1960's / Cover Songs / R&B

The Velvelettes – Randy’s Rarities

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“Lonely, Lonely Girl Am I” the first release was by The Velvelettes in 1965.
The song was first recorded in 1964 by The Temptations as “Lonely, Lonely Man Am I” but not released until 1966.

In 1961 Bertha Barbee-McNeal and Mildred Gill Arbor were students at Western Michigan University and they got the idea to start a vocal group. Then add Mildred’s 9th grade sister Carolyn and her Junior High friend Betty. Bertha asked her cousin Norma to join as well. One of their college friends was Barry Gordy’s nephew and was able to arrange an audition at Motown. Carolyn (Cal) was chosen as the lead singer. They released their first single in 1963 with Stevie Wonder playing harmonica on both the A and B side but the songs did not chart.

“Needle in a Haystack”

Their highest charting song was “Needle in a Haystack” at #45 on the R&B chart in 1964. Their next three chart positions were #64, #95 and #102.

From 1965, the #64 song “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin'” caught the ear of Bananarama (and the Fun Boy Three), and their 1983 single went to #5 in the UK.

The song was written by Eddie Holland, William Stevenson and Norman Whitfield

More music stuff at Lines by Leon.

18 thoughts on “The Velvelettes – Randy’s Rarities”

  3. The Velvelettes sounded pretty good to me, especially on “He Wasn’t Really Sayin’ Something”. Bananarama, on the other hand, only mildly excite me. I may be in the minority here, I really didn’t like their cover of “Venus” either; however, I love the original by Shocking Blue.

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  4. Yep, all the talent and hallmarks of being hit-makers, but the old ‘coulda shoulda but didn’t.’

    And if they had broken big they surely would have had to have a personnel name change; Bertha Betty and Mildred sound like something out of the Depression era 30s rather than the 60s.

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  6. I hadn’t heard of them but listening to ‘Needle in a Haystack’ now – mix on the video is a bit muddy but it sure sounds catchy and right up Motown’s alley then. It should have done a lot better

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  8. I think their version of He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ is good…The Vevelettes version of course. It has the sound of a hit…my only guess is they weren’t as pushed as others. It’s such a shame with groups like this.

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