The Superlatives, 'i Still Love You'. Female Backing Singer, Who Is She?

[Guest Bob Monkhouse]

Ever since I first heard this tune I have wondered who the female backing singer on the tune is.If you listen at 1m28s she holds an incredible note for nearly 10 seconds.Could anyone tell me who she is and any information about her.I've messaged Paul Kyser via here but I'm not sure if he's active or picks messages up.Thanks to anyone who can shed light on this.Bob Monkhouse.

[boba]

Are you sure it's a woman and not a guy singing falsetto? The lead tenor does have a very high voice even before he hits falsetto.

[Jem Britttin]

Agree dont think there was a female backing singer but then i wasnt there always thought was all male group

[Phild]

According to Paul Kyser (who recorded it) the group were all male

[Guest Bob Monkhouse]

You may be right but it seems a really high note for a male voice.It'll probably be one of those mysteries of life I'll never get the answer to.Thanks for your input.Bob

[KevH]

Are they the same group as on the Dynamics label?

[Guest Bob Monkhouse]

I think so but I'm no expert.A lot of all male groups used female backing singers though so, just because The Superlatives were an all male group it doesn't follow naturally that they didn't use female backing singers at times.

[boba]

Are they the same group as on the Dynamics label?

No. This superlatives is from new jersey and also sing backup on the robbie lawson 45. The dynamics superlatives are from detroit.

[boba]

I think so but I'm no expert.A lot of all male groups used female backing singers though so, just because The Superlatives were an all male group it doesn't follow naturally that they didn't use female backing singers at times.

That's true, although more specifically in the studio (rather than live ... although you're obviously talking about a studio recording here). I'm still not sure it's a woman's voice though and the lead tenor is unnaturally high pre-falsetto.

[Jem Britttin]

That's true, although more specifically in the studio (rather than live ... although you're obviously talking about a studio recording here). I'm still not sure it's a woman's voice though and the lead tenor is unnaturally high pre-falsetto.

Blokes can get pretty high

[The Tempest]

gone

[boba]

Again, not the same group, as I noted above. Please do not confuse the two. The second picture (which is what I scanned and posted on the internet btw, and which is what has circulated) is the Detroit group. It says Detroit on the picture. The first record is by a New Jersey group. They are not the same group. Detroit is far away from New Jersey. "The Superlatives" is not a particularly unique name. The groups are different. They are not the same group. One group is from Detroit, the other group is from New Jersey. The groups are not the same.The picture on the right is not the picture of the group singing on the record on the left. They are two different groups with the same name.

I don't know if I'm being clear since I'm being so concise, so in conclusion: There are two different groups that recorded soul records as the Superlatives, one from New Jersey and one from Detroit. The picture on the left is a picture of the record recorded by the New Jersey group. The picture on the right is a photo of the Detroit group. Also in general, every record by the same group name is not necessarily the same group.

I apologize if I'm not being clear about this,please let me know.

[Roburt]

I don't think I'm fully getting what you're saying Bob !!

How many different groups are there ??

[Jem Britttin]

But did any of them have female part time or other backing singers

[Neckender]

Ever since I first heard this tune I have wondered who the female backing singer on the tune is.If you listen at 1m28s she holds an incredible note for nearly 10 seconds.Could anyone tell me who she is and any information about her.I've messaged Paul Kyser via here but I'm not sure if he's active or picks messages up.Thanks to anyone who can shed light on this.Bob Monkhouse.

The Superlatives were an all male group from New Jersey:

St. Julian (pee wee) Bonaparte (lead)

David Jones (first tenor)

Leon Stuckey (second tenor)

Marvin (mousey) Williams (bass)

Gerald Applewhite (baritone)

Both the tracks, 'i still love you' and 'we're so lonely' were recorded in 1966, at Cameo Parkway in Philadelphia.

The information was lifted from Tim Ashibende's enlightening fanzine 'tracks to your mind' which features interviews about the Superatives with Paul Kyser and Earl Morgan (manager)

[Shinehead]

Again, not the same group, as I noted above. Please do not confuse the two. The second picture (which is what I scanned and posted on the internet btw, and which is what has circulated) is the Detroit group. It says Detroit on the picture. The first record is by a New Jersey group. They are not the same group. Detroit is far away from New Jersey. "The Superlatives" is not a particularly unique name. The groups are different. They are not the same group. One group is from Detroit, the other group is from New Jersey. The groups are not the same.The picture on the right is not the picture of the group singing on the record on the left. They are two different groups with the same name.

I don't know if I'm being clear since I'm being so concise, so in conclusion: There are two different groups that recorded soul records as the Superlatives, one from New Jersey and one from Detroit. The picture on the left is a picture of the record recorded by the New Jersey group. The picture on the right is a photo of the Detroit group. Also in general, every record by the same group name is not necessarily the same group.

I apologize if I'm not being clear about this,please let me know.

Boba were you once a member of The Superiors .

[boba]

The Superlatives were an all male group from New Jersey:

St. Julian (pee wee) Bonaparte (lead)

David Jones (first tenor)

Leon Stuckey (second tenor)

Marvin (mousey) Williams (bass)

Gerald Applewhite (baritone)

Both the tracks, 'i still love you' and 'we're so lonely' were recorded in 1966, at Cameo Parkway in Philadelphia.

The information was lifted from Tim Ashibende's enlightening fanzine 'tracks to your mind' which features interviews about the Superatives with Paul Kyser and Earl Morgan (manager)

Yes but I think Bob M. was asking if a girl was used in the studio, which does happen a lot to round out the production. I don't think there was in this case.

[boba]

Boba were you once a member of The Superiors .

which superiors?

[Shinehead]

which superiors?

[Neckender]

Yes but I think Bob M. was asking if a girl was used in the studio, which does happen a lot to round out the production. I don't think there was in this case.

The interview was very thorough and detailed and there was no mention of any female involvement on those songs.

[Guest scottie]

sorry to change the point but on the subject of backing vocals the backing vocals on "i got the fever"by the prophets/creation are absolutely amazing,strong as an ox.

[Guest Bob Monkhouse]

Many thanks to everyone on here with your comments.Its looking like I may well be wrong about the female backing singer.If its one of the male singers then I think I'm even more impressed.Whoever it is gives both me and my wife Sue a huge smile on our faces whenever we hear the tune.Such enormous talent ,thanks to you all.

[Guest turntableterra]

from boba

which superiors?

none had a beard!

[Guest]

Is there another version of this on a light blue label? (Sorry, am at work so can't check...)

[boba]

yes, i have it on the blue label

[Goldsoul]

sorry to change the point but on the subject of backing vocals the backing vocals on "i got the fever"by the prophets/creation are absolutely amazing,strong as an ox.

That's partly due to Bobby Martin remixing the Prophets and turning it into the 'Creation' master. A name given to the Prophets by Bill Buster owner of Eric records who subsequently re-released it in 1972 due to UK demand.

[Robbk]

yes, i have it on the blue label

I have that one as well, and seen a LOT more blues than yellows. Actually, I've only seen the blue one in my time in The Midwest and Far West. Maybe the yellow was first press, and local or regional only, and when national distribution started, it was pressed on blue?

[boba]

I have that one as well, and seen a LOT more blues than yellows. Actually, I've only seen the blue one in my time in The Midwest and Far West. Maybe the yellow was first press, and local or regional only, and when national distribution started, it was pressed on blue?

I have no idea but one thing that is commonly true is that things that are common in the UK are not necessarily common at all in the US because what's common in the UK are whatever load of records happened to be exported.

[Guest]

I have no idea but one thing that is commonly true is that things that are common in the UK are not necessarily common at all in the US because what's common in the UK are whatever load of records happened to be exported.

True...same for over here in Japan, as a lot of stock came over here during the 70s and has remained on these shores circulating around. I often find the same titles over and over again, despite them being tough elsewhere in the world...hence I can offer some titles time and again on my sales pages!

With regards to the Superlatives there are x4 label variants aren't there:

Italic label title version on white, yellow and light blue versions (all from the same pressing plant). Then there is also the bar-lined label in light blue from a different plant.

[boba]

Trolling (or joking) post deleted, to prevent another thread from going down in flames... sludge7, you probably were innocently joking but if you go back and read the zillions of OVO threads, it's not a good idea.

[Guest]

Well, it was half a joke and half a serious question actually... The "alleged originator" of the phrase OVO recently went through my box and separated out the originals from the pressings -- and he put my blue Superlatives in the originals pile. So then when I saw the post on here of the yellow label I thought if that's the original then why did Dave say my blue one was... So maybe this does need its own thread, but I was interested in the idea of if you have a local release and then a national release -- or, as it seems in this case, four releases -- where do you make the distinction between what counts as OVO and not? I am honestly not trying to cause trouble or start yet another pointless row!!!

[boba]

Well, it was half a joke and half a serious question actually... The "alleged originator" of the phrase OVO recently went through my box and separated out the originals from the pressings -- and he put my blue Superlatives in the originals pile. So then when I saw the post on here of the yellow label I thought if that's the original then why did Dave say my blue one was... So maybe this does need its own thread, but I was interested in the idea of if you have a local release and then a national release -- or, as it seems in this case, four releases -- where do you make the distinction between what counts as OVO and not? I am honestly not trying to cause trouble or start yet another pointless row!!!

actually the question you are asking about local / national releases is exactly the type of thing that has been done ad nauseum in the OVO threads and the type of thing I meant to cut off. Again, I'm not saying you're asking an unreasonable question, but there's a big history here. I see you joined in 2004 but don't post a lot, I don't know if you saw all the drama. I'm not trying to discourage you from posting in general, I appreciate it.

If you just wanted to ask which was the pressing order of the different label designs of this, that would be a fair question imo. Not trying to censor you, just please look at those threads, they pretty much address every possible permutation of every how-many-angels-can-fit-on-the-head-of-a-pin type of question you can ask and they overall had a very negative effect on the forum. Thanks.