The Dells grew up in Harvey, Illinois and began singing together while attending Thornton Township High School. Forming in 1952 under the name the El-Rays, the group initially consisted of Marvin Junior, Mickey McGill, Lucius McGill, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, and Johnny Funches. Lucius soon left the group and the remaining quintet signed with Checker Records, releasing their first single, "Darling I Know," which flopped.
In 1955, the group renamed themselves the Dells and signed with Vee-Jay Records. In 1956, they recorded their first hit, "Oh, What a Nite" (a song co-written by Johnny Funches, who also sang lead on the recording alongside Marvin Junior), which hit the Top 5 of the R&B singles chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The song is ranked #260 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In November 1958, the Dells suffered a car accident that left McGill in a hospital in Ohio for six months. The group temporarily disbanded and Barksdale sang as a member of Harvey Fuqua's spinoff Moonglows act, Harvey and the Moonglows, which included a young Marvin Gaye. In 1961, the Dells reunited and auditioned for Dinah Washington. After Washington agreed to hire them, Johnny Funches left the group to take care of his family. Funches was replaced by Flamingos founding member Johnny Carter and sang background for Washington for two years. In 1966, they were hired to open for Ray Charles, only to be fired after a performance resulted in several standing ovations. The group would also sing background for Barbara Lewis, mainly on Lewis' 1963 hit, "Hello Stranger", while also working with Quincy Jones, who helped to fine-tune their vocals for standards and jazz material.
In 1966, the Dells returned to Chess under the label's Cadet subsidiary working with Bobby Miller and future Earth, Wind & Fire arranger Charles Stepney. In 1967, the Dells issued the album There Is which included their first R&B chart-topper in years with the title track, which showcased the sharp baritone of Marvin Junior and the harmonies with the four other Dells. The song was also their first top 20 pop hit.
Subsequent R&B hits included "Wear It on Our Face," "Always Together" (Top 20 Pop, "I Can Sing a Rainbow - Love is Blue (medley)" (UK #15), and their first #1 R&B hit and first Top Ten pop hit, 1968's "Stay in My Corner," which reached #10 on the pop chart and showcased both Carter and Marvin in lead vocals. In the following year, 1969, The Dells' soulful remake of their debut hit, "Oh What a Night" gave the group their second chart-topping R&B single and also reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. For a second time, the song sold over a million copies. Subsequent hits included "Open Up My Heart," "Oh What A Day," and "On the Dock of the Bay." In 1971, the Dells' "The Love We Had Stays on My Mind" became another Top Ten hit on the R&B charts, also reaching the pop Top 30. By this time Charles Stepney had taken over production duties from Bobby Miller. 1973's "Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation" was their third certified gold record. The song was written by L.V. Johnson and produced by Don Davis.
Leaving Cadet around the end of 1974 with the parent company in financial difficulties, the group would continue recording in order under the Mercury, ABC, and Virgin labels finding some hits, including 1980's "I Touched a Dream", which returned the group to the top 40 on the R&B charts. The Dells were confined mostly to the oldies market afterwards until they were asked to be creative consultants to Robert Townsend's acclaimed 1991 film, The Five Heartbeats, which was loosely based on the lives of The Dells and other groups of its era. The group recorded a composition titled "A Heart Is a House for Love". The song reached number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart, making them only one of two groups to have hit singles in five decades. The following year, signing with PIR, they released the album, I Salute You. The Dells continued performing and recording sporadically in the early years of the new millennium. In 2004, the group were inducted to both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group continued performing until 2012.
Original Dells vocalist Johnny Funches died of pneumonia on January 23, 1998, at the age of 62.
Johnny Carter died of cancer on August 21, 2009, at the age of 75. Carter is one of the few artists to be a double Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted with The Flamingos in 2001, and the Dells in 2004.
On May 29, 2013, founding member Marvin Junior died in his sleep at his home in Harvey, Illinois, succumbing to complications of kidney failure and a weak heart at the age of 77.
Chuck Barksdale died on 15 May 2019, at the age of 83.
Members
Marvin Junior (born Marvin Curtis Junior, January 31, 1936, Harrell, Arkansas – May 29, 2013) - lead baritone, lead vocals (1952-1958, 1960–2012)
Verne Allison (b. June 22, 1936, Chicago) - second tenor, background vocals (1952-1958, 1960-2012)
Mickey McGill (b. February 17, 1937, Chicago) - baritone, background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
Chuck Barksdale (January 11, 1935 - May 15, 2019) - bass, background vocals (1952–1958, 1960-2012)
Johnny Funches (July 18, 1935, Chicago – January 23, 1998) - first tenor, lead vocals (1952–58, 1960-1961)
Lucius McGill (b. 1935, Chicago) - second tenor, background vocals (1952–54)
Johnny Carter (June 2, 1934, Chicago – August 21, 2009) - first tenor/falsetto, lead vocals (1961–2009)
The Best In Me
The Dells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama said I chase too many thrills, need to take it slow
But I got no brakes, I keep my foot on the gas
Been going way too hard, I just hope I don't crash
Girl ever since you left I need something to help me fill the void
Baby our matrimony was unholy
Get drunk to help console me
You walk around like you don't know me
When you used to know me best
(Used to know me best)
Ooooo
(Used to know me best)
Ooooo
You my drug of choice, now you're gone and I'm feeling withdrawals
Deep down I know I should've never got my feelings involved
'Cause I get no sleep without you here in my bed
I'm going nuts, I gotta get you out of my head
I hate the thought of you with someone else and I'm so paranoid
Baby our matrimony was unholy
Get drunk to help console me
You walk around like you don't know me
When you used to know me best
(Used to know me best)
Ooooo
(Used to know me best)
Ooooo
I hate that these memories still get the best of me
Need to get you out of my head
I hate that these memories still get the best of me
Need to get you out of my head
My head
Baby our matrimony was unholy
Get drunk to help console me
You walk around like you don't know me
When you used to know me best
(Used to know me best)
Ooooo
(Used to know me best)
Ooooo
The lyrics of The Dells's song "The Best In Me" convey a sense of longing and heartbreak, exploring the aftermath of a failed relationship. The first verse sets the scene of a protagonist who has been living life to the fullest, indulging in parties and thrills. However, their mother admonishes them for their recklessness and advises them to slow down. Despite this caution, the singer admits to having no brakes and continues to live on the edge. There is a fear of crashing, both metaphorically and possibly literally.
The chorus reveals the central theme of the song – the absence of the person they once loved. The singer feels a void since their departure and seeks comfort in temporary distractions such as drinking. They express frustration as the person now acts as if they are strangers, when they used to know each other intimately. The repetition of the line "Used to know me best" serves to emphasize the loss and sense of betrayal.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges their dependency on the person they have lost. They liken them to a drug of choice, highlighting the withdrawal symptoms they experience without their presence. The line "I'm going nuts, I gotta get you out of my head" depicts the internal struggle they face in trying to let go. They despise the thought of their former lover being with someone else and admit to being paranoid about it.
The final chorus expresses the ongoing torment caused by memories of the past. The singer recognizes the need to move on and free themselves from the lingering thoughts of their lost love. However, the battle to let go remains an ongoing struggle, as the memories continue to have power over them.
Overall, "The Best In Me" captures the raw emotions of heartbreak, loss, and the difficulty of letting go. It delves into the intense longing for someone who was once everything, and the pain of trying to navigate life without them.
Line by Line Meaning
Party every night as if it's the only thing I know
I constantly engage in wild and extravagant activities, as if they are the only things that define me.
Mama said I chase too many thrills, need to take it slow
My mother cautioned me about my excessive pursuit of excitement and advised me to slow down.
But I got no brakes, I keep my foot on the gas
I have no intention of slowing down; I continue to push forward with unwavering intensity.
Been going way too hard, I just hope I don't crash
I have been living my life excessively and recklessly, and I hope that it does not lead to a destructive outcome.
Girl ever since you left I need something to help me fill the void
Since you departed from my life, I have desperately sought something or someone to fill the deep emptiness within me.
Baby our matrimony was unholy
Our marriage was tainted and impure, lacking the sanctity and righteousness it should have possessed.
Get drunk to help console me
I turn to alcohol as a means of seeking solace and comfort in order to alleviate my emotional pain.
You walk around like you don't know me
You behave as though you are unfamiliar with my existence and have distanced yourself from the deep connection we once shared.
When you used to know me best
There was a time when you possessed the greatest understanding and familiarity with who I truly am.
You my drug of choice, now you're gone and I'm feeling withdrawals
You were the substance of choice that brought me immense pleasure and addiction, and now that you're gone, I am experiencing the painful symptoms of withdrawal.
Deep down I know I should've never got my feelings involved
In my innermost being, I am aware that I made a mistake by allowing myself to become emotionally invested in our relationship.
'Cause I get no sleep without you here in my bed
The absence of your presence beside me in bed prevents me from experiencing any restful sleep.
I'm going nuts, I gotta get you out of my head
I am slowly losing my sanity, and it is imperative that I find a way to remove you from my constant thoughts and obsession.
I hate the thought of you with someone else and I'm so paranoid
The mere idea of you being with another person fills me with intense hatred, fueling my overwhelming sense of paranoia.
I hate that these memories still get the best of me
It frustrates me immensely that these memories continue to have such a profound impact on my emotions and well-being.
Need to get you out of my head
It is crucial for my peace of mind and mental stability that I find a way to remove you from my constant thinking.
My head
All of these conflicting thoughts and memories reside within my mind, causing me great distress and anguish.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dell Ngonga
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind