1) The Vogues are an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1) The Vogues are an American vocal group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original lineup comprised Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor), and Chuck Blasko (second tenor).
They are best known for their chart-topping singles "You're The One", "Five O'Clock World", "Magic Town", and "Turn Around, Look At Me". In addition to touring the world, the group appeared on American Bandstand, The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
The group, originally named the Val-Aires, formed in 1958 at Turtle Creek High School. They signed with Pittsburgh manager Elmer Willet, who produced their first recording release "Which One Will It Be/Launie My Love". DJ Porky Chedwick became a supporter booking the group for his rock and roll shows and record hops. Chedwick put them on bills with the Drifters, the Platters, and the Dells. Clark Race of KDKA radio promoted the group on his KDKA-TV dance show. Having strong regional sales it was picked up for national distribution by Coral Records.
After high school, several members of the group joined the Army while others went to college. A few years later with their enlistments completed and degrees in hand, they decided to record again. They pitched in $100 apiece to record a demo tape. They hired Nick Cenci, who had broken Lou Christie, to produce the recording. In 1965, Cenci produced recording sessions for the Val-Aires at Gateway Studios in Pittsburgh. The band recorded vocals for a cover of the Petula Clark song "You're The One." It was released on the band's own Blue Star label. Cenci persuaded John Rook, program director of KQV, to play the single. With local airplay and sales Cenci signed them to the Co & Ce label as the "Vogues". He had the single distributed nationally. The song became a national hit reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Later in 1965, Cenci produced another Vogues recording session giving the world the no. 4 Billboard hit, "Five O'Clock World".
In 1966 Co & Ce Records released the singles "Magic Town", which reached no. 21 in February, and the no. 29 "The Land of Milk and Honey". The singles "Summer Afternoon" and "Lovers Of The World Unite" were released on Co & Ce in 1967. Co & Ce leased the Vogues to Reprise Records (distributed by Warner Bros.) where they scored with cover versions of "Turn Around, Look at Me" (#7), "My Special Angel" (#7), "Till" (#27), "No, Not Much" (#34), "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" (#42), "Moments To Remember" (#47), and "Green Fields" (#92).[2]
In 1971 The Vogues signed a recording contract with Bell Records and recorded 3 songs ("Love Song", "Take Time To Tell Her", and "American Family"). 1972 saw the group release 1 song on Mainstream Records ("Need You" b/w "Greatest Show On Earth"). By 1973 The Vogues were now a trio (Burkette, Miller, and Blasko). Hugh Geyer had departed to spend time with his family. Now recording for 20th Century Records the group released 3 recordings ("My Prayer", "Wonderful Summer", and "Prisoner Of Love"). With little commercial success, these would be the last singles released by The Vogues.
By the time the 80s came around the trio (Don Miller left in 1974 and replaced by an endless list of vocalists) was doing less touring and was concentrating on Western Pennsylvania venues. Bill Burkette left in 1983, leaving only Chuck Blasko to carry on as The Vogues. At some point in the late 70s or early 80s the group's manager had trademarked the name and assets of The Vogues. He then sold the trademark to another promoter who starting booking other quartets as The Vogues. The trademark was sold several times resulting in several groups of singers claiming to be The Vogues.
In 2000, the trademark was purchased by vocalist and Pittsburgh area native Stan Elich, who eventually would make this group the true Vogues. During these years Blasko continued to perform as The Vogues, and clash with the trademark group. At one point Blasko testified in front of Congress on The Truth In Music Act. A lawsuit filed by Blasko ended with the Pennsylvania court permitting Blasko's Vogues to perform in 14 Western Pennsylvania counties and the trademark group to perform everywhere else in the world as The Vogues. Chuck Blasko's Vogues continue to perform in Western Pennsylvania.
From 2004 until 2006, original member Hugh Geyer toured with Blasko's group in the 14 Western Pennsylvania counties that Blasko's group was permitted to tour in. After creative differences with Blasko, Geyer left that group at the end of 2006.
In March 2007, Geyer joined the national touring group of The Vogues of "trademark" owner Stan Elich. Geyer continued to perform with this group until his retirement in December 2012.
In May 2008, original lead vocalist Bill Burkette joined Geyer in touring the USA with the "trademark" Vogues. The members of this group included Burkette, Geyer, group owner Stan Elich, Troy Elich, and Jim Campagna. Stan Elich died in December 2010. His son Troy now owns the trademark "The Vogues".
In 2010 The Vogues released a live album "The Vogues Sings The Hits Live" on the Desert Trax Music label. This marked the first time in 38 years that Burkette and Geyer recorded together.
The Vogues line-up, as of July 2017, was original lead singer Bill Burkette, Troy Elich, Royce Taylor, and fill in vocalist Bo Wagner. Taylor had previously been a member of The Vogues from 1991–97. Wagner is a former member of Blasko's Pittsburgh group. Current band members are Dean Mastrangelo (Lead Guitar), Artie Deleonardis (drums), JR Wright (keyboards), and Rich Gooch (bass).
The original group made many TV appearances in the 1960s, including The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig, The Red Skelton Show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, and several appearances on The Mike Douglas Show.
The original group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Original lead vocalist Bill Burkette died on March 1, 2018 at age 75.
Studio albums
Meet the Vogues (1965)
Five O'Clock World (1966)
Turn Around, Look at Me (1968)
Till (1969)
Memories (1969)
The Vogues' Greatest Hits (1970)
The Vogues Sing the Good Old Songs (1970)
Singles
Year A-side B-side
From same album as A-side except where indicated Record Catalog Number Notes US US AC AU Album
1959 "Launie, My Love" "Which One Will It Be?" Willett 114 as The VALAIRES - - - Non-album tracks
1960 "Launie, My Love" "Which One Will It Be" Coral 62177 Re-release, as The VAL-AIRES - - -
1965 "You're The One" "Some Words" (Non-album track) Blue Star B-229 - - - - Meet The Vogues
1965 "You're the one" "Some Words" (Non-album track) Co & Ce 229 Re-release 4 - 55
1965 "Five O'Clock World" "Nothing To Offer You" (from Meet The Vogues) Co & Ce 232 - 4 - 64 Five O'Clock World
1966 "Magic Town" "Humpty Dumpty" (from Five O'Clock World) Co & Ce 234 - 21 - - The Vogues' Greatest Hits
1966 "The Land Of Milk And Honey" "True Lovers" Co & Ce 238 - 29 - - Non-album tracks
1966 "Please Mr. Sun" "Don't Blame The Rain" Co & Ce 240 - 48 - -
1966 "That's The Tune" "Midnight Dreams" Co & Ce 242 - 99 - -
1967 "Summer Afternoon" "Take A Chance On Me Baby" Co & Ce 244 - - - -
1967 "Lovers Of The World Unite" "Brighter Days" Co & Ce 246 - - - -
1967 "Lovers Of The World Unite" "Brighter Days" MGM 13813 Leased by MGM - - -
1968 "Just What I've Been Lookin' For "I've Got You On My Mind" (Non-album track) Reprise 0663 - - - - The Vogues Sing The Good Old Songs and Other Hits
1968 "Turn Around, Look At Me" "Then" Reprise 0686 - 7 3 43 Turn Around, Look At Me
1968 "My Special Angel" "I Keep It Hid" Reprise 0766 - 7 1 36
1968 "Till" "I Will" Reprise 0788 - 27 5 - Till
1969 "Woman Helping Man" "I'll Know My Love (By The Way She Talks)" Reprise 0803 - - - -
1969 "Woman Helping Man" "No, Not Much" Reprise 0803 Re-release 47/34 6/6 -
1969 "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" "P.S. I Love You" Reprise 0820 - 42 7 - Memories
1969 "Moments To Remember" "Once In A While" Reprise 0831 - 47 17 97
1969 "Green Fields" "Easy To Say" (From The Vogues Sing The Good Old Songs and Other Hits) Reprise 0844 - 92 19 - The Vogues' Greatest Hits
1969 "See That Girl" "We Only Have Love" (Non-album track) Reprise 0856 - - 13 -
1970 "God Only Knows" "Moody" Reprise 0887 - 101 21 - The Vogues Sing The Good Old Songs and Other Hits
1970 "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye" "Over The Rainbow" (Non-album track) Reprise 0909 - 101 18 -
1970 "Theme (The Good Old Songs)" "Come Into My Arms" (From Turn Around, Look At Me) Reprise 0931 - - 27 -
1970 "Since I Don't Have You" "I Know You As A Woman" Reprise 0969 - - 8 -
1971 "Love Song" "We're On Our Way" Bell 991X - 118 23 - Non-album tracks
1971 "Take Time To Tell Her" "I'll Be With You" Bell 45,127 - - 38 -
1971 "An American Family" "Gotta Have You Back" Bell 45,158 - - - -
1973 "My Prayer" "I've Got To Learn To Live Without You" 20th Century 2041 - - 31 -
1973 "Wonderful Summer" "Guess Who" 20th Century 2060 - - 47 -
1974 "As Time Goes By" "Prisoner Of Love" 20th Century 2085 - - -/37 -
2) A Belgian band.
My Special Angel
The Vogues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sent from up above
The Lord smiled down on me
And sent an angel to love (to love)
You are my special angel
Right from paradise
I know that you're an angel
The smile from your lips brings the summer sunshine
Tears from your eyes bring the rain
I feel your touch, your warm embrace
And I'm in heaven again
You are my special angel
Through eternity
I'll have my special angel
Here to watch over me
You are my special angel
Through eternity
I'll have my special angel
Here to watch over me
Here to watch over me
(Angel, angel, angel, angel)
The Vogues' song "My Special Angel" is a love song about a person's special someone who they believe to be sent to them by the Lord. The first verse explains that this person is their special angel sent from above, and that they were smiled upon by the Lord to receive this angel's love. The second verse emphasizes that this person is truly an angel from paradise and that heaven is in their eyes. The chorus repeats the phrase "You are my special angel" and adds that even tears from this person's eyes bring the rain, and the words they speak are like music to the singer's ears.
The song describes how the person's touch and warm embrace make the singer feel like they are in heaven. They claim that this person will watch over them through eternity and that they are blessed to have a special angel in their life. The song expresses a deep sense of gratitude and love towards this special someone who makes them feel like they are in heaven.
One interesting fact about "My Special Angel" is that the song was written by Jimmy Duncan, who was a member of The Hilltoppers, a popular vocal group from the 1950s. The song was originally recorded by The Four Coins in 1957, but it was The Vogues' version that became most famous. Another interesting fact is that The Vogues re-released the song in 1968 and it became a hit again, reaching number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my special angel
You are the one who is precious to me and highly cherished.
Sent from up above
You are a divine acquisition in my life, coming directly from heaven.
The Lord smiled down on me
It is God himself that orchestrated our meeting and is pleased with our love.
And sent an angel to love (to love)
God sent someone like you, who I can love and who will reciprocate my love.
Right from paradise
You are so divine that you could have only come from paradise itself.
I know that you're an angel
I am convinced that you possess angelic qualities.
Heaven is in your eyes
When I gaze into your eyes, I get transported to heaven.
The smile from your lips brings the summer sunshine
Your smile is like the sun that illuminates my world, bringing joy and happiness.
Tears from your eyes bring the rain
Your sorrow can move me to tears and bring about rain, which symbolizes sadness.
I feel your touch, your warm embrace
When you touch me and hold me tight, I feel secure, loved, and valued.
And I'm in heaven again
Whenever I am with you, my soul feels like it's in heaven.
Through eternity
For all time, forever.
I'll have my special angel
You'll always be my cherished one, my angel.
Here to watch over me
You'll always be there for me, to love and protect me.
(Angel, angel, angel, angel)
Repeating the word 'angel' emphasizes that the person they are referring to is truly special and has exceptional qualities.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Duncan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrKenichi22
Joanne Thomas cool, though this song was recorded in that year of....
1968,
Yes in that violent psychedelic acid dream year that saw LBJ not run for a second term and Richard Nixon become president,
This song was recorded,
along with the white album.
Mr Peters
The first verse is engraved on my dear wife's headstone: "You are my special angel, sent from up above. The Lord smiled down on me and sent an angel to love". My poor Mira, she was only 52 when God called her back to help him out elsewhere. I always sit in silence for a few moments when I hear this song.
Narender Makhijani
Loving couple. Great tribute yo great wife
Klyn Hall
Reading Mr. Peter's words always brings tears to my eyes. We are fortunate for him to share the love he had for his wife.
Ann McKee
That is just precious...my husband and I had this played at our wedding dance so it has very special meaning to me as well. So sorry that you lost your dear Mira so young...you were blessed to have each other while she was here on this earth with you.
Jackie BHG
@teddibearsworld how beautiful that you would sing this song to her, sooooo romantic 💐❤️
JeanaG
So sorry your wife left this earth much too soon. 😢
Tim Klein
Best harmony there ever was ! What a classic, what a group !!!
Jim Crow
I met my special angel in the summer of 1968. We were separated for 14 mo while I was in Vietnam. Long story short. we have been married for over 46 yrs. She will always be my Special Angel. Jim
Augustus Garton
Thank you for your service.
Susan Suda
I met a Nam Vet, he told me when he was there he had a dream that angels were accending up with the soilders in their arms,taking them to heaven..Some body should paint a painting of that and display it in Washington .