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)
Choosing Up On You
The Dells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I'm crazy about you
Give it up so I can get it right now
Don't let me walk away without it
I'm choosing up on you, baby
You're the only one for me, it's true
I'm choosing up on you, baby
I've got many fine girls to choose from
Up and them I shall refrain
If you would only surrender your love to me, baby
Don't let me walk away in vain
Choosing up on you, baby
You're the only girl for me, it's true
I'm choosing up on you, baby
My first, last and only choice is you
I'll never make you blue
I'll always treat you right
Give all my sweet love to you, baby
Each and every night
I'm choosing up on you, baby
Give all my love to you
I'm choosing up on you, baby
Wasn't my choice, baby just you
I can get a thrill, anywhere I can get a thrill
But when it comes to satisfaction, hey baby
You're the star of the show
You're the main attraction
I'll never make you blue
I'll always treat you right, ooh, baby
Give all my sweet love to you, baby
Each and every night
I'm choosing, I'm choosing up on you, baby
You were the only one for me, it's true I won't say it again
I'm choosing up on you, girl
Wasn't my choice, baby just you
Yes, I said I'm choosing you
I said I'm choosing you
I said I'm choosing you
Well baby, it's true
In the song "Choosing Up On You," The Dells express their deep desire for a girl whom they see as the only one that truly matters to them. The lyrics are straightforward, declaring their love and intentions to the subject. They want her to give herself up to them so that they can experience true love with her. The song is about their decision to commit to her, despite having options, as they feel that none of the other ladies can compare to her.
The chorus of the song clearly declares that the subject of their affections is the only one they want. They have other options, but they are all inferior to her. The lyrics, "I'm choosing up on you, baby, you're the only one for me, it's true" conveys the message that they prefer her over all the other girls. They also reassure her that they will always treat her right, never making her blue. The repetition of the phrase "I'm choosing you" reinforces the idea that she's their only choice and they will not let her go.
Overall, the song is a declaration of love and commitment. The Dells are saying that they have made up their minds, and there is no question that the girl they want is the subject of their adoration. They have been searching for the right one, and they have found her. It is a classic love song that captures the excitement of finding that one person that makes your heart skip a beat.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got what I like, baby
I find your qualities attractive
You know I'm crazy about you
I have intense feelings for you
Give it up so I can get it right now
I want to be intimate with you immediately
Don't let me walk away without it
I don't want to leave empty-handed
I'm choosing up on you, baby
I'm selecting you as my top pick
You're the only one for me, it's true
You are the perfect match for me
I've got many fine girls to choose from
I have multiple options for romantic partners
Up and them I shall refrain
I am avoiding those other options
If you would only surrender your love to me, baby
I hope you will commit to a relationship with me
Don't let me walk away in vain
I don't want to leave without accomplishing my goal
My first, last and only choice is you
You are the one I want to be with, forever
I'll never make you blue
I will never hurt or upset you
I'll always treat you right
I will always be respectful and kind to you
Give all my sweet love to you, baby
I will give you all of my affection and attention
Each and every night
Every night without fail
Wasn't my choice, baby just you
You were the clear winner, it wasn't a difficult decision
I can get a thrill, anywhere I can get a thrill
I can find excitement in many things
But when it comes to satisfaction, hey baby
When it comes to fulfillment, nothing compares to you
You're the star of the show
You are the most important person in my life
I won't say it again
I will not repeat myself
You were the only one for me, it's true
I meant what I said, you are my soulmate
Yes, I said I'm choosing you
I have made my decision and it's you
Well baby, it's true
My feelings for you are genuine
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY HESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind