1. A New York City vocal soul group formed in 1971.
They also served as Melba Moore's background vocalists during a 1972 tour.
In 1971, Melba was preparing for a tour and required some singers for a Gospel section of her act.
What began as a two and a half week run, developed into a three-and-a-half-year tour.
They recorded for Capitol in the mid-'70's, and made one chart number, 'Three Steps from True Love,' in 1975. It was their lone Top Ten R & B hit.
The track was taken from their album 'Love on Delivery', which was produced by J.R. Bailey. The Executive Producer was Larkin Arnold.
Also contained, on that album, is the track 'She's My Summer Breeze', popular on the UK rare groove scene.
2. The Reflections were also a Pop-Rock/Blue-Eyed Soul group in the early-to-mid 1960s from Detroit, Michigan.
They had one major hit single in 1964 called "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet", written by Bob Hamilton and Fred Gorman. The song was produced by Rob Reeco on Golden World Records. The disc reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #9 on the Cash Box magazine chart.
3. A UK DIY post punk supergroup and easily one of the rarest titles issued by Cherry Red. The assemblage culls together personnel from Alternative TV (Mark Perry, Dennis Burns), The Lemon Kittens (Karl Blake) and The Door and the Window (Nag). They released an LP titled Slugs N Toads in 1981.
4. A one-time Louisiana group from 1971, promoted by their original label RSVP as "a five-piece band with only two people in it"--Allis Murray and Harold Collins. Their Unique Sounds of the Reflections album featured an instrumental surf-rock rendition of The Beatles' standard, "Eleanor Rigby".
On Broadway
The Reflections Lyrics
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On Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't have enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
They say the women treat you fine
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
How ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
They say that I won't last too long
On Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
But they get wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
The Reflections's song "On Broadway" is a reflection on the reality of life on the famous street in New York. The lyrics suggest that the glitz and glamour associated with Broadway is not always the reality. The opening lines suggest that there is a magical quality to Broadway, but as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this magic is often just an illusion. The singer reflects that when you walk down Broadway with nothing to eat, the glitter rubs off and you're nowhere.
The second verse focuses on the disappointment of the singer's experience with the women on Broadway. While they may treat the men well, the singer seems despondent as to what he can offer them. The final lines of the verse are particularly resonant, as they suggest that when all you have is a single dime, you can't even shine your shoes. The final verse is triumphant, as the singer rejects the idea that he won't last long on Broadway. He asserts that he will continue to play his guitar until he becomes a star, refusing to give up on his dreams in the face of adversity.
Overall, "On Broadway" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing solely in the illusion of showbiz, and an affirmation of the power of perseverance in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright
The city of Broadway is known for its bright neon lights which are a common sight.
On Broadway
Broadway is a street which is famous for its shows and entertainment industry.
They say there's always magic in the air
People believe that Broadway has a special aura or atmosphere that is full of excitement and wonder.
But when you're walkin' down that street
However, when you walk down the street of Broadway,
And you ain't have enough to eat
And if you are hungry and don't have enough money to buy food,
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
then the glamour and magic of the street fades away, leaving you feeling worthless and hopeless.
They say the women treat you fine
People say that women in Broadway treat men well and are charming.
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
But for the singer, seeing these women just makes him feel sad and downcast.
How ya gonna make some time
He questions how is he supposed to find time and do something productive.
When all you got is one thin dime
When you only have a very small amount of money in your pocket,
And one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
it's not even enough for the basic necessities, like shining one's shoes.
They say that I won't last too long
People doubt his ability to survive for long on the street of Broadway.
On Broadway
Broadway is referred to here as a difficult place to make ends meet and survive.
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
People believe that he will soon give up and go back home on a Greyhound bus.
But they get wrong, I know they are
The singer strongly refutes and counters their opinions by saying they are mistaken and do not know his inner strength.
'Cause I can play this here guitar
He believes in his talent and is confident that he will succeed because he can play the guitar well.
I won't quit till I'm a star
He is determined and committed to achieving his goals and becoming a star in the Broadway industry.
On Broadway
Broadway is repeated thrice at the end to emphasize the singer's dream and goal to make it big in the industry.
On Broadway
On Broadway
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL, JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind