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.
Hold On
The Radiants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(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 (you got ta hold on)
Come on, baby (you gotta hold on), come on, baby (you gotta 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
The Radiants’ “Hold On” is a song about the singer pleading to his lover to not let go and hold on to their love. The song begins with the singer expressing his pain and fear of being alone when his lover walks away, begging her to hold on as their love has just begun. He assures her that they will be as one and encourages her to hold on. Throughout the song, the singer apologizes for his past wrongdoings and promises to change for the better. He acknowledges his mistakes and takes the blame, vowing to do better. The song concludes by telling the listener to hold on to their love and share the message with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you know it hurts me so when you let go
My love for you is so deep that it hurts me when you leave
When you've gone I'll be alone, so please hold on
I need you to stay with me because I can't bear to be alone
Don't give in our love will be in and once again
We shouldn't give up on our love because it can be strong again
Don't let go (ya got ta hold on, hold on), hold on (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
You need to hold on to our love and not let go
You're my only
You are the only one for me
I was wrong, girl for so long our hope is strong
I was wrong and I know now that we can have a strong hope for the future
Can't you stay, don't go away from me I pray
Please don't leave me, I pray you can stay with me
Take me back girl it's a fact I promise that
I promise I have changed and will never hurt you again, please take me back
Come on, baby (you gotta hold on), come on, darlin' (you gotta hold)
I am pleading with you to hold on and not give up on our love
If at first my love seems worse and you I hurt
I may have hurt you in the past, but my love is real
It's my aim to take the blame 'cause I'm ashamed
I understand that I was wrong and I take full responsibility for my actions
Now I see how love can be and there's no need
I now realize how strong our love can be and there's no need to worry
Think about it now (ya got ta hold on, hold on), we have to live (ya got ta hold on, hold on)
We need to hold on to our love and live our lives together
Tell your sisters, babe (ya got ta hold on hold on), oh yeah
Spread the message to your family and friends that we need to hold on to our love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEONARD CASTON, CLEVELAND LLOYD WEBBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@druwydown9302
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!!!!!@@@!!!!!????.
@kathyjohns5968
Just heard this song again since I was a kid during a tribute to Jerry Blavet, fabulous Philadelphia DJ. It brought such a smile to my face. I forgot all about it. What treasures bothe Jerry and the song.
@elainewade8874
When we used to go to the clubs in Philly in the 1990's, including Blavat's, they always played this one, Mine Exclusvely by the Olympics, and Just Because by Pat & the Blenders!
@PHL76Music
This always makes me think of Jerry. May his memory be a blessing.
@PHL76Music
Heard this playing in Trader Joe's in suburban Philadelphia and it made my day! Long live the great music of the 1960s, WFIL, WIBG, WDAS, WHAT & especially The Geator who continued to play this great song at his club dates for a long time.
@billgardner4886
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?
@bryandowd6440
I remember WFIL playing it constantly in 67-68, remember the Dells as well
@bobwatson1162
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
@sistervluv3556
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.
@videojockeydarrellgordonsd6971
Do you have any of your air checks?Specifically, from Oct or Nov of ‘65; Spring, Fall, Winter of ‘67; and late Oct of ‘63, featuring the Supremes hit from then?
@Joehenrywalker
As mentioned, Jerry Blavat used to play this and he just passed away 1/20/23.