Chandler attended Englewood High School (later known as Englewood Technical Prep Academy) on Chicago's south side. He began performing in the early 1950s with The Gaytones. In 1957 he joined a doo-wop group called The Dukays with James Lowe, Shirley Jones, Earl Edwards and Ben Broyles, quickly becoming their lead singer. He was drafted by the U.S. Army to Germany for three years, returned to Chicago in 1960, and rejoined his bandmates. Through music industry contacts, the Dukays were offered a recording contract by the Chicago based Nat Records. The first single was titled "The Girl Is a Devil." In 1961, Nat Records released a song titled "Nite Owl", and the band went back to the recording studio to record once more.
The Duke is born
At the time, Nat Records wanted to release the new song "Duke of Earl", but was unable to. An executive with Vee-Jay Records, Calvin Carter, heard the song and wanted it for distribution as a song on his record label, but only as a Gene Chandler record. Vee-Jay were not interested in The Dukays.
Meanwhile, the previously recorded "Nite Owl" was on the charts, putting Chandler in a dilemma. He thus recorded with The Dukays under the name 'Gene Dixon' and recorded solo as 'Gene Chandler'.
When VeeJay was finally able to release "Duke of Earl", it sent it out as by Chandler, even though the Dukays had recorded it. The song sold a million copies in just over one month."The Duke" was born. Chandler can be seen in the full 'Duke' outfit singing "The Duke of Earl" in the 1962 movie, Don't Knock the Twist, starring Chubby Checker.
The Duke lives on
After spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Magazine charts, Chandler got a cape, a monocle, a top hat and a cane. He simply became "The Duke of Earl" and his concerts drew a large crowd. Occasionally he would come out for an encore, usually "Rainbow." "Rainbow" was one of Chandler's collaborations with Curtis Mayfield, and the only song Chandler has ever recorded three times. Each time the song has been re-recorded, it became a hit all over again.
Chandler left Vee Jay and recorded for Constellation Records and then for Chess and Brunswick Records. He wound up recording for Chess and Brunswick at the same time. This left the record labels with having to work out a compromise. It was decided that the companies would alternate Chandler's releases, a new one from Brunswick, followed by a release from Chess. In 1964, he had a Top 20 pop hit with the Curtis Mayfield produced "Just Be True"; another Top 20 pop hit in 1965 with "Nothing Can Stop Me", another Mayfield song, and hits throughout the 1960s with the songs "What Now", "A Man's Temptation", "Bless Our Love", and "You Can't Hurt Me No More". He also had success with his cover of James Brown's "There Was A Time" (taken from his 1968 Brunswick album of the same name); and "You Threw A Lucky Punch" - Chandler's answer song to the Mary Wells' Motown hit "You Beat Me To The Punch". Almost all of these songs were Top 5 R&B hits. To date, Chandler has had more than 30 chart hits. Throughout his career, he has maintained a close personal friendship with Mayfield, Butler, and the other members of The Impressions (Sam Gooden and Fred Cash), and they could be frequently heard as background singers on his recordings. In the late 1960s he also recorded a couple of reasonably successful duets with Barbara Acklin.
In 1970, Chandler teamed with Butler for the album Gene and Jerry: One on One on the Mercury label . He also guest starred with Mayfield, Butler and the group on the live album: Curtis in Chicago (1973).
After a number of years on the road, Chandler decided to become more involved with the business end of the music industry. He produced, wrote, arranged, and he had another major hit in 1970 on Mercury. "Groovy Situation", was a pop and R&B success (reaching #12 and #8 respectively), his second biggest hit after "Duke Of Earl". This disc sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. in November 1970.
The hits he recorded and produced earned him The National Association of Television and Radio Announcers 'Producer of the Year' award in 1970. It should be noted that Chandler was nominated with Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Norman Whitfield, who were successful producers at that time, working with The Temptations and the Philadelphia soul sound.
Chandler went on to have a number of disco era hits, including "Get Down," "When You're #1," "Does She Have A Friend?" and "Rainbow '80."[1] Most of these were more popular in the United Kingdom. At that time, he was also the Executive Vice President of Chi-Sound Records, and worked with reggae star, Johnny Nash.
Revival
In the late 1970s, even whilst he was placing hits on the disco chart, the nostalgia craze began. DJ Wolfman Jack put together a traveling show of "oldies" acts, and Chandler joined them in the travels around the country.
In 1997 Chandler was inducted as a Pioneer Award honoree into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
In 2002, his #1 hit recording of "Duke Of Earl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
He still performs in Chicago, Las Vegas and elsewhere around the U.S.
"Duke of Earl" was played in the 1988 film, Hairspray. It was also sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Hand on the Pump" on their 1991 album, Cypress Hill. Equally, Chandler's song "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" was also sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Legalize It" on their 1993 album, Black Sunday. "Groovy Situation" appeared on 2004's Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture
There Was A Time
Gene Chandler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a time
When I used to dance
There was a time
When I used to prance
Dig me now, baby, ha
Here's a dance I used to do
They call the mash potato, oh
Lookie here
There was a dance
They call the jerk
Everybody relax
And watch me work
All right, lookie here
In my home town
Up here with the boys
The name of the place
Is Chicago, Illinois
Up there, we have a good time
We don't talk, ha
Instead we all get together
Any type of weather
Then we do the camel walk, wow
All right, lookie here
Now there was a dance
That I used to do now
The name of the dance
They call the boogaloo, ha
I may not do the dance
As well as you, ha
But you can bet your bottom dollar
You'll never hear me holler
I'll do the best that I can do, wow
All right, lookie here
There was a time
Sometimes I danced
Sometimes I danced
Baby, sometimes I danced
Baby, baby, baby, yeah
They call me the woman handler
They call me the woman handler
But you can bet you
Haven't seen nothing yet
Until you've seen me do
The Gene Chandler, wow
In Gene Chandler's song "There Was A Time," the lyrics describe the singer's experiences with dancing and different styles of dance, in addition to his hometown of Chicago. The lyrics mention several specific dances, including the Mash Potato, the Jerk, the Camel Walk, and the Boogaloo. The singer also alludes to his reputation as a skilled dancer, including the nickname "the woman handler."
The lyrics of the song suggest an irreverent and carefree attitude towards dancing and life in general. The lines "dig me now, baby, don't worry bout later" express a philosophy of living in the moment and enjoying oneself without concern for the future. The song also captures a sense of camaraderie and community, particularly in the lines "we all get together, any type of weather" which suggest a shared sense of resilience and joy in the face of challenge.
Overall, the lyrics of "There Was A Time" celebrate the joy and freedom of dancing and of living life on one's own terms. Through references to specific dances and a bold and confident attitude, the song captures the exuberance of youth and the thrill of experiencing new things.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four
Counting off, getting ready to start the song
There was a time
Recalling a past era
When I used to dance
Remembering dancing in the past
When I used to prance
Remembering being carefree
Dig me now, baby, ha
Noticing and acknowledging oneself
Don't worry bout later, ha
Not worrying about the future, focusing on the present
Here's a dance I used to do
Sharing information about one's past
They call the mash potato, oh
Sharing the name of the dance
Lookie here
Drawing attention to something
There was a dance
Another dance is being described
They call the jerk
Sharing the name of another dance
Everybody relax
Encouraging people to be calm
And watch me work
Inviting people to watch one dance
All right, lookie here
Repeating the same phrase from earlier
In my home town
Describing one's place of origin
Up here with the boys
Being with friends or peers of the same gender
The name of the place
Revealing the location in question
Is Chicago, Illinois
Sharing the name of the city and state
Up there, we have a good time
Indicating that one enjoys themselves where they're from
We don't talk, ha
Not focusing on conversation
Instead we all get together
Emphasizing social activities
Any type of weather
Not being deterred by the weather
Then we do the camel walk, wow
Describing another dance
Now there was a dance
Another dance is being mentioned
That I used to do now
Recalling a past action
The name of the dance
Sharing the name of the dance in question
They call the boogaloo, ha
Indicating the name of another dance
I may not do the dance
Admitting that one may not be good at the dance
As well as you, ha
Acknowledging that someone else may be better
But you can bet your bottom dollar
Confidently stating that one will do their best
You'll never hear me holler
Claiming that one won't complain
I'll do the best that I can do, wow
Promising to try hard
There was a time
Repeating the beginning of the song
Sometimes I danced
Remembering dancing in the past
Sometimes I danced
Repeating the same line
Baby, sometimes I danced
Addressing someone affectionately and repeating the line
Baby, baby, baby, yeah
Repeating the same phrase multiple times
They call me the woman handler
Sharing a title or nickname one has
They call me the woman handler
Repeating the same line
But you can bet you
Indicating confidence in oneself
Haven't seen nothing yet
Claiming there is more to come
Until you've seen me do
Encouraging someone to see something
The Gene Chandler, wow
Naming a dance after oneself
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Garry Willis
Saw him live singing this at The Central Pier Morecambe in the 80s
DetroitLives313
I love Gene Chandler's music! I wore out socks doing the "James Brown" to this when I was a kid LOL
Carlo Duncan
Love that drumbreak intro. It tells you all you need to know about what is about to happen!
Soul Strut
Smokin' tune. You could tell it was an energetic session when you can here the "wooo!" at 3:31
Steven Stewardson
Oh yes I remember buying this 40 years ago I'm a fan of GENE CHANDLER he made loads of soul sounds kTF ladies & gents ! ! !
Neil Bustin
can't get enough of this play it again and some more.
brian cunningham
one of my all time favs brilliant
JULES G
Fantastic track, wish my legs could still move so fast to dance to it..x
Candace Smith
I am a James Brown fan. But I do like this cover...
Michelle Jones
This came out when I was in school. I loved both versions! I missed