Jacob Carey (Jake) and Ezekial Carey (Zeke), bass and 2nd tenor, respectively, formed the group in Chicago, Illinois, after meeting cousins baritone Paul Wilson and first tenor John E. "Johnny" Carter at a Hebrew Israelite congregation. Earl Lewis (not the Channels lead) soon joined, and after a series of name changes, (The Swallows, El Flamingos, The Five Flamingos), wound up being known as The Flamingos. Sollie McElroy soon replaced Lewis (who joined The Five Echoes). The Flamingos' first single (for Chance Records), "If I Can't Have You", was a moderate local success, as was the follow-up "That's My Desire", but it was Johnny Carter's composition of "Golden Teardrops," with its complex vocal harmonies and Carter's soaring falsetto, that cemented their reputation as a top regional act of the day.
The Flamingos left Chance Records sometime after their December 1953 session and signed with DJ Al Benson's Parrot Records. Sollie McElroy was on their first Parrot session, but left the group in December 1954, to be replaced by tenor Nate Nelson (who was on their second Parrot session; he's lead on "I'm Yours," released in January 1955). In early 1955, the Flamingos signed with Chess Records, to record for their Checker Records subsidiary. At Chess/Checker, the Flamingos achieved their first national chart hit with "I'll Be Home", which went to #5 on Billboard's R&B chart (Pat Boone's cover version, complete with incorrect lyrics, was a hit on the pop charts).[citation needed] The group also had moderate success for the label with other chestnuts like "A Kiss From Your Lips," "The Vow," and "Would I Be Crying". The Flamingos also appeared in the 1956 Alan Freed movie, Rock, Rock Rock. Both Zeke Carey and Carter were drafted that year (Carter was drafted in September).
Nate Nelson, Jake Carey, and Paul Wilson continued the group with new member Tommy Hunt (added in October 1956). Another new member, tenor/lead, guitarist, and arranger Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, joined in late December of that year. This group (Nate Nelson, Tommy Hunt, Terry Johnson, Paul Wilson, and Jake Carey) began recording for Decca Records in April 1957. Their most notable single was Johnson's arrangement of "The Ladder of Love", but legal entanglements between Checker and Nate Nelson ruined any chance of commercial success.[citation needed] Zeke Carey returned to the Flamingos in 1958, making the group a sextet. (When Johnny Carter was discharged from the service, he joined The Dells, performing with them for almost 50 years until his death in 2009.)
Zeke and Jake Carey were not blood-related, but were considered cousins, because of Zeke being adopted by Jake's aunt and uncle.
That year, the Flamingos began recording for George Goldner's End Records in New York City, where they had several national hits. Almost immediately, the group had their first pop chart hit with "Lovers Never Say Goodbye", written by Terry Johnson, who shared lead chores on the song with Paul Wilson. The formula was a winner as Terry and Paul also led three of the 12 songs selected for their first album Flamingo Serenade - George Gershwin's "Love Walked In", "But Not For Me" and "Time Was". The Flamingos would have their biggest seller in 1959 with another old standard from that LP, on which Nate Nelson handled lead chores. "I Only Have Eyes for You" (written in 1934 by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin for the film Dames) became their biggest seller, and has been featured in dozens of movies and TV shows. A long series of hits followed, including the Johnson-penned "Mio Amore", Doc Pomus' composition "Your Other Love", "Nobody Loves Me Like You" (written for the group by Sam Cooke), and "I Was Such a Fool". LP cuts "Love Walked In" and "Time Was" were also issued as singles.[citation needed] That same year, they appeared in the Alan Freed movie, Go, Johnny, Go, singing a frenetic version of "Jump Children" (originally recorded for Chance Records in the early days). The group became known almost as much for their stage show and choreography as for their harmonies. Groups including The Temptations and The Tavares would later credit the group as major influences.
The group began to come apart at the turn of the decade. Tommy Hunt left for a solo career in 1960. Nate Nelson and Terry Johnson split to form the "Modern Flamingos" in 1961, and went on to record as The Starglows on Atco Records in 1963. (The Modern Flamingos name was used later; the group would include members of the defunct Del-Knights in the late 1960s). New members were brought in, making the group Zeke Carey (tenor), Jake Carey (bass), Paul Wilson (baritone), Billy Clarke[disambiguation needed] (tenor), Eddie Williams (tenor), Alan Fontaine (guitar), and Julien Vaught (saxophone). Also Johnny Carter left in 1961 to join The Dells. Clarke and Williams took duties on most new lead vocals.
A sixth vocalist, Doug McClure, was added in 1962. Shortly afterwards, Clarke and Williams left the group. Founding member Paul Wilson left in 1964, new member Sidney Hall joined in 1966, and Jacob Carey's son J.C. Carey joined in 1969. They recorded several uptempo songs through the 1960s, peaking at #26 in the UK Singles Chart with "The Boogaloo Party". Around this time, the Flamingos formed their own label, Ronze, and produced many of their own recordings.
The group continued recording into the 1970s. A new album was released in 1972 on Ronze, entitled The Flamingos Today. By this time, the group was the Careys, McClure, Fontaine, the returning Billy Clarke, and former Limelite Clarence Bassett, Jr.[8][9] New member Frank "Mingo" Ayers joined soon after. More mildly successful recordings came in this decade, including the uptempo "Heavy Hips", and "Buffalo Soldier".
By 1980 the group was Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Frank Ayers, and Jerome Wilson. Ayers left around this time, joining the Del Vikings. In 1984, two new members joined: Bennie Cherry and Archie Satterfield. In 1988, the group was featured at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
By the early 1990s, the group was the Careys, Satterfield, Ron Reace, and Kenny Davis. Later, it was the Careys, Reace, and King Raymond Green. Jake Carey died in 1997. The group recorded a new album, Unspoken Emotions, under the Ronze label in 1999. It featuring re-recordings of "Ain't Nothing But A Party" and "I'll Be Home", led by Zeke Carey. The group appeared on the PBS television special Doo Wop 50 that same year. The lineup was Zeke Carey, J.C. Carey, Ron Reace, King Raymond Green, and Larry Jordan. Zeke Carey died in 2001. King Raymond Green and Ron Reace left around that time and were replaced by Earnest "Just Mike" Gilbert and former Dynamic Superior George Spann. James Faison entered shortly thereafter. Tommy Hunt has flown in from England (where he has lived since 1970) to perform with this group twice since 2001.
The group split up in late 2005 due to money disputes. Spann, Jordan, Gilbert, and Faison grouped together to reform Spann's old group, The Dynamic Superiors. Carey brought in new members, and toured with Tommy Hunt starting in April 2007.
Terry Johnson is the owner of "The Flamingos" federal trademark and leads the current incarnation of the group. The current lineup is Johnson, Starling Newsome, Stan Prinston and musical director Theresa Trigg. The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson appeared on two PBS specials: Rock and Roll at Fifty (in which they were the only group to have more than two songs featured) and Doo Wop Cavalcade: The Definitive Anthology. In 2013, The Flamingos released the Diamond Anniversary Tour CD. They continue to perform in concerts across the country.
J.C. Carey Jr., Terry Johnson, Tommy Hunt, and descendants of Nate Nelson and Paul Wilson, sued PepsiCo for having used "I Only Have Eyes For You" in a 1998 television commercial, allegedly without having consulted the group. The group was awarded $250,000.
The Flamingos received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 1996 (where Terry Johnson, Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter performed) and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Doo-Wopp Hall of Fame in 2004. The group that performed at the Rock Hall ceremony included Terry Johnson on lead, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter. In 2003, The Flamingos recording of "I Only Have Eyes For You" (co-written by Walle (Walter) Dillard) was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame.
Your Other Love
The Flamingos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got a twinkle in his eyes
Your other love may be bolder and when he holds you in his arms you wanna die
He says he's loved you from the very start
But your other love
But your other love
Is gonna someday break your heart
Your other love
Just like a flower need the burning summer sun
Your other love
Says he wants you
Oh how he swears to you
That you're the only one
He claims his future just depends on you
But your other love
But your other love
Is gonna someday prove untrue
He's the jealous kind
Got you hypnotized
Soon you'll realize
Your other love is unfaithful
When you're not there
Another girl is in his arms
Your other love is a lover and he'll make love to any girl who digs his charms
My love is true love not for just a day
But your other love
But your other love
Is gonna someday fly away
But your other love
But your other love
Is gonna someday fly away
The lyrics of "Your Other Love" by The Flamingos speak about a relationship that is doomed to fail. The song talks about a woman who is torn between two lovers; one who is handsome, bold and passionate, and the other who is true and genuine in his love. The singer warns that the woman's other love, who she believes is faithful and loyal, will someday prove untrue.
The singer describes the other love as a possessive person who is easily jealous and has hypnotized the woman with his charm. This shows that the singer is aware of the other love's manipulative tactics and how he is not truthful about his intentions. The other love makes the woman feel special, telling her that she is the only one, and that his future depends on her. However, the singer suggests that this is nothing but a ploy to keep her around.
The singer also mentions that his love for the woman is true and not temporary. However, she chooses the other love despite knowing that he will eventually fly away. The song emphasizes that sometimes, it's better to choose the person who truly cares for you and has your best interests at heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Your other love may be handsome and when he smiles
Your current romantic partner may be physically attractive and charming
He's got a twinkle in his eyes
Your current romantic partner has a sparkle in his eyes that catches your attention
Your other love may be bolder and when he holds you in his arms you wanna die
Your current romantic partner may be more daring/confident, and when he embraces you, it feels ecstatic
He says he's loved you from the very start
Your current romantic partner claims to have loved you from the beginning of your relationship
But your other love / Is gonna someday break your heart
Despite your current romantic partner's positive attributes, he will eventually cause you emotional pain
Your other love / Says he needs you / Just like a flower needs the burning summer sun
Your current romantic partner admits to needing you like a flower needs sunlight in summer
Says he wants you / Oh how he swears to you / That you're the only one
Your current romantic partner claims to want you and swears you're the only one he desires
He claims his future just depends on you
Your current romantic partner asserts that his future is tied to you and your relationship
But your other love / Is gonna someday prove untrue
Despite your current romantic partner's assurances, he will eventually betray your trust
He's the jealous kind / Got you hypnotized / Soon you'll realize / Your other love is unfaithful
Your current romantic partner has controlling tendencies and has manipulated you, but eventually you'll see that he's not loyal
When you're not there / Another girl is in his arms
When you're not around, your current romantic partner is with another woman
Your other love is a lover and he'll make love to any girl who digs his charms
Your current romantic partner is a promiscuous person who will have relations with any woman who finds him attractive
My love is true love not for just a day
The singer's love is authentic and not fleeting
But your other love / Is gonna someday fly away
Despite the singer's genuine feelings, you will eventually lose your current romantic partner
But your other love / Is gonna someday fly away
Despite the singer's genuine feelings, you will eventually lose your current romantic partner
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@margaretkowalkowski5653
Hi !! Thanks for sharing this beautiful golden oldie ❤❤❤❤❤
@jeannelavoix1168
Great oldie that's been on my mind for days. Total bliss to hear it again. Faster than I remembered, but the DICTION - PERFECT.
@MikeBlitzMag
Absolute, utter perfection. And the stereo mix is the icing on the cake. It simply does not get better than this.
@lawrencewoolley4092
MikeBlitzMag Hi
@MikeBlitzMag
Lawrence Woolley I see that you found it. Great!
@raincoatriver
This is spectacular. Sammy Turner's Raincoat in the River came out the same year and didn't even chart. Two of my favorites of all time...at least I was paying attention.
@karenfuchs1674
awesome , song ...
@darrylevans4401
The late and great Doc Pumus and Mort Schuman songwriting team Doc Pumus had polio. He had a big influence on me. Me the Masterblaster who plays this song on my internet radio show Classic Soul and Doowoop Hour.
@patriciavirgilio7412
As good as they were I loved this song the 👌 best.
RonV
@bobbygookin1406
How this wasn't #1 for six months I have no idea!!