The Mighty Mighty Dells: i miss you.

I love the Dells.  Formed in 1952, their career is simply epic.  But my favorite period for them was ushered in with Charles Stepney.  Unfortunately, as Chess Records (their label from the mid-sixties till the mid-seventies) crumbled, their hits (which include “There Is”, “Stay in my Corner”, “The Love We Had Stays on My Mind”, “Oh What a Night” and more) were harder to come by. 

By 1973, The Dells, still at Cadet Records (a Chess Subsidiary), were recording work with a Detroit/Memphis lean.  Tony Hester, who came from Detroit to Memphis, wrote and produced The Dramatics’ biggest album (“Whatcha See is Whatcha Get”) and subsequent Dramatics outings.  Don Davis is a legend, producing for various Detroit acts (some of which, like Darrell Banks, were released on Memphis’ Volt Records), and ultimately working throughout the world of Soul. 

With such a team behind them, The Dells (with lusciously gruff Marvin Junior on Baritone Lead) couldn’t help but come up with this gold.  Jive on!

About ayanacontreras

i love the transportive powers of sound. i am a radio host/producer, DJ, Sound designer, 45rpm collector, and art lover living in the city of wind. View all posts by ayanacontreras

3 responses to “The Mighty Mighty Dells: i miss you.

  • Longshot

    BaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaBY!

    I relished in this particular part of Stay In My Corner. And yes the Dells and others that defined this era of R&B sadly are long gone. Call me old old old school. But I just cannot define 90% of whats been out there for the last 20 years, I don’t care if its Rock-n-Roll, Jazz, or whatever. The Pop is ludicrous, I loathe Rap. None of these people today know what music is. If they could here the real thing they would go out and shoot themselves.

    Enjoy the links music I have a feeling you and I are in sync Muse wise. At least on the Dells and that era.

    http://longshotsblues.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/pure-soul/

  • Longshot

    It never completed the long winded BaaaaaaaaaaaaaaBy! Above LOL

  • Cathi . G.

    To: THE MIGHTY DELLS

    I PRAY MARVIN JUNIOR and the DELLS ARE OK! THEY ARE MISSED. THERE IS NO R&B GROUP LIKE “THE MIGHTY DELLS”. From: MISS CATHI IN NY

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