Hold On
The Radiants Lyrics
Don't you know it hurts me so when you let go
(My love has only just begun)
When you've gone I'll be alone, so please hold on
(Keep tellin' the battle has been won)
Don't give in our love will be in and once again
(As lovers we will be as one)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold (you got ta hold on)
You're my only
I was wrong, girl for so long our hope is strong
(You're willing to changing your mind)
Can't you stay, don't go away from me I pray
(You listen, don't leave me behind)
Take me back girl it's a fact I promise that
I'm givin' up being a cad
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold (you gotta hold on)
Come on, baby (you gotta hold on), come on, darlin' (you gotta hold)
Tell yourself now
If at first my love seems worse and you I hurt
(I'm sorry, I apologize)
It's my aim to take the blame 'cause I'm ashamed
(By pullin' wool over your eyes)
Now I see how love can be and there's no need
(To worry, now that I have won)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Think about it now (ya got ta hold on, hold on), we have to live (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
Tell your sisters, babe (ya got ta hold on hold on), oh yeah
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD CASTON, CLEVELAND LLOYD WEBBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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The Radiants originated in Chicago in 1960 at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church, where the future Radiants sang in the Youth Choir. Maurice McCallister assembled the group and sang lead; the other members were Wallace Sampson (baritone), Jerome Brooks (second tenor), Elzie Butler (Bass), and Charles Washington (first tenor). Similar to the Womack Brothers, the guys sang gospel at local churches but also worked on the R&B songs written by McCallister on the side. Read Full BioThe Radiants originated in Chicago in 1960 at the Greater Harvest Baptist Church, where the future Radiants sang in the Youth Choir. Maurice McCallister assembled the group and sang lead; the other members were Wallace Sampson (baritone), Jerome Brooks (second tenor), Elzie Butler (Bass), and Charles Washington (first tenor). Similar to the Womack Brothers, the guys sang gospel at local churches but also worked on the R&B songs written by McCallister on the side. McLauren Green replaced Washington shortly before their first recording session. By 1961, gospel music was a memory, and they started shopping demos to record labels and received nothing but rejections. Motown, among others, turned them down, and so did Chess Records — initially. They eventually signed with Chess and recorded under the tutelage of Billy Davis, aka Tyran Carlo, Berry Gordy's ex-songwriting partner, and former owner of Checkmate Records. Their first release, "Father Knows Best" backed by "One Day I'll Show You," in 1962, stiffed in some cities but was a hit in Cleveland.
Chess followed with "Heartbreak Society," then in 1963, Chess released "Shy Guy" and "I Gotta Dance to Keep My Baby." All were hit-sounding pieces of wax that failed to sell, probably because of poor promotion. On "Shy Guy," Frank McCollum replaced McLauren Green, who got drafted. By 1964, the Radiants were tripping all over themselves. They had problems galore — so much so that they broke up. Maurice McCallister and Wallace Sampson were the only survivors. In came Leonard Caston, Jr., the organist at Greater Harvest Church, who had just gotten out of the Army. A new Radiants group was formed, this time as a trio: McCallister, Sampson, and Caston. McCallister also wrote for other Chess/Checker artists, penning "Soulful Dress" for Sugar Pie DeSanto.
"Voice Your Choice," released late in 1964, is their most popular recording. They duplicated the Impressions' three-part harmony and lead-switching style to perfection. It reached number 51 (pop) and number 16 (R&B) on Billboard. Chess followed with "Ain't No Big Thing," which slipped the pop charts, only reaching number 91, but did better on the R&B charts, reaching number 14. Again, they displayed some beautiful three-part harmonies, with McCallister and Caston switching off leads.
In 1965, Caston left the group to concentrate on songwriting and producing. James Jameson replaced him and appeared on "Baby You Got It" — but the plot thickens: McCallister left shortly after its release. This should have ended the Radiants, but it didn't. Another group, the Confessions, led by Mitchell Bullock, had already recorded "Don't It Make You Feel Kinda Bad," but disbanded before Chess could release it. Billy Davis put Bullock with Sampson and Jameson, and added Victor Caston, Leonard's younger brother, and the Radiants were a quartet again. Chess put out the same record the Confessions had previously recorded, and stamped the Radiants on the label.
Who would know the difference? The record was an emotionally sung wailer but failed to dent the pop chart and only achieved number 47 on the national R&B chart, though it did well where played. "Hold On" did better, climbing to number 68 pop and number 35 R&B in 1968. By this time, their productions were handled by Leonard Caston and later Bobby Miller. Unfortunately, they didn't have any more chart entries and left Chess in 1969, breaking up in 1972.
McCallister went on to record duets with former Radiant McLauren Green as Maurice & Mac. "You Left the Water Running" by the two is considered a deep soul classic. Though the Radiants were popular in the Midwest and other areas, Chess never released an album by the group. A few of their cuts can be found on compilation CDs. Chess released ten or 15 singles of the group. Many of their early singles were two-sided hits. "I'm in Love," the flip of "Shy Guy," received quite a bit of airplay, as did "Noble the Bargain Man," the B-side of "I Gotta Dance to Keep My Baby." The latter was written by McCallister and David Clowney aka Dave "Baby" Cortez; you can hear his trademark organ on the recording, driving the rhythm section.
Some of the disc jockeys in Cleveland referred to McCallister as Jimmy Durante, because he resembled the inka dinka doo man, a little guy with a big nose, but he could sing and write with the best of them and deserved more.
Chess followed with "Heartbreak Society," then in 1963, Chess released "Shy Guy" and "I Gotta Dance to Keep My Baby." All were hit-sounding pieces of wax that failed to sell, probably because of poor promotion. On "Shy Guy," Frank McCollum replaced McLauren Green, who got drafted. By 1964, the Radiants were tripping all over themselves. They had problems galore — so much so that they broke up. Maurice McCallister and Wallace Sampson were the only survivors. In came Leonard Caston, Jr., the organist at Greater Harvest Church, who had just gotten out of the Army. A new Radiants group was formed, this time as a trio: McCallister, Sampson, and Caston. McCallister also wrote for other Chess/Checker artists, penning "Soulful Dress" for Sugar Pie DeSanto.
"Voice Your Choice," released late in 1964, is their most popular recording. They duplicated the Impressions' three-part harmony and lead-switching style to perfection. It reached number 51 (pop) and number 16 (R&B) on Billboard. Chess followed with "Ain't No Big Thing," which slipped the pop charts, only reaching number 91, but did better on the R&B charts, reaching number 14. Again, they displayed some beautiful three-part harmonies, with McCallister and Caston switching off leads.
In 1965, Caston left the group to concentrate on songwriting and producing. James Jameson replaced him and appeared on "Baby You Got It" — but the plot thickens: McCallister left shortly after its release. This should have ended the Radiants, but it didn't. Another group, the Confessions, led by Mitchell Bullock, had already recorded "Don't It Make You Feel Kinda Bad," but disbanded before Chess could release it. Billy Davis put Bullock with Sampson and Jameson, and added Victor Caston, Leonard's younger brother, and the Radiants were a quartet again. Chess put out the same record the Confessions had previously recorded, and stamped the Radiants on the label.
Who would know the difference? The record was an emotionally sung wailer but failed to dent the pop chart and only achieved number 47 on the national R&B chart, though it did well where played. "Hold On" did better, climbing to number 68 pop and number 35 R&B in 1968. By this time, their productions were handled by Leonard Caston and later Bobby Miller. Unfortunately, they didn't have any more chart entries and left Chess in 1969, breaking up in 1972.
McCallister went on to record duets with former Radiant McLauren Green as Maurice & Mac. "You Left the Water Running" by the two is considered a deep soul classic. Though the Radiants were popular in the Midwest and other areas, Chess never released an album by the group. A few of their cuts can be found on compilation CDs. Chess released ten or 15 singles of the group. Many of their early singles were two-sided hits. "I'm in Love," the flip of "Shy Guy," received quite a bit of airplay, as did "Noble the Bargain Man," the B-side of "I Gotta Dance to Keep My Baby." The latter was written by McCallister and David Clowney aka Dave "Baby" Cortez; you can hear his trademark organ on the recording, driving the rhythm section.
Some of the disc jockeys in Cleveland referred to McCallister as Jimmy Durante, because he resembled the inka dinka doo man, a little guy with a big nose, but he could sing and write with the best of them and deserved more.
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Druwy Down
I'm no music writer, producer, instrument player, etc., just a still, old school, music, old school, aficionado...
Still, to me and what I just, lay person, know about notes, timing, repetition, playback, edits, reedits, first takes, last takes, symmetry...etc.,
and just as one of my all-time favorite, abstract, painters, Jackson Pollock (and that, somehow, people still think that he, in many of his brilliant classics, just, one day and at one try, came up with all of that...)
No, I still think that, Pollock, like many other geniuses before him, probably (like, say, his Convergence) did about a 100 drafts before he had ever even come to that-the final, everlasting, timeless piece...
As in, here and to me, this song is so full of many contrapuntals, syncopation, etc., and the reverse (plus, the vocals, studio musicians, takes, retakes, recordings, rerecordings), it's no wonder anything lasting ever gets created, recorded, painted, photographed, etc., from the very get-go!!!!!@@@!!!!!????.
Bill Gardner
Wow! Hold On by the Radiants from Chicago! I'm a 1960's WFIL and WIBG Philly on air DJ remember playing it lots. Really should have been a nationwide smash. Unfortunately the rest of the U.S. didn't have the great ear we all did in Philly! Now, how about "There Is" and "Wear It On Our Face" by the Dells from the same great studios?
Sister V Luv
I just found out it was the Radiants who made this song. I had,always thought it was the Dells.This came out when I was in Jr high in Philly.
Bob Watson
Yes sir and of course we listen to this classic on WDAS AM and WHAT AM.. played by the best DJ's the geator with the heater Jerry Blavat, Hy Lit and Georgie Woods
Bryan Dowd
I remember WFIL playing it constantly in 67-68, remember the Dells as well
Nick Roby
Wonderful song by The Radiants of Chicago, and here in Philly we did and still do in 2017 a line dance called "The Chez Vous Walk'-named after the West Philadelphia roller rink where Jerry Blavat held his record hops in 1963-1968. I too enjoyed doing The Stomp too, as mentioned by Mike W. below.
Tubularbill
Yeah Bob Pantano from WOGL in Philly used to play this a lot on his Saturday night dance party’s
William Redding
Good for you guys from Bill Redding.
Beverly Lindsay-Johnson
I'm from DC and I come to the Kimmel Center for the Jerry Blavat doowop shows. I just realized they DO play this for the dance parties in the lobby and Philly does their line dancing to this. Very popular line dance to a great song.
Big Guy’s 45’s
This was a hit, but only a fairly minor one. It peaked only as high as No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael N.
Don't think I've made a road mix in the last 30 years that didn't have this song. Still get chills when I hear this, some 1000 listens later.