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
Never Had It So Good and Felt So Bad
The Chi-Lites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in front of the judge
Because I knew, that whatever went down
I would be a free man, yeah
Well, I ran into this friend of mine, just the other day
And he told me he had heard about my freedom
And that if he ever saw me,
So he said:
"Who would be with you when the flame dies down'
Who will you depend on when no one else is around?"
I looked at him and said
"You know, I like being on the loose"
But now, that I think about it, I got to tell the truth
Our day in court's been one year to the day
Our first anniversary going our separate ways
As I celebrate being free at last
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
Went window shopping just this afternoon
How she used to want me to take her
Saw a silly looking hat she sure would have had
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
She don't wait up at night for me, no more
I make excuses to the hat-rack by the door
My kind of happiness has finally come
Bet you know, it's kinda sad
Never had it so good, and felt so bad (and felt so bad)
When I took a drink, I never heard her complain
She never dragged me shopping
When I could have watched a ball game
The grass is growing tall
And I, I'm getting kind of fat
Never had it so good, and felt so bad (and felt so bad)
Never had it so good, and felt so bad (and felt so bad)
Oh, my baby, my baby
Oh I got to admit it, that I made a mistake
Tell me how much more
Can a poor heart take'
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
Never had it so good, and felt
so bad
The Chi-Lites song "I Never Had It So Good" describes the bittersweet feelings of a man who has recently been released from jail. He feels like a king when he stands in front of the judge upon his release because he knows he's a free man. However, he runs into a friend who questions him about his new-found freedom and the woman he used to be with. The lyrics make it clear that he is struggling with conflicting emotions about his situation. On the one hand, he notes that "I like being on the loose". On the other hand, he recognizes that he has "never had it so good, and felt so bad".
The song describes the man's feelings of disconnection and isolation from his former life. He goes window shopping and sees a hat that his ex-girlfriend would have loved but knows she is no longer waiting up for him. He takes solace in a drink or watching a ball game alone. He is aware that this is not the life he would have wanted, but he feels trapped by his own mistakes. The lyrics show that he is coming to grips with his regret and mistakes but that he cannot seem to break free from them.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, yeah, I felt like a king
Standing in front of the judge
Because I knew, that whatever went down
I would be a free man, yeah
I felt powerful and confident facing the judge knowing that I would walk away a free man no matter what happened.
Well, I ran into this friend of mine, just the other day
And he told me he had heard about my freedom
And that if he ever saw me,
there were a few things that he'd like to say and
So he said:
Recently, I saw a friend who heard that I was now free and he had some questions for me about it.
"Who would be with you when the flame dies down'
Who will you depend on when no one else is around?"
I looked at him and said
"You know, I like being on the loose"
But now, that I think about it, I got to tell the truth
My friend asked me who I would rely on when I was alone and no one else was around, I shrugged it off but now I realize that he had a point.
Our day in court's been one year to the day
Our first anniversary going our separate ways
As I celebrate being free at last
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
It's been exactly a year since I went to court and became a free man, but the celebration feels bittersweet because I'm not sure what my new life will bring.
Went window shopping just this afternoon
How she used to want me to take her
Saw a silly looking hat she sure would have had
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
While window shopping, I saw a hat that my significant other would have loved but now that we are apart, it makes me sad to think about what we used to have.
She don't wait up at night for me, no more
i make excuses to the hat-rack by the door
My kind of happiness has finally come
Bet you know, it's kinda sad
Never had it so good, and felt so bad (and felt so bad)
My ex doesn't wait up for me anymore and I have to make excuses to an inanimate object for my late nights. While I'm happy being free, it's also somewhat depressing to be alone.
When I took a drink, I never heard her complain
She never dragged me shopping
When I could have watched a ball game
The grass is growing tall
And I, I'm getting kind of fat
Never had it so good, and felt so bad (and felt so bad)
Never had it so good, and felt so bad (and felt so bad)
When I was with my ex, she never bothered me about drinking or interrupted my sports-watching, but now that I'm alone, I'm letting things go and it's starting to show. I feel both good and bad about my new situation.
Oh, my baby, my baby
Oh I got to admit it, that I made a mistake
Tell me how much more
Can a poor heart take'
Never had it so good, and felt so bad
Never had it so good, and felt
I miss my ex and realize that I made a mistake. I wonder how much more heartbreak I can bear. I feel conflicted because while I'm free now, I also feel regretful about losing what I had before.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EUGENE RECORD, STANLEY WAYNE MCKENNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
euphrates556
No group has had smoother vocals, tight arrangements and a lead singer who can write songs that tug at your heart, than the Chi-lites!
arron Thompson
Damn right mate 👍❤️
Arthur Simpson
This is timeless music with so much meaning and love, even with the sadness!!! Always loved this group
Andrew Crawford
Exactly. Even with those tight harmonies and superb lead vocals, those bass piano licks played between them singing the chorus at the end really seems to bring an extra sadness to the song in my opinion.
Andrew Crawford
Exactly. Even with those tight harmonies and superb lead vocals, those bass piano licks played between them singing the chorus at the end really seems to bring an extra sadness to the song in my opinion.
richard thurston
Fantastic band seen many times in 70,80, quality of the highest level 😍😍😍❤
Barry H.
I adored this Chicago group back in the 70s, and i still do now ...... and i've never forgotten this brilliant song, it's absolute quality.
Clive
Eugene Record interprets his poetry like no other. The Chi-Lites are the smoothest , most harmonious and melodic group from the seventies. I bought every record I can find from their plethora of songs.
Jimmie Perryman
Temps...
jazzy3one
CHI-LITES TIMELESS !!!!!