Originally Posted by
westgrandboulevard
Just as one example, The Andantes are certainly on 'Baby I Need You Loving', completed May 7th 1964.
It would be interesting to know which was the first release on which the voices of The Andantes could be heard. It could easily be 1963....
I think Louvain was the first soprano, had a greater vocal range, and who took the top notes. Marlene was either second soprano or alto, and Jackie was definitely contralto, with her rich, warmer tones.
None of The Marvelettes had a soprano singing voice. They were all altos, though Wanda would often employ a falsetto tone, which wasn't within her natural singing register. Gladys also would occasionally use falsetto, as on 'Little Girl Blue'.
When The Marvelettes were down to three members, being all alto singing voices, it would have been harder for them, without a soprano, to produce three-part harmony as effectively as did The Supremes, or Martha & The Vandellas.
So, whenever The Andantes were used on Marvelettes recordings, theirs are the higher notes heard, very often in three-part harmony, or heavenly 'oooooooo' notes.
One notable exception is 'I'll Keep [[On) Holding On' [[Wanda singing in her natural register) where background voices seem to be The Andantes singing in unison, with mellow alto voices...and effectively replicating The Marvelettes' sound, but with a warmer tone.