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50 Years Ago Today the Mello Souls

50 Years Ago Today the Mello Souls magazine cover

50 years ago today four guys drove from Wilmington, Delaware, to Frank Virtue’s studio located on 1618 N. Broad St, Philadelphia to record their debut single as the Mello Souls.

Silas, Fisher, James T and Randy were accompanied by their manager Mr Marshall and George Lewis, who co-wrote both of the songs. A group of local teenagers, Keith, Kenny, Larry, Johnny and Frank  provided the music.

‘I Got My Pride’, which featured Silas on lead, was cut in one take and this was the song that was pushed as the A side. ‘We Can Make It’, with Fisher on lead and James T providing the response vocal, took 3 takes as Mr Marshall couldn’t quite synchronise his tambourine with Keith’s guitar intro;  an intro that he acknowledges was inspired by ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’ which had been released five months previously by The Supremes

Despite local promotion and live shows the record didn’t make the impact that had been hoped for. The disappointment felt by the group was further compounded by a failed audition at Motown and as a result they simply dissolved.

For us the rest as they say is history

Andy

image and video clip added by site

 

as this is a forum post highlight please use the forum topic for comments and discussion - link below

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums/topic/375023-50-years-ago-today-the-mello-souls/

 

 

 Post By Rupert

Here's a photo of them , from when they had a reunion . Plus a couple of hangers on . 

image.jpeg

On 29/09/2017 at 20:24, chalky said:

Thanks Andy.

Is Silus still with us?  I know Steve Green met him in a home some years ago now.

Sadly not ....

This is a picture of his (ex) wife & daughter

Andy

 

 

DSCN4729.JPG



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Fabulous record, one of the best all-nighter records for me.  Still talk of it being Butch’s “Del-larks”.

andy, apart from Silus, were any if the group on the Candi 45 featuring the Mellow Fellows?  Silus given lead credit on one side, Edwin Johnson the flip  

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Best bloody record never to be played at the casino IMHO top sound that epitomised the 80s niter scene and beyond  fav record of all time one day I'll own a copy :-)  them opening bars just grab you 

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3 hours ago, speedlimit said:

Best bloody record never to be played at the casino IMHO top sound that epitomised the 80s niter scene and beyond  fav record of all time one day I'll own a copy :-)  them opening bars just grab you 

Same here - remember someone on SS I think saying it wouldn't have stood up in the golden era but I reckon you could easily file it next to say Cecil Washington

Great article Andy - how did you get to meet them? 

Shame the thread is spread over two articles - could they be put together?

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On 9/26/2017 at 21:46, Chris Turnbull said:

Same here - remember someone on SS I think saying it wouldn't have stood up in the golden era but I reckon you could easily file it next to say Cecil Washington

Great article Andy - how did you get to meet them? 

Shame the thread is spread over two articles - could they be put together?

just to acknowledge the bolded comment

the articles/forum posts thing has always been a concern - people do use and view the site in different ways so to try and deliver the content in such a way that suits all can be awkward and even now in year 21 have still never come up with a 100% satisfactory method

however...

trying something new today 

 

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On 9/25/2017 at 06:42, chalky said:

 

andy, apart from Silus, were any if the group on the Candi 45 featuring the Mellow Fellows?  Silus given lead credit on one side, Edwin Johnson the flip  

Hi Chalky

I think James T was in the Mellow Fellows ... but I'd need to go through my stuff again to pin down the ebb and flow of who was in what group & when

And just to clarify that the photo is of the 'teenagers' who were the band on the recording

Andy

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22 minutes ago, Andy Rix said:

Hi Chalky

I think James T was in the Mellow Fellows ... but I'd need to go through my stuff again to pin down the ebb and flow of who was in what group & when

And just to clarify that the photo is of the 'teenagers' who were the band on the recording

Andy

Thanks Andy.

Is Silus still with us?  I know Steve Green met him in a home some years ago now.

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7 minutes ago, chalky said:

Thanks Andy.

Is Silus still with us?  I know Steve Green met him in a home some years ago now.

Sadly not ....

This is a picture of his (ex) wife & daughter

Andy

 

 

DSCN4729.JPG

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