The Velvelettes were a 60's female vocal group founded in 1961 by sisters C… Read Full Bio ↴The Velvelettes were a 60's female vocal group founded in 1961 by sisters Carolyn and Millie Gill with cousins Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Norma Barbee (both from Flint, Michigan) on the Western Michigan University campus, where they were students.
The group signed to Motown Records, but weren't given top priority, as other female vocal groups were attracting audiences and recording hits. While the group awaited their chance at stardom, they recorded backing vocals for more established Motown girl groups, including The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, and The Supremes.
The Velvelettes got their break in 1964 with "Needle In A Haystack" which peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964. The group recorded its follow-up, "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'", and spent time on various Motown-sponsored tours as an opening act.
With a song on the charts and a place on several concert tours, The Velvelettes began recording an album. Despite burgeoning success, the members of the group began to disagree about the music they were recording. Half wanted to record more mature songs and thought the material was trite, while the other half didn't want to rock the boat so early in their career.
Motown became apprehensive about the group's potential, and wary of the expense of the recordings. Not wanting to let good time and money go to waste, the label released two additional singles, "Lonely Lonely Girl Am I" and "A Bird In The Hand," as the group endured several line-up changes. Both singles flopped, and Motown cancelled the scheduled release of the group's eponymous debut album.
The last Velvelettes recordings included "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You," which became their last American single. They officially broke up in early to mid 1970.
The group reunited in 1984, when the Gill sisters and Barbee cousins re-recorded their original hits with some new songs for the album One Door Closes. The group continues to tour today.
The group signed to Motown Records, but weren't given top priority, as other female vocal groups were attracting audiences and recording hits. While the group awaited their chance at stardom, they recorded backing vocals for more established Motown girl groups, including The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, and The Supremes.
The Velvelettes got their break in 1964 with "Needle In A Haystack" which peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964. The group recorded its follow-up, "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'", and spent time on various Motown-sponsored tours as an opening act.
With a song on the charts and a place on several concert tours, The Velvelettes began recording an album. Despite burgeoning success, the members of the group began to disagree about the music they were recording. Half wanted to record more mature songs and thought the material was trite, while the other half didn't want to rock the boat so early in their career.
Motown became apprehensive about the group's potential, and wary of the expense of the recordings. Not wanting to let good time and money go to waste, the label released two additional singles, "Lonely Lonely Girl Am I" and "A Bird In The Hand," as the group endured several line-up changes. Both singles flopped, and Motown cancelled the scheduled release of the group's eponymous debut album.
The last Velvelettes recordings included "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You," which became their last American single. They officially broke up in early to mid 1970.
The group reunited in 1984, when the Gill sisters and Barbee cousins re-recorded their original hits with some new songs for the album One Door Closes. The group continues to tour today.
Throw A Farewell Kiss
The Velvelettes Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Velvelettes:
A Bird In The Hand Girls, when you've got a good love who's gonna treat…
Baby Love Baby love, my baby love, I need you oh how…
Come See About Me I've been crying 'Cause I'm lonely (for you) Smiles have all…
He Really Was Sayin I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followin…
He Really Was Sayin' Somethin' I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followi…
He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followin…
He Was Really Sayin' Something I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followi…
He Was Really Saying Somethin' I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followin…
He Was Really Saying Something I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followi…
I One of a kind love affair is The kind of love…
Lonely Lonely Girl Am I As I sit here in my lonely room Nothing's been the…
Needle In A Haystack Well well, I once believed all fellas were nice But…
Needle In A Haystack - Single Version Well well, I once believed all fellas were nice But girls,…
Needle In A Haystack 1964 Well well, I once believed all fellas were nice But…
Save Me Save me! Somebody save me Save me! Somebody save me, yeah…
Since You've Been Loving Me My world of loneliness You′ve filled with happiness Since yo…
Since You've Been Loving Me - Single Version My world of loneliness You've filled with happiness Since yo…
Take My Love Save me! Somebody save me Save me! Somebody save me, yeah…
That's The Reason Why I don't believe in love on the borrow Here today and…
The Velvelettes / He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followi…
There He Goes (There he goes) There he goes, the only I'm thinking of Ther…
These Things Will Keep Me Lov Oh and I know these things will keep me loving…
Velvelettes: He Was Really Sayin' Something I was walkin' down the street When this boy started followi…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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tricky59
Thank you so much for this, remember playing this on my old record player back in early '65. Now I'm 65 and it's still classic Motown.
Sheven718
oh yea ! i had this single back in 65 and until just now hadn't heard it for 45+ years brought back all sorts of memories many thanks for sharing regards dave
Sheven718
just came back for another listen, crackin' tune from the early days ! they were really "saying something"
Malc Weistop
I was surprised as a Velvelettes fan when reading the comment that the Robert Patterson Singers version is much better than the Velvs. I have just played the Patterson’s recording, I agree it is very good. It is slower and dramatic and a version that would suit a stage cabaret show. But I really think that the richness, warmth and depth of vocal tone, and the emotional connection of the Velvs version is notably superior. Perhaps I am biased, it probably comes down to personal preference & good that we all don’t think the same.
MELODAME ro
love it thank you
#DMJ - Mellow Soul
Super tune ✔
Christopher Cardenas
Sorry to say that The Robert Patterson Singers (Atco/Atlantic) own this song, taking it to a totally different dimension that no Motown artist or producer (including you, Norman) could ever dream about.