The group formed in the late 1950s when The Chanteurs (Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, and Clarence Johnson) teamed up with Marshall Thompson and Creadel "Red" Jones to form The Hi-lites. Wishing to add a tribute to their home town of Chicago, they changed their name to the Chi-Lites" in 1964. Johnson left later that year, and their name was subsequently shortened to The Chi-Lites.
Eugene Record was the group's primary songwriter, though he frequently collaborated with others, such as Barbara Acklin.
Their major hits came in 1971, with "Have You Seen Her?", and 1972, with "Oh Girl".. In fact, The Mighty Majors ("You Can Never Go Back") won 1st Place at the Apollo Theatre Wednesday night Talent Show the night that The Chi-Lites were performing one of their finest performances ever at The Apollo that night in the early '70's.
Other transatlantic chart smashes followed, although the output became more fragmented as the group's personnel came and went. For example, bass singer Creadel Jones left in 1973 and was replaced in quick succession by Stanley Anderson; Willie Kensey; and then Doc Roberson. Shortly thereafter, Eugene Record left, and David Scott and Danny Johnson entered.
More personnel changes ensued, when Johnson was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977.
At that point the group totally disintegrated, but re-formed in 1980 with the mid sixties quartet of Record, Thompson, Jones, and Lester back together. Creadel Jones left for a second time in 1982, leaving the group as a trio. Record left again in 1990, and new lead Anthony Watson was recruited, considered by many to be one of the best in the group's history. (It should be noted that Robert Lester took over lead of "Oh Girl", while Watson led the other songs.) The group also featured an ever-changing female member.
Once the hits had completely dried up, further changes took place. In the early 1990s, Creadel Jones returned again, but would subsequently leave. Throughout the 1990s, Watson left twice; each time Frank Reed took over as lead singer. In 2002 the group was comprised of Marshall Thompson, Robert Lester, Anthony Watson, and Tara Henderson. Watson left for a third time, when Thompson's wife took over as female vocalist.
The present day group is virtual 'ever presents' - Marshall Thompson, and Robert Lester; plus Tara Thompson, and new lead singer, Frank Reed. Robert :Squirrel" Lester Passed away on Jan. 21st, 2010.
One relatively unknown album track by the group from the 70's, 'Are You My Woman', had its main riff sampled by Destiny's Child group member Beyoncé Knowles, on her massive world-wide hit 'Crazy in Love'.
In addition, their song "Oh Girl" was sped up and sampled by Paul Wall in his song "Girl".
The original lead vocalist, and main songwriter, Eugene Record died on Friday, July 22, 2005
Here I Am
The Chi-Lites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't hide, gonna find you and keep you happy
Ready or not here I come
You can't hide, gonna love you and make you love me
You can't run away
From this love I got, oh baby
Hey baby, 'cause I got a lot, yeah
My poor heart got to know, oh baby
Hey baby, you can't hide from my love, oh no
Ready or not here I come
You can't hide, gonna find you and keep you happy
Ready or not here I come
You can't hide, gonna love you and make you love me
Anywhere you go
My poor heart got to know
Oh baby, hey baby
You can't hide from my love
Ready or not here I come
You can't hide, gonna find you and keep you happy
Ready or not here I come
You can't hide
The lyrics to The Chi-Lites’ song “Here I Am” convey a relentless pursuit of love. The singer declares that he/she is ready to find and keep the object of their affection happy, and that they cannot hide from this love. The repeated line “Ready or not here I come/ You can’t hide, gonna find you and keep you happy” echoes the game of hide-and-seek, implying that love is a pursuit that the singer is determined to win.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer’s love is all-encompassing and persistent, as they declare that the object of their affection cannot run away from this love. The line “Anywhere you go/ My poor heart got to know” suggests that the singer’s love is so strong that it extends to wherever the object of their affection may go.
Overall, the lyrics of “Here I Am” speak to the universal human desire for love and the lengths one may go to in order to pursue it.
Line by Line Meaning
Ready or not here I come
I am ready to pursue you and the love that I seek
You can't hide, gonna find you and keep you happy
No matter how far you go, I will search for you to ensure your happiness
Ready or not here I come
I am still ready to pursue you
You can't hide, gonna love you and make you love me
No matter how hard you try to resist, I will shower you with love until you love me back
You can't run away
No matter how much you try to distance yourself, my love will keep chasing you
From this love I got, oh baby
My love for you is intense and impossible to ignore
Hey baby, 'cause I got a lot, yeah
I have an abundance of love for you that I want to share
Anywhere you go
No matter where you go, I will follow and love you
My poor heart got to know, oh baby
My heart needs to be near you to survive and be happy
Hey baby, you can't hide from my love, oh no
You cannot escape my intense love and affection
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS RANDOLPH BELL, WILLIAM ALEXANDER N HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jakko
Absolutely Superb!!!!!!!!! Fantastic guitar intro...love it to the max....Fabulous Harmonies...Eugene Record sounding really clean...BOOMSHOT!!!!!!!!!!
Pietro Bausano
Tremendo recuerdo de este cuarteto vocal de Chicago Illinois perteneciente a su álbum Half a Love de 1975 !!!!! Queeeeé éeeeepoooocaaaaasssss Dios mio !!!!!! Esta joyita fue cara b cuando existían los entrañables discos de vinilo !!!!! Lloro de la nostalgia !!!!! Un millón de gracias a Carlos Bertelli por rememorar o evocar tiempos maravillosos de mi vida en su prestigioso programa Top 20 de Aerobox en Dias de Gloria on Line Fm !!!!! De Montevideo Uruguay para el mundo !!!!! Soy un super melómano !!!!! Viva la buena música !!!!!
FRANCISCO GARCIA GONZALEZ
ESTA CANCIÓN DE " THE CHI LITES ", SOLÍA ESCUCHARLA EN LOS ´70s, A ALTAS HORAS DE LA NOCHE EN LA VIEJA RADIO " VIDA " ( HOY LA COPE Y, HASTA HOY, NO LA HABÍA VUELTO A OIR. GRATO RECUERDO DE MIS JUVENILES Y SOLITARIAS NOCHES, PEGADO A LA RADIO QUE, APARTE DEL TOCADISCOS Y LOS PRIMEROS RADIOCASSETTES QUE DE ALEMANIA TRAÍAN LOS QUE HASTA ALLÍ EMIGRARON, ERA LO QUE HABIA.
Malcome Gazadar
Great harmony and good melody from these songs
Trevor Campbell
This song could pass for a Stylistic recording! Love it
david hitchcock
That is a really good song by them! ☺
i love the Chi Lites
Josè Luis Thielen
Fantastic melody of the 70s
P Allen
Totally synchronized harmony. They dont make these any more. Love the way the beat comes in at the introduction
MusicLady3904
I have been searching for this song for soooooo long. I'm happy I found it. thanks a million!
patrick henny
Love this song so much