God Only Knows - Semi-Obscure June 1967 R&B Cover Version
guitarfool2002:
This is a cover of God Only Knows from a Philadelphia-based R&B group named Brenda And The Tabulations, which was released on their album "Dry Your Eyes" on the small "Dionn" label in June 1967. I wanted to share this because it is pretty obscure, and it stands as an early example of an R&B group covering what is now considered one of the all-time classic BB's songs, when GOK was still a song from the most current Beach Boys album at that time.
Here is the link, God Only Knows as covered by Brenda and the Tabulations, released June 1967:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIIYG0b6ync&feature=youtu.be
It is an interesting cover, and I think the part which worked best was having that kind of drum and bass groove on the song, especially in the chorus. The rhythm section of this band is excellent on every track of the album. The horn arrangement is nice too, although a lot of the voicings and lines stayed true to Brian's original studio arrangement.
The backing vocals are another story - I won't judge them, only to say there is some bizarre effect they seemed to be going for, almost like they were going for an angelic sound or something. At times, it reminded me of a Yoko Ono or B-52's vocal quality, and it is mixed low but is still noticeable and at times jarring. It reminds me too of some Smiley Smile vocal textures.
About the band itself:
They formed in Philadelphia in 1966, and by January 1967 they had released a single with the song "Dry Your Eyes". The single was reported in Billboard magazine, 2/18/67, as a "Regional Breakout" single, making some waves in the R&B markets in Philly and Baltimore. At that time, R&B radio in Philly was influential in breaking a record into a hit, and there were some famous and influential R&B disc jockeys spinning on Philly stations. As "Dry Your Eyes" continued to break on the R&B charts and radio, it soon got picked up by Top 40 stations nationwide, and by the spring of '67 it had cracked the top 20 charts nationally. People who have heard the existing Real Don Steele airchecks from KHJ in Los Angeles will remember Don Steele spinning "Dry Your Eyes" on his May 3, 1967 show when it was still riding the top 40.
This is the "Dry Your Eyes" single, which rarely if ever gets played on oldies radio despite the chart success in '67:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqQ8m8harw0&feature=youtu.be
It seems the success of the single led Dionn records to assemble a full album, and that was released around June 1967. Billboard reviewed it in the June 3 1967 issue, alongside the new Monkees album Headquarters (this review is included in the video). And by the June 17th issue, the album again appeared alongside "Sgt. Pepper" on Billboard's "New Action LP" chart, showing albums which had not yet charted but which were making waves with retailers. Pretty good company for an album released at that time.
The band continued on, with the strength of that single and others which did OK on the R&B charts, and also made an appearance on the Hy Lit television show, from Philly, miming to a terrific song called "That's In The Past". That Hy Lit video is also available elsewhere on YouTube, and the link to the song will be posted below.
A further Beach Boys connection would come later: On their next album, called "Right On The Tip Of My Tongue", they worked with Van McCoy, who handled arranging, production, and co-writing duties with the core group. This album collected several top 40 hits that had been on the pop and R&B charts through 1969-70-71, including the title track written by Van McCoy. Remember McCoy later became world famous with his song "The Hustle", and he had written several notable arrangements for the Beach Boys in the late 60's including Bruce's "The Nearest Faraway Place". The title track is still regarded as a classic semi-"lost" soul single from the early 70's.
Lead singer and songwriter Brenda Payton died in 1992.
Here are some other notable tracks from the "Dry Your Eyes" album worth a listen from any fans of classic and lesser-known 60's soul/R&B groups:
This is the song "That's In The Past", which they did on the Hy Lit show, and probably my favorite song from the group. I love late 60's grooves like this, I think this is a terrific record that isn't too well known in 2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZyGii1qMys&feature=youtu.be
And this is their soulful groovy cover of Bacharach/David/Warwick's hit "Walk On By", from that same first album as God Only Knows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIM4F30JYP0&feature=youtu.be
seltaeb1012002:
Awesome, thanks for posting! 60's and 70's soul never ceases to amaze me. Great to hear some rare stuff.
"That's In The Past" is great. :smokin
EgoHanger1966:
This is cool - and being from the same general area that you're in, I guess I should know this, but I admit this is the first time hearing it. Very spiritual thing they got on the harmonies. I get the same feeling from much of the BBs work - but this is a different spiritual...kind of an indescribable uptown thing. Dry Your Eyes is one I hear occasionally played by the likes of obscure soul and doo wop DJs around here, as well as (bigger names) Harvey Holiday and Jerry Blavat giving them a spin. I'll have to check out their album. Thanks for the worthwhile post!
Here's another one from that time period, that, outside of Philly collectors, is so obscure it hurts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFleKvPDK20
bgas:
Quote from: EgoHanger1966 on January 04, 2013, 04:39:06 PM
This is cool - and being from the same general area that you're in, I guess I should know this, but I admit this is the first time hearing it. Very spiritual thing they got on the harmonies. I get the same feeling from much of the BBs work - but this is a different spiritual...kind of an indescribable uptown thing. Dry Your Eyes is one I hear occasionally played by the likes of obscure soul and doo wop DJs around here, as well as (bigger names) Harvey Holiday and Jerry Blavat giving them a spin. I'll have to check out their album. Thanks for the worthwhile post!
Here's another one from that time period, that, outside of Philly collectors, is so obscure it hurts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFleKvPDK20
UGH, Different strokes, I suppose...
I enjoyed the Brenda & Tabulations.( never heard it before) made me think about the Carmen McRae PS tunes and Sam Fletcher GOK, tho I guess they're both a bit more in the jazz vein ( both 1967)
and P.P Arnold's GOK was 1968, but more of edgy rock
bossaroo:
this is great. thanks for posting... i had no idea it existed.
reminded me too of the great Carmen McRae covering Don't Talk and IJWMFTT in 1967.
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