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
Too Good to Be Forgotten
The Chi-Lites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too good to be forgotten.
Benny was a boy I met while walking home one day
He made me forget my marbles
He said he had another game to play.
One thing led to another
Just one of the reasons why I got him by my side today.
He was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten
No
I'll never let him get away.
One in a million people
Shout it from the highest steeple.
He's just one of the few
Got my mind
Got my life wrapped up in love!
Well
His hair was shiny
Long and black
It smelled so sweet and bright
I thought of him and dreamed of him all night affer
Night.
I love the ground he walks on
The very air he breathes
I ain't never gonna leave him 'cause I am as happy as
I can be.
He's just too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say
He was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten
No
I'Il never let him get away.
He was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten
No
I'll never let him get away.
He was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Fifty million'reasons why I'll never let him get away.
He was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten
No
I'll never let him get away.
The Chi-Lites’ song “Too Good to Be Forgotten” is a soulful tribute to the power of love and the memories that come with it. The song starts with the story of Benny, who the singer meets while walking home one day. Benny captures the singer’s attention and makes her forget her marbles. He suggests another game to play and one thing leads to another. The singer is in awe of Benny and what he brings to her life. She has him by her side and feels that he is too good to be forgotten.
The theme of this song is the beauty of true love and how it can be hard to forget. The lines “One in a million people, Shout it from the highest steeple” emphasize how the singer feels about Benny; he is one of a kind and she wants the world to know. The lyrics “I love the ground he walks on, The very air he breathes, I ain't never gonna leave him 'cause I am as happy as I can be” reflect the singer’s deep commitment to their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Too good to be forgotten
The subject is expressing how special their partner is
Too good to be forgotten.
Reiteration of the fact that the subject's partner is precious and irreplaceable
Benny was a boy I met while walking home one day
The subject is recalling how they met their partner, Benny
He made me forget my marbles
Benny was able to distract the subject so much that they forgot what they were doing before meeting him
He said he had another game to play.
Benny compelled the subject to join him in whatever adventure he had in store
One thing led to another
The subject is acknowledging that their relationship with Benny progressed naturally
Now what more can T sar?
There's nothing else to be said about their connection
Just one of the reasons why I got him by my side today.
Their effortless compatibility is one of many factors keeping Benny in the subject's life
No
Negation of the possibility of letting Benny go
I'll never let him get away.
The subject will treasure Benny always
One in a million people
Benny is a rare gem to the subject
Shout it from the highest steeple.
The subject declares their love and admiration for Benny to the world
He's just one of the few
Benny is one of the select individuals who have captured the subject's heart
Got my mind
Benny has the subject's full attention
Got my life wrapped up in love!
Benny is the center of the subject's world and they are filled with love while with him
His hair was shiny
The subject is waxing poetic, describing Benny's physical attributes
Long and black
Continuation of physical descriptions
It smelled so sweet and bright
Benny's scent was alluring to the subject
I thought of him and dreamed of him all night affer / Night.
The subject heavily ponders and dreams of Benny
I love the ground he walks on
The subject loves every minute that they are with Benny
The very air he breathes
Benny's mere existence brings the subject joy
I ain't never gonna leave him 'cause I am as happy as / I can be.
The subject intends to stay with Benny because he completes them and makes them feel entirely contented
He was too good to be forgotten
Reiteration of the idea that Benny is one-of-a-kind and precious
Fifty million'reasons why I'll never let him get away.
The subject lists a vast amount of reasons why Benny is so important to them, thus they will not let him slip away
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARBARA ACKLIN, EUGENE RECORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maxwell Johnson
Too Good To Be Forgotten"
Too good to be forgotten
Too good to be forgotten
Maybelline was a girl I met while walking home one day
She made me forget my marbles
She said she had another game to play
One thing led to another
Now what more can I say?
Just one of the reasons why I got her by my side today
She was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten, no
I'll never let her get away
One in a million people
Shout it from the highest steeple
She's just one of the few
Got my mind, got my life wrapped up in love
Well, her hair was shiny, Long and black
It smelled so sweet and bright
I thought of her and dreamed of her all night after night
I love the ground she walks on
The very air she breathes
I ain't never gonna leave her 'cause I am as happy as I can be
She's just too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten
I'll never let her get away
One in a million people
Shout it from the highest steeple
She's just one of the few
Got my mind, got my life wrapped up in love
She was too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten, no
I'll never let her get away
Too good to be forgotten
That's all that I can say
Too good to be forgotten, no
I'll never let her get away
Too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Fifty million reasons why
I'll never let her get away
Too good to be forgotten
Now what more can I say?
Too good to be forgotten, no
I'll never let her get away
...
Supremo
This was my mums jam sadly she gained her angel wings in March she was one of a kind most definitely too good to be forgotten! Love you mum x
adriana klick
So much love, hugs and smiles flowing to you now and always 🙏✨💕 I'm digging this jam today as I revisit songs I listened and danced to with my mum. Shaking my tail feathers to this all day ✨
XaviClot
God bless you and your mom!
Nick Patey
Love this song. Happy, crisp and from a time when the lyrics were clean and respectful
Janet Mcardle
The Chilites are to good to be forgotten superb tune love my 70's music
Chrissy Oakleypalmer
Played this death on vinyl back in the day, still sounds as good in 2019, am now 58 years old.
sally archer
Chrissy Oakleypalmer it's fab !!!
Chrissy Oakleypalmer
Great song which I played to death on vinyl back in the day, happy memories of the 1970's.
Drewpac
This song plays about 15 times a day at the retail store I work at... its been stuck in my head for weeks
Kim Lewis
I was merely 15 years old loved this tune had it on single and played the life out of it ,drove my parents mad