The Elgins were an American vocal group on the Motown label, active from the late 1950s to 1967. Their most successful record was "Heaven Must Have Sent You", written and produced by the Holland–Dozier–Holland team,[1] which was a hit in the US in 1966, and in the UK when reissued in 1971.[2]
Founding members Robert Fleming, Johnny Dawson, Cleo "Duke" Miller and Norman McLean recorded together for various small labels in Detroit prior to their Motown days, as The Sensations, The Five Emeralds, and The Downbeats, and also recorded as The Downbeats for Motown in 1962.[1][3] The record company suggested that they add female lead vocalist Saundra Mallett, who had recorded unsuccessfully for the label, backed by The Vandellas;[3] she later married and became Saundra Edwards.[4] The new group's first single release was "Put Yourself In My Place", issued in December 1965; early copies credited the record to the Downbeats,[5] but Berry Gordy wanted to use the name Elgins, which had previously been one of the names used by The Temptations.[1] The record rose to no. 4 on the BillboardR&B chart and no. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its B-side, "Darling Baby", also made the Hot 100. Several months later, they issued "Heaven Must Have Sent You", which again reached both the R&B and pop charts, becoming their biggest pop hit.[6] They also released an album, Darling Baby.[1] However, their follow-up single, "I Understand My Man," was less successful, and the group broke up in 1967.[4]
With the continuing popularity of Motown records in the UK fuelled by the Northern soul scene, "Heaven Must Have Sent You" was reissued in 1971 and peaked at no. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. "Put Yourself in My Place" was also reissued and made the chart.[4] With Saundra Mallett Edwards being unwilling to rejoin the group, the Elgins toured the UK with former session vocalist Yvonne Vernee Allen taking her place.[4] One of Yvonne Vernee's solo singles from the 1960s, "Just Like You Did Me", also became popular on the Northern soul scene, especially at Wigan Casino Soul Allnighters. Vernee also recorded some material with The Elgins at Motown, but none of it saw release. Bonnie Pointer recorded a hit version of "Heaven Must Have Sent You" in 1979, and, in 1989, Vernee, Dawson, McLean and Jimmy Charles recorded a new arrangement of the song in the style of Pointer's disco version for producer Ian Levine and it was released as a single that same year. They made several further recordings for Levine's Motorcity label in the 1990s, and two albums, Take the Train (1990) and Sensational (1991), were released.[4] A second single, "It's Sensational", was released in 1992, and a compilation album of their Motorcity material, The Best of the Elgins, was released in 1996. Saundra Edwards also made separate recordings for the same label.[3] She died in February 2002.
A 1997 British import CD paired their album Darling Baby with one by The Monitors, another group that recorded for Motown with limited success, and which featured future Temptation, Richard Street. Recordings of the group, including their Motown album, all singles and unreleased recordings up to 1968, can be found on The Motown Anthology, released in 2007.
^Productions, Global Dog. "45 Discography for V.I.P. Records". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
^ abWhitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 222. ISBN0-89820-155-1.
^Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 133.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 181. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^"British certifications – Elgins". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 16, 2022. Type Elgins in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
elgins, other, uses, disambiguation, were, american, vocal, group, motown, label, active, from, late, 1950s, 1967, their, most, successful, record, heaven, must, have, sent, written, produced, holland, dozier, holland, team, which, 1966, when, reissued, 1971, . For other uses see The Elgins disambiguation The Elgins were an American vocal group on the Motown label active from the late 1950s to 1967 Their most successful record was Heaven Must Have Sent You written and produced by the Holland Dozier Holland team 1 which was a hit in the US in 1966 and in the UK when reissued in 1971 2 The ElginsOriginDetroit Michigan United StatesGenresR amp BYears active1962 1967occasionally 1971 1990sLabelsV I P Tamla Motown UK MotorcityPast membersRobert FlemingJohnny DawsonCleo Duke MillerNorman McLeanSaundra Mallett EdwardsYvonne Vernee AllenJimmy Charles Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 References 4 External linksCareer EditFounding members Robert Fleming Johnny Dawson Cleo Duke Miller and Norman McLean recorded together for various small labels in Detroit prior to their Motown days as The Sensations The Five Emeralds and The Downbeats and also recorded as The Downbeats for Motown in 1962 1 3 The record company suggested that they add female lead vocalist Saundra Mallett who had recorded unsuccessfully for the label backed by The Vandellas 3 she later married and became Saundra Edwards 4 The new group s first single release was Put Yourself In My Place issued in December 1965 early copies credited the record to the Downbeats 5 but Berry Gordy wanted to use the name Elgins which had previously been one of the names used by The Temptations 1 The record rose to no 4 on the Billboard R amp B chart and no 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and its B side Darling Baby also made the Hot 100 Several months later they issued Heaven Must Have Sent You which again reached both the R amp B and pop charts becoming their biggest pop hit 6 They also released an album Darling Baby 1 However their follow up single I Understand My Man was less successful and the group broke up in 1967 4 With the continuing popularity of Motown records in the UK fuelled by the Northern soul scene Heaven Must Have Sent You was reissued in 1971 and peaked at no 3 on the UK Singles Chart Put Yourself in My Place was also reissued and made the chart 4 With Saundra Mallett Edwards being unwilling to rejoin the group the Elgins toured the UK with former session vocalist Yvonne Vernee Allen taking her place 4 One of Yvonne Vernee s solo singles from the 1960s Just Like You Did Me also became popular on the Northern soul scene especially at Wigan Casino Soul Allnighters Vernee also recorded some material with The Elgins at Motown but none of it saw release Bonnie Pointer recorded a hit version of Heaven Must Have Sent You in 1979 and in 1989 Vernee Dawson McLean and Jimmy Charles recorded a new arrangement of the song in the style of Pointer s disco version for producer Ian Levine and it was released as a single that same year They made several further recordings for Levine s Motorcity label in the 1990s and two albums Take the Train 1990 and Sensational 1991 were released 4 A second single It s Sensational was released in 1992 and a compilation album of their Motorcity material The Best of the Elgins was released in 1996 Saundra Edwards also made separate recordings for the same label 3 She died in February 2002 A 1997 British import CD paired their album Darling Baby with one by The Monitors another group that recorded for Motown with limited success and which featured future Temptation Richard Street Recordings of the group including their Motown album all singles and unreleased recordings up to 1968 can be found on The Motown Anthology released in 2007 Discography EditAlbums Edit 1966 Darling Baby V I P VM400 1968 Darling Baby UK issue Tamla Motown STML TML11081 1990 Take the Train MOTCLP 39 1991 Sensational MOTCCD 75 1996 The Best of the Elgins HTCD 7733 2 1997 The Elgins Meet the Monitors UK issue Marginal ISO 9002 2007 The Motown Anthology UK issue Universal UK B000OONPO0 Singles Edit Year A side B side Label Chart positions CertificationsUS Pop 6 USR amp B 7 UK 2 8 1965 Put Yourself in My Place Darling Baby V I P 25029UK Tamla Motown TMG551 72 92 4 1966 Heaven Must Have Sent You Stay in My Lonely Arms V I P 25037UK Tamla Motown TMG583 50 9 1967 I Understand My Man It s Been a Long Long Time V I P 25043UK Tamla Motown TMG615 92 35 1968 Put Yourself in My Place reissue Darling Baby UK Tamla Motown TMG642 1971 Heaven Must Have Sent You reissue Stay in My Lonely Arms V I P 25065UK Tamla Motown TMG771 3 BPI Silver 9 Put Yourself in My Place second reissue It s Gonna Be Hard Times UK Tamla Motown TMG787 28 denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory References Edit a b c d Thomas Bryan The Elgins Biography Albums Streaming Links AllMusic AllMusic Archived from the original on November 7 2010 Retrieved 4 October 2017 a b Betts Graham 2004 Complete UK Hit Singles 1952 2004 1st ed London Collins p 254 ISBN 0 00 717931 6 a b c The Elgins Biography OLDIES com Retrieved 4 October 2017 a b c d e Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music First ed Virgin Books p 177 ISBN 0 7535 0149 X Productions Global Dog 45 Discography for V I P Records Globaldogproductions info Retrieved 4 October 2017 a b Whitburn Joel 2003 Top Pop Singles 1955 2002 1st ed Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 222 ISBN 0 89820 155 1 Whitburn Joel 1996 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 1995 Record Research p 133 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 181 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 British certifications Elgins British Phonographic Industry Retrieved June 16 2022 TypeElginsin the Search BPI Awards field and then press Enter External links EditThe Elgins discography at Discogs nbsp A biography of the Elgins Elgins discography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Elgins amp oldid 1115613735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
