her)
From the Casanovas
To the real big spenders
But all they do is offend her
Offend Malinda and send her
Calling out to me
In a lover's speed
Love me tenderly
(Malinda) oh
(Malinda, I love Malinda)
I love Malinda
(Yeah, Malinda Malinda)
(I love Malinda)
Ooh, I love that girl (yeah)
Ain't gonna let no
Jill or Jane or Brenda
(Any one of those girls)
Come between me and my Malinda
I'll never let another girl hinder
The chance that Malinda's gonna
Spend her every night and day
Satisfy this day
In love with me this way
(Malinda, Malinda, I love Malinda)
Oh, she only has eyes for me (yeah)
(Malinda, Malinda, I love Malinda)
Yeah, she gives up all the
Other guys for me (yeah)
(Malinda, Malinda, I love Malinda)
She is mine, all mine
That's the way it was meant to be
The song "Malinda" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers is an ode to a woman named Malinda. The singer is head over heels in love with her and believes her to be the most beautiful woman in the world. He asserts that she has stopped his interest in all other women, making him entirely devoted to her. The lyrics portray Malinda as a dream come true, and he believes himself lucky to be with her.
The chorus of the song talks about the other men who are in love with Malinda but unable to win her over. They shower her with presents and try everything in their power to get her to notice them. However, the singer asserts that Malinda's heart belongs to him, and she will never leave him. He never lets any other girl come between them and pledges to satisfy her every night and day. The song is a beautiful representation of how love can be all-consuming and endless.
Line by Line Meaning
Malinda, Malinda
Repeating her name to express the singer's love and affection for her
Malinda's the girl (girl)
Introducing Malinda as the subject of the song and the singer's love interest
Who came to my world
Describing how Malinda entered the singer's life and changed it for the better
And made my interest
Highlighting how Malinda captured the singer's attention and affection
In all other girls stop
Indicating that the singer's feelings and attention are focused solely on Malinda
Malinda's a dream (dream)
Describing Malinda as someone the singer has always dreamed of
Beauty to the extreme
Highlighting Malinda's physical appeal and attractiveness
Malinda is the cream of the crop
Stating that Malinda is the best of the best and highly desirable
So many guys in love
Describing how many other men also desire Malinda
With my Malinda (they can't get her)
Stating that although many other men want Malinda, they are unsuccessful in winning her over
You ought to see the presents
Describing how other men shower Malinda with gifts and attention
Others send her
Stating that other men try to win Malinda over with tokens of affection
Trying to make her surrender
Implying that other men are attempting to get Malinda to give up on the singer and choose someone else
Surrender them some of that tender
Playfully suggesting that Malinda should give some of her attention to other men as well
Love she's giving me (Malinda)
Stating that the love and affection that Malinda shows the singer is unique and special
Oh, but she doesn't know
Recognizing that Malinda may not realize how much the singer loves her
She'll never go
Stating that the singer believes Malinda will never leave him
She's where she'd rather be
Imagining that Malinda is happy staying with the singer
In the arms of a man
Describing how Malinda is fulfilled being with someone special
Who fits in her plan
Implying that the singer is the kind of person Malinda wants to be with
(Fits into her plan)
Emphasizing how Malinda has specific requirements for her partner
She lets them know that man is me
Stating that Malinda indicates to other men that the singer is her chosen partner
So many guys have
Reiterating how much other men desire Malinda
Tried for my Malinda
Highlighting how other men have attempted to win Malinda's affection
(But they can't get her)
Emphasizing that other men are unsuccessful in winning Malinda over
From the Casanovas
Describing how even the most charming and suave men are unsuccessful with Malinda
To the real big spenders
Highlighting how even wealthy men are unable to win Malinda over
But all they do is offend her
Implying that Malinda is not impressed or interested in other men's advances
Offend Malinda and send her
Suggesting that other men's actions make Malinda more likely to stay with the singer
Calling out to me
Describing how Malinda reaches out to the singer and wants to be near him
In a lover's speed
Emphasizing how much Malinda loves the singer romantically
Love me tenderly
Expressing Malinda's desire for the singer to treat her kindly and gently
(Malinda) oh
Expressing the singer's affection for Malinda
(Malinda, I love Malinda)
Reiterating the singer's love for Malinda
I love Malinda
Stating the singer's feelings towards Malinda outright
(Yeah, Malinda Malinda)
Repeating Malinda's name to express the singer's love and affection for her
(I love Malinda)
Reiterating the singer's love for Malinda
Ooh, I love that girl (yeah)
Emphasizing how much the singer loves Malinda
Ain't gonna let no
Stating the singer will not allow anyone to come between him and Malinda
Jill or Jane or Brenda
Listing common women's names to represent other women vying for the attention of the singer
(Any one of those girls)
Emphasizing that the singer is not interested in any other women
Come between me and my Malinda
Stating that the singer will not allow other women to interfere with his relationship with Malinda
I'll never let another girl hinder
Reiterating that the singer is committed to Malinda and will not let anyone else interfere
The chance that Malinda's gonna
Highlighting the importance of the love between the singer and Malinda
Spend her every night and day
Describing the depth of the singer's relationship with Malinda
Satisfy this day
Expressing how much the singer loves Malinda and how she completes him
In love with me this way
Stating how much Malinda loves the singer and expressing the strength of their bond
(Malinda, Malinda, I love Malinda)
Repeating Malinda's name and the singer's love for her
Oh, she only has eyes for me (yeah)
Stating that Malinda's affections are exclusively for the singer
(Malinda, Malinda, I love Malinda)
Reiterating the singer's love for Malinda
Yeah, she gives up all the
Highlighting Malinda's devotion and loyalty to the singer
Other guys for me (yeah)
Stating that Malinda has chosen the singer over all other men
(Malinda, Malinda, I love Malinda)
Repeating Malinda's name and the singer's love for her
She is mine, all mine
Stating that Malinda belongs to the singer and is his alone
That's the way it was meant to be
Suggesting that fate brought the singer and Malinda together and they are meant to be together
Contributed by Andrew B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@catherine9303
I was 11 years old when I was astounded by the musical harmony of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. No one can touch his musical mastery.
@NealTeresa157
I was 12 Years old at my middle School sock Hop โค๏ธ
@malindabrooks8372
My name is Malinda, my father in-law introduced me to this song 20 years ago he sang the entire song without music and told my husband he better learn the lyrics.
@karenstanford1578
Your father in law is a man after my own heart โค...what a man !!!
@davidmooremoore8748
Berry Gordy he had the Midas touch anything he touched turned to Gold God bless you Barry keep up the good work Detroit forever
@anthonyshepherd3057
With The Help Of Smokey Robinson
@leonguisburg413
Rick James (real name James Johnson) is the author of this tune and Thomas Chong (Cheech And Chong) is the author of "Does Your Mama Know About Me" as well as a group member
@bernardhendricks8036
Rick James wrote this single hit?How impressive!Bobby Taylor voice was astounding! He can hit notes!These songs will never be replaced!Motown will always get my props!The lyrics are upbeat!Bernard Hendricks
@khalilmujahid6559
Bernard Hendricks Smokey Robinson co-wrote this in 1967-68๐ถ Rick James was still in Buffalo when Malinda came out๐ธ๐ท๐ฆ
@terrencebryan6273
@@khalilmujahid6559 Terry Johnson and Al Cleveland and Smokey Robinson wrote this...