In early 1951, the Moonglows, mostly featuring Fuqua on lead vocals, began recording, first for Freed's Champagne record label and then for Chicago's Chance Records, achieving local success in the midwest with a bluesy sound. By mid 1954, the group had become more polished (as evidenced by their Lester-led cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love"), and signed with the bigger Chess Records label. Their first Chess record was also their first R&B hit, the Fuqua-penned "Sincerely" (1954), with a lead vocal by Lester (and covered for the pop market by The McGuire Sisters). "Sincerely" was followed by a series of original R&B hits in 1955 and 1956, including "Most of All", "In My Diary" (later recorded by The Spinners), "When I'm With You" (all led by Lester) and the uptempo "See Saw" (featuring Fuqua). 1957 saw the release of the Fuqua led "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (originally by Percy Mayfield in 1950).
Through this period, the group perfected their patented, breathy, "blow harmony," which inspired countless 1950s doo-wop groups and 1960s soul groups, and even the 1970s The Chi-Lites.
Generally, Fuqua sang lead on the uptempo and blues-based tunes, while Lester was the group's romantic lead. Occasionally, on songs like "We Go Together" (1956), they sang a duet lead. Fuqua and Lester also "Moonlighted" on the Checker Records label as the "Moonlighters", recording a local hit "Shoo-be-doo (My Lovin' Baby)" in 1955. The group appeared in Rock Rock Rock a movie produced by, and starring Alan Freed. The last recording by the original five was the hit "10 Commandments of Love" (released in early 1958). It featured Fuqua on lead, with Billy Johnson doing the spoken recitation. By 1957, Fuqua had begun to re-assert himself as lead vocalist and manager, with Lester being pushed to the background. This created a great deal of friction within the group.[citation needed]
Also in 1957, a Washington, D.C. based group known as The Marquees was struggling to make it. The members were Marvin Gaye, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and James Knowland. They decided to give an impromptu audition to Fuqua, as the Moonglows had come to town for a concert. Fuqua was so impressed with them that he decided to fire the entire group and take on the Marquees as the "New Moonglows." Fuqua recorded with these four (later including fifth member Chuck Barksdale), as Harvey & The Moonglows through 1960, when the group dispersed. Gaye went on to a huge solo career.
Fuqua produced the Spinners in the early 1960s, even singing on a few of their records (but not 1961's "That's What Girls are Made For", which featured Bobby Smith imitating Harvey's style). Fuqua became a staff writer and record producer for Motown Records through the 1960s, and later road-managed Smokey Robinson. Lester returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and opened a nightclub. Barnes moved to Mississippi and retired from professional singing after an automobile accident in 1969.
Meanwhile, in 1964, Pete Graves restarted the Moonglows with Doc Green of The Drifters, George Thorpe, and Bearle Easton. This group recorded briefly for Lana Records, Times Square Records, and Crimson Records.
Yet another new Moonglows formed in 1970, featuring Lester and a Louisville group called the Aristocrats, who consisted of Lester's cousin Gary Rodgers, plus Albert Workman, Robert Ford, and Billy McPhatter (son of Clyde McPhatter). This group performed once in 1971 at a show in New York, but the Aristocrats decided to return to Louisville. Dallas, inspired by the reception his group received, reunited with Harvey Fuqua and Pete Graves, plus new members Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis, and the Moonglows were back.
They recorded an LP released on RCA Records in 1972, charting their last single, "Sincerely '72", a funky re-working of their 1954 hit.
This line-up split up after 1972, and Lester began singing with local Louisville singers again, including at times Rodgers, Ford, Robert Lee Davis, Bruce Martin, and Peter Lawford. This group recorded a mostly a cappella, live album Moonglows in 1979.
Lester died in his hometown of Louisville from cancer in 1980, and Billy McPhatter returned to the group, with Rodgers taking over most of the leads in what was now billed as "Bobby Lester's Moonglows." McPhatter was later replaced by Bobby Lester, Jr. Harvey reunited with the remainder of his 1972 Moonglows in 1983 for a Grammy performance (minus Lester, and Barksdale who had rejoined The Dells, and plus guitarist Johnson), and they toured until 1986 as Harvey & the Moonglows.
In 2000, Bobby Lester's Moonglows, consisting of Rodgers, Martin, Lawford, and Gene Kelly, appeared on the PBS special Doo Wop 50, backing up Harvey Fuqua on "Sincerely" and "10 Commandments of Love." Fuqua, now in his mid-70s, still sings occasionally, sometimes backed up by Lester's Moonglows, sometimes a 50s R&B group called the Magnificents, and sometimes by local "pick-up" groups. Fuqua also produces and manages gospel acts. Reese Palmer is a member of The Legendary Orioles, as well as leading a new version of The Marquees. Chuck Barksdale is still with the Dells. Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles in 1987, Gary Rodgers died in 2005, and Prentiss Barnes died in 2006.[1].
Harvey Fuqua passed away in 2010.
The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
Most of All
The Moonglows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one can take your place
I need you most of all
Most of all, I want your sweet caress
Truly, I must confess
I need you most of all
I dream wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
And when I'm awake
No one's there and that's why
I'm so blue
Most of all, the one thing that I, I miss
The way we used to kiss
I need you most of all
When I sleep at night
I dream wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
And when I'm awake
No one's there and that's why
I'm so blue
Most of all, the one thing that I, I miss
The way we used to kiss
I need you most of all
The Moonglows' song "Most of All" expresses the sentiment of yearning and longing for a lost love. The singer describes how they miss every aspect of their past relationship, from their warm embrace to their sweet caress, and especially the way they used to kiss. The lyrics reveal that the singer dreams of their lost love at night and feels blue during the day when they are not there. The chorus expresses the intense desire for their lost love's return, proclaiming that they need them most of all.
The song's use of repeated phrases and simple, straightforward lyrics help to underscore the depth of the singer's feelings. The way that the singer clings to memories of their past relationship reveals a sense of desperation and heartbreak that is relatable to many. However, the song does not end on a definitive note of resolution, allowing for the possibility that the singer's situation may remain unchanged.
Line by Line Meaning
Most of all, I want your warm embrace
Above all else, I desire to be held by you, to feel your comforting arms around me
No one can take your place
No other person can replace you, you hold a unique and irreplaceable space in my life
I need you most of all
Out of all my wants and desires, you are my greatest need, I cannot imagine my life without you
Most of all, I want your sweet caress
More than anything else, I crave the gentle touch of your hand, the softness of your skin against mine
Truly, I must confess
Honesty compels me to admit, there is no denying the depth of my feelings for you
When I sleep at night
During the hours of rest, when my conscious mind is inactive and my subconscious takes over
I dream wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
My mind conjures up delightful and pleasant visions of you, bringing me joy and happiness
And when I'm awake
During my waking hours, when my mind is fully engaged with the world around me
No one's there and that's why
There is a sense of loneliness and emptiness within me, because you are not physically present
I'm so blue
I feel sad and downhearted, longing for your company and affection
Most of all, the one thing that I, I miss
Above all else, the one thing that I yearn for and feel the absence of, is
The way we used to kiss
The intimacy and passion of our past kisses, which I long to experience once again
I need you most of all
You are my heart's greatest necessity and I cannot imagine a life without you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HANK THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yilan Zeper
Most of all, I want your warm embrace
No one can take your place
I need you most of all
Most of all, I want your sweet caress
Truly, I must confess
I need you most of all
When I sleep at night
I dream wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
And when I awake
No one's there and that's why
I'm so blue
Most of all, the one thing that I, I miss
The way we used to kiss
I need you most of all
When I sleep at night
I dream wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
And when I awake
No one's there and that's why
I'm so blue
Most of all, the one thing that I, I miss
The way we used to kiss
I need you most of all
Smooth Chaz
lyrics for you sweethearts ;-) : Most Of All
by The Moonglows
Most of all, I want your warm embrace
No one can take your place
I need you most of all
Most of all, I want your sweet caress
Truly I must confess
I need you most of all
When I sleep at night
I dream wonderful, wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
& when I'm awake
No one's there & that's why I'm so blue
Most of all, the one thing that I miss
The way we used to kiss
I need you most...of......all
When I sleep at night
I dream wonderful, wonderful, wonderful dreams of you
& when I'm awake
No one's there & that's why I'm so blue
Most of all, the one thing that I miss
The way we used to kiss
I need you most...of......all
Bob Aldo
Truly one of the very best doowop groups of all time. These cats could really sing!
vodkamarie
This is one of those songs you can listen to over and over. Perfections by both lead and background. Just rreal good harmony.
Irma Pugh
I love this group just like yesterday, “When I Sleep at Night” ❤️ 🎶 Harmony at its finest 🎤
barbara tucker
There is NO group today who can come close to this!! They were and still are the best. Dancing was a pleasure, intimate and sweet.
Bob Aldo
Amen, barbara. They were perfect doowop singers.
Fran Courtney
Perfect dance music in 1956
Louis Vaccaro
ever hear of tony williams and the platters? but the moon glows are terrific. best regards Louie Vaccaro, las vegas.
prentiss belton
I totally agree
Ellen Reed
The Moonglows was by far one of the best groups out there. Love this track, most of all. Bobby Lester R.I.P. you are surly missed.
Ellen Reed
Love this ole school group, fantastic harmony. Thanks for the post.