By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 12:12 pm:

Also picked up The Ebonys first (and only?) album over the weekend — it was a very productive weekend for me going out of town! — produced by Gamble and Huff.

Did The Ebonys do background singing for other Philly artists? Their harmonies sound familiar.....I'm thinking in particular of Jerry Butler's "The Iceman Cometh" and "Ice On Ice."

Anyway, I had only heard maybe one of these Ebony songs before.....The whole CD is excellent.....a good pick up for Philly soul fans.

By Eli (68.236.59.174) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 12:42 pm:

Galactus,
The bcv's on the Butler sessions are by Jean and Tina Thomas of the Mello Moods and Mikki Farrow.
male voices are G&H and Bell.

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 12:48 pm:

Thanks, Eli....interesting.

I guess those Gamble and Huff arrangements just tend to produce similar harmonies in both cases. Bell also worked on that Ebonys album. It's all good in any case....

By Eli (68.236.59.174) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 01:15 pm:

The Ebonys, like the Intruders were "raw" and unpolished by comparison.
You could always hear Phil Terry of the Intruders loud blow tenor high above the rest of the guys, but it worked for them.
The art of fine tuning our bgvs with supplemental singers came along around late 1971.
I m so glad that it did.

BTW,the Sweeties first sesions were on the first Joe Simon album.

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 01:25 pm:

The "raw" description makes sense. I did think of the Intruders on a couple of those Ebony tracks....Occasionally, yes, I hear a group member who sounds a little awkward in tone...I always thought that about the Intruders but never knew all the whys and wherefores behind it......but as you say, it works somehow.

I've always thought of the G&H period of 1968-71 a little differently than from "Backstabbers"/"Love I Lost" period onward.....A slightly different sound...."rawer" as you said.

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 01:40 pm:

Didn't Jean, Tina & Mikki sing on the Dusty Springfield and Wilson Pickett stuff as well?

By Juicefree20 (68.161.20.172) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 07:39 pm:

Bobby E, is that the same Mikki who recorded Itching For Love in the early 80s?

Juice

By LadyMystique (216.37.228.72) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 07:44 pm:

Yeah, the Ebonys only released one album...I wish they had released more.

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 11:38 pm:

Would appreciate someone putting names to the faces on the front cover of the Ebonys' album on PIR. Starting with the bro on the left with the white hat,vest and pants.

I know the names of the individuals but would like to match up names with faces.

By bigdaddyg2k4 (205.138.54.205) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 05:25 pm:

It's a must that I pick up the Ebonys' first album when I have a chance!

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 05:49 pm:

CORNBREAD:

Here you go...for that front cover pic your talking about....left to right:

David Beasley, James "Booty" Tuten, Jenny Holmes and Clarence "Jingles" Vaughan.

By Juicefree20 (68.161.24.39) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 06:07 pm:

Didn't Ms Holmes & the fellas of The Ambassadors, merge to become Creme De'Cocoa?

Juice

By Frank (152.163.253.70) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 04:19 am:

The Ebonies Made More Than One Lp-I Believe They Had A Second Release That Did Do As Well.Ther Is Also A Japanese Release.

By Frank (152.163.253.70) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 04:31 am:

This Is For Juicefree20-The Information You Seek Can Be Found on The Web Sire Allmusic.Com

By Juicefree20 (151.205.105.231) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 03:31 pm:

Happy Easter Frank. Thanks you very much for the tip. I'll be sure to check it out.

Peace
Juice

By PJ (24.126.163.245) on Friday, April 16, 2004 - 01:12 pm:

you can find the Ebony's website by going here..
www.ebonysforever.net