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The Parliaments On Unpredictable


Gasher

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This 45 is by the "real" Parliaments (=George Clinton). It`s a very nice Doowop/Group 45 but nth for a Soul night. Late 8ts saw a compilation LP of all the early Parliaments stuff which included this tune (plus flipside).

Marc

Sorry, but I think Marc made a mistake. I´m not sure if this record was made by the Clinton Parliaments or not, but song writer was Mel Harris, nobody of the usual song writers of them. I asked George Clinton about the record via myspace, but he didn´t yet respond. The singers voice sounds a little bit rougher as the known Parliaments stuff, but similar anyway. I also never seen that compilation Marc was writing about, but both songs for me are definitely not doowop. It´s solid soul sound on both sides, one mover one dancer, with a little bit more guitar as usual, but good enough for soul nights. I would think the release date was between ´63 and ´65. Sorry, but I´m unable to do sound samples.

......and yes, the copy you saw on ebay went finally to my address :P

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Sorry, but I think Marc made a mistake. I´m not sure if this record was made by the Clinton Parliaments or not, but song writer was Mel Harris, nobody of the usual song writers of them. I asked George Clinton about the record via myspace, but he didn´t yet respond. The singers voice sounds a little bit rougher as the known Parliaments stuff, but similar anyway. I also never seen that compilation Marc was writing about, but both songs for me are definitely not doowop. It´s solid soul sound on both sides, one mover one dancer, with a little bit more guitar as usual, but good enough for soul nights. I would think the release date was between ´63 and ´65. Sorry, but I´m unable to do sound samples.

......and yes, the copy you saw on ebay went finally to my address :P

If the name mel harris is on it it's the cabell group. Melvin Harris was not a member of the vocal group but was their keyboard player. The cabell group are also the same group as on Symbol.

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There was also a "Parliaments" out of Philly in the late 50's & early 60's formally known as the "Imperials". They were a doo-wop group on the "LEN" label. Don't know if this has anything to do with the record from above as all I've heard is the "LEN" stuff. The name "Mel Harris" does not appear on any of these releases. Sound please Andreas?

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You can play a record down the phone to Mike and it gets uploaded on to Refo soul I will find the numbers.

Few that was a long way to go out of breath now.

number is

07005981873

or international

447005981873

cost is something like 30 odd pence a min (off top of me head last time looked)

usefull ??

Edited by Prophonics 2029
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There was also a "Parliaments" out of Philly in the late 50's & early 60's formally known as the "Imperials". They were a doo-wop group on the "LEN" label. Don't know if this has anything to do with the record from above as all I've heard is the "LEN" stuff. The name "Mel Harris" does not appear on any of these releases. Sound please Andreas?

the cabell / symbol (and apparently unpredictable) group are from West Virginia I think.

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the cabell / symbol (and apparently unpredictable) group are from West Virginia I think.

Bob,

You're right, Huntington, West Virginia to be precise. Lead singer LIttle Archie Himon actually gave a friend of ours all his Cabel releases, way back in the 60s. I'll ask him if he got the "Unpredicable" 45 as well, that should clarify the question.

John

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You can play a record down the phone to Mike and it gets uploaded on to Refo soul I will find the numbers.

Few that was a long way to go out of breath now.

number is

07005981873

or international

447005981873

cost is something like 30 odd pence a min (off top of me head last time looked)

usefull ??

thanks for that, but the qly over the phone would be aweful. will use the help of a friend to burn it on cd till weekend, then i´m able to do an mp3.

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Bob,

You're right, Huntington, West Virginia to be precise. Lead singer LIttle Archie Himon actually gave a friend of ours all his Cabel releases, way back in the 60s. I'll ask him if he got the "Unpredicable" 45 as well, that should clarify the question.

John

Would he be Little Archie on Dial, I wonder?

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Would he be Little Archie on Dial, I wonder?

A good call.. the one and the same man.. I never thought of looking at that. Our copy of the Dial 45 BOTH sides are wrote by Archie Himmon. Well spotted, Tone.

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Would he be Little Archie on Dial, I wonder?

Just had a little email conversation with a "Font of Knowledge" man.

Parliaments on Cabel are the same band as the Magnificent 7 on Dial & Eastern, how interesting. He is getting back to me later on the "Unpredictable" 45 after talking to Archie himself. He thinks Melvin Harris is now deceased and was part of the band.

Looks like the George Clinton connection theory maybe a little off-target.

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Just had a little email conversation with a "Font of Knowledge" man.

Parliaments on Cabel are the same band as the Magnificent 7 on Dial & Eastern, how interesting. He is getting back to me later on the "Unpredictable" 45 after talking to Archie himself. He thinks Melvin Harris is now deceased and was part of the band.

Looks like the George Clinton connection theory maybe a little off-target.

I have the symbol 45 (it has the same names on it) and can post a scan (actually my scanner just broke so I can post a crappy cell phone camera shot) and audio. It has the same names and I think is earlier than the other records.

I always thought the magnificent 7 on dial sounded white or 'brown eyed'.

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Just had a little email conversation with a "Font of Knowledge" man.

Parliaments on Cabel are the same band as the Magnificent 7 on Dial & Eastern, how interesting. He is getting back to me later on the "Unpredictable" 45 after talking to Archie himself. He thinks Melvin Harris is now deceased and was part of the band.

Looks like the George Clinton connection theory maybe a little off-target.

also, I'm telling you Mel Harris was part of the band, he was the keyboardist, my friend talked to another group member...

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also, I'm telling you Mel Harris was part of the band, he was the keyboardist, my friend talked to another group member...

Bob,

Yes he is agreeing Mel Harris was in the group. So the UNPREDICABLE 45 is now very predicable, and certainly not looking like a George Clinton project.

Just checked on The Eastern & The Dial 45s. 3 sides are credited to Archie Himmon and obviously the "OOH BABY" Dial track was a "Smokey Robinson" thing.

John

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Bob,

You're right, Huntington, West Virginia to be precise. Lead singer LIttle Archie Himon actually gave a friend of ours all his Cabel releases, way back in the 60s. I'll ask him if he got the "Unpredicable" 45 as well, that should clarify the question.

John

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The lead vocal on the Magnificent 7 side Never Will I on Dial always sounded really white to me too. Archie Himon's name is on that as writer but after listening to his solo 45 on Dial and the Magnificent 7 records on Eastern I would have to conclude that the lead vocalist on NWI is in all likelihood not him. The version of Ooh Baby Baby is probably not him either, but it's a good stab at the tune which I've always preferred to The Miracles. The lead vocalist on The Parliaments 45s I've heard (which doesn't include the Unpredictable 45 under discussion here) does sound very much like Little Archie, so the theory that the two groups were the same or related through some personnel is highly likely.

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What diod we all do before the internet???

The lead vocal on the Magnificent 7 side Never Will I on Dial always sounded really white to me too. Archie Himon's name is on that as writer but after listening to his solo 45 on Dial and the Magnificent 7 records on Eastern I would have to conclude that the lead vocalist on NWI is in all likelihood not him. The version of Ooh Baby Baby is probably not him either, but it's a good stab at the tune which I've always preferred to The Miracles. The lead vocalist on The Parliaments 45s I've heard (which doesn't include the Unpredictable 45 under discussion here) does sound very much like Little Archie, so the theory that the two groups were the same or related through some personnel is highly likely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by

He did sing a bit with a group from Lexington, KY, originally called 'The Temptashuns'. When they released their version of "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", they changed their name to 'The Magnificent (Mag) Seven' to keep from having legal problems with the Motown Temptations.

Reply:

Actually, the Temptashuns changed their name to the Mag 7 as you said but, when they recorded the cover of "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" it was Larry Orr who sang the lead. Meade Brown was the drummer. Larry previously was with "The Nightcrawlers" out of Louisville, KY before joining the Mag 7. I have forgotten most of the other members of the group.

The Parliaments, on the other hand, used to play at the old Joyland Park Casino in Lexington, KY quite frequently in the 60's.

I was the drummer for a local band "The Classics" before joining a group out of Nashville "The Casuals" with Richard Williams, John Orr, Tommy Jolly and others. The Casuals were the back up band for Brenda Lee during that period.

I can never recall "Little Archie" singing with the Mag 7 before they broke up.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by

He did sing a bit with a group from Lexington, KY, originally called 'The Temptashuns'. When they released their version of "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", they changed their name to 'The Magnificent (Mag) Seven' to keep from having legal problems with the Motown Temptations.

Reply:

Actually, the Temptashuns changed their name to the Mag 7 as you said but, when they recorded the cover of "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" it was Larry Orr who sang the lead. Meade Brown was the drummer. Larry previously was with "The Nightcrawlers" out of Louisville, KY before joining the Mag 7. I have forgotten most of the other members of the group.

The Parliaments, on the other hand, used to play at the old Joyland Park Casino in Lexington, KY quite frequently in the 60's.

I was the drummer for a local band "The Classics" before joining a group out of Nashville "The Casuals" with Richard Williams, John Orr, Tommy Jolly and others. The Casuals were the back up band for Brenda Lee during that period.

I can never recall "Little Archie" singing with the Mag 7 before they broke up.

I have a temptashuns on lemco pic sleeve, it's all white guys on the sleeve by the way.

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The lead vocal on the Magnificent 7 side Never Will I on Dial always sounded really white to me too. Archie Himon's name is on that as writer but after listening to his solo 45 on Dial and the Magnificent 7 records on Eastern I would have to conclude that the lead vocalist on NWI is in all likelihood not him. The version of Ooh Baby Baby is probably not him either, but it's a good stab at the tune which I've always preferred to The Miracles. The lead vocalist on The Parliaments 45s I've heard (which doesn't include the Unpredictable 45 under discussion here) does sound very much like Little Archie, so the theory that the two groups were the same or related through some personnel is highly likely.

According to my source, it Archie Himmon himself who seems to think he was in The Magnificent 7 on Dial & Eastern? He could be wrong of course.

Edited by john manship
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The lead vocal on the Magnificent 7 side Never Will I on Dial always sounded really white to me too. Archie Himon's name is on that as writer but after listening to his solo 45 on Dial and the Magnificent 7 records on Eastern I would have to conclude that the lead vocalist on NWI is in all likelihood not him. The version of Ooh Baby Baby is probably not him either, but it's a good stab at the tune which I've always preferred to The Miracles. The lead vocalist on The Parliaments 45s I've heard (which doesn't include the Unpredictable 45 under discussion here) does sound very much like Little Archie, so the theory that the two groups were the same or related through some personnel is highly likely.

You are absolutely correct, my apologies. My friend spoke to Archie Himmons last night.

Yes the "UNPREDICTABLE" 45 is them, not G.Clinton. Made around 1966. Archie was NOT a member of the Magnificent 7 but he did write and produced for them. Bobby Howell is the lead on the Eastern 45, whilst Larry Orr leads on NWI.

Apparently the Magnigificent 7 used to back the Parliaments on the Cabel recordings. So they were very close connections, but not the same group.

Sorry for the all the confusion, but apparently Archie was a little confused himself.

Edited by john manship
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Only had time for a quick read but just to recap...the Parliaments on Unpredictable, Symbol and Cabell one and the same, consisting of members Little Archie Himmon, Mel Harris and ????.

The Magnificent Men on Dial & Eastern no connection apart from backing the Parliaments and Little Archie supplying songs!?

Please correct me if I've read this wrong!

Edited by chalky
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Only had time for a quick read but just to recap...the Parliaments on Unpredictable, Symbol and Cabell one and the same, consisting of members Little Archie Himmon, Mel Harris and ????.

The Magnificent Men on Dial & Eastern no connection apart from backing the Parliaments and Little Archie supplying songs!?

Please correct me if I've read this wrong!

chalky, my friend got the membership of the parliaments from one of the members, I can dig it up and send it to you if you care. Mel Harris wasn't a member of the vocal group, just the band.

I think also mentioned in this thread is that the temptashions on federal / lemco and magnificant seven (not 'men') on TMS are the same group as the magnificent seven on dial / eastern. Also, they were all white. My scanner is still broken but I took a photo of the pic sleeve with my camera phone but now my phone isn't sending email... I will see if I can post it tonight. Thanks.

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chalky, my friend got the membership of the parliaments from one of the members, I can dig it up and send it to you if you care. Mel Harris wasn't a member of the vocal group, just the band.

I think also mentioned in this thread is that the temptashions on federal / lemco and magnificant seven (not 'men') on TMS are the same group as the magnificent seven on dial / eastern. Also, they were all white. My scanner is still broken but I took a photo of the pic sleeve with my camera phone but now my phone isn't sending email... I will see if I can post it tonight. Thanks.

Cheers Boba, if you don't mind would love the members names.

I always thought the Magnificent Seven/Men were white.

again many thanks.

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Cheers Boba, if you don't mind would love the members names.

I always thought the Magnificent Seven/Men were white.

again many thanks.

Hi Mate, i've got the Magnificent Men on a album (Capital T2678), and their all white, the members names are,

Bob "Puff" Angelucci, leader of the group, drums, organ & piano.

Dave Bupp, lead vocals.

Terry Crousore, lead guitar.

Tommy Hoover, organ.

Tom Pane, saxophone.

Jimmy Seville, brass, banjo, mandolin & guitar.

Buddy King, trumpet & also lead vocals.

Their originally from Pennsylvania.

See you soon

Willie

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Hi Mate, i've got the Magnificent Men on a album (Capital T2678), and their all white, the members names are,

Bob "Puff" Angelucci, leader of the group, drums, organ & piano.

Dave Bupp, lead vocals.

Terry Crousore, lead guitar.

Tommy Hoover, organ.

Tom Pane, saxophone.

Jimmy Seville, brass, banjo, mandolin & guitar.

Buddy King, trumpet & also lead vocals.

Their originally from Pennsylvania.

See you soon

Willie

The group in question here is NOT the magnificent men and is not the david bupp group.

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These Parliaments maybe another group but nevertheless it could be said that down the years Little Archie has been as spaced out as George Clinton:

https://goarchie.com/aashid/aashbio.html

Strangely enough George Clinton is one of the least spaced-out people I've ever met.

Always incredibly courteous, extremely knowledgeable and lucid, plays the game when he's out and about but really relishes the sanctity and peace of his 3 acre farm in Michigan which doesn't even have a telephone!

Sounds pretty sane to me LOL....

Ian D :thumbsup:

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Hi All

Just got back fropm a long trip in the US. While Malayka and I were there we met the 'Original' Parliaments.

Some 30 years later four members of the group still live within four blocks of each other, in West Virgina.

They formed the group in the early 60's and put out three singles.

Parliaments-Cry no more-Cabel (pronounced Cabul)

Parliments-This is my rainy day-Cabel

Paliaments-I found out-Unpredictable.

Cabel was a label run by a local store owner, the store owner later died and all the label stock was thrown away, this may explain why all their stuff is so hard to find.

The name came from a brand of cigarettes, called Parliament, they added the (s). When the group was in Detroit to met Ed Wingate they found out George Clinton had a group by the same name. Ed never signed them as he fell out the group manager. But the manager did go to court over the name and a judge in New York, found in their favour, but told both groups to change names. George change, eventually to Funkadelic and they to The Unpredictable Parliaments. This was later confirmed by some friends in Detroit that used to play with George.

We have some great original photo's of the group, which we will post later, also I have picked up the rights to release their stuff.

Dave

Edited by Dave Thorley
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Bob,

You're right, Huntington, West Virginia to be precise. Lead singer LIttle Archie Himon actually gave a friend of ours all his Cabel releases, way back in the 60s. I'll ask him if he got the "Unpredicable" 45 as well, that should clarify the question.

John

Little Archie left the band after they did the Cabell stuff, that could explain why hasn't had a copy...

Malayka

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Hi All

Just got back fropm a long trip in the US. While Malayka and I were there we met the 'Original' Parliaments.

Some 30 years later four members of the group still live within four blocks of each other, in West Virgina.

They formed the group in the early 60's and put out three singles.

Parliaments-Cry no more-Cabel (pronounced Cabul)

Parliments-This is my rainy day-Cabel

Paliaments-I found out-Unpredictable.

Cabel was a label run by a local store owner, the store owner later died and all the label stock was thrown away, this may explain why all their stuff is so hard to find.

The name came from a brand of cigarettes, called Parliament, they added the (s). When the group was in Detroit to met Ed Wingate they found out George Clinton had a group by the same name. Ed never signed them as he fell out the group manager. But the manager did go to court over the name and a judge in New York, found in their favour, but told both groups to change names. George change, eventually to Funkadelic and they to The Unpredictable Parliaments. This was later confirmed by some friends in Detroit that used to play with George.

We have some great original photo's of the group, which we will post later, also I have picked up the rights to release their stuff.

Dave

They also went to New york and did a session with Juggy Murray, but nothing came of this.

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They also went to New york and did a session with Juggy Murray, but nothing came of this.

Dave, you're wrong about the 'nothing became of this', they released a record on Symbol, I posted audio in the media thread. My scanner is working again, I can post the scans of the 45s with the group members names on it if you don't believe me.

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Dave, you're wrong about the 'nothing became of this', they released a record on Symbol, I posted audio in the media thread. My scanner is working again, I can post the scans of the 45s with the group members names on it if you don't believe me.

I don't dis-believe you, but as far as the group knew nothing came out, so Juggy must have put it out and not told them??

What are the track names and a scan would be good.

Dave

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I don't dis-believe you, but as far as the group knew nothing came out, so Juggy must have put it out and not told them??

What are the track names and a scan would be good.

Dave

Dave, one of the group members told my friend about the symbol release, I will ask my friend to find out which group member told him, but one guy definitely specifically remembered that release. The record sounds earlier than the other ones, one side is called "you're cute" and the other side is called "I'll get you yet". Writer on "you're cute" is Mel Harris. Writer on "I'll get you yet" is A. Himons. Maybe this was not the time they recorded with Juggy (I assumed it was because of his affiliation with sue / symbol /etc.) but it was released probably in the early 60s. I will post a scan later today when I get home. You can hear the audio in refosoul, I previously posted both songs. Thanks.

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Dave, one of the group members told my friend about the symbol release, I will ask my friend to find out which group member told him, but one guy definitely specifically remembered that release. The record sounds earlier than the other ones, one side is called "you're cute" and the other side is called "I'll get you yet". Writer on "you're cute" is Mel Harris. Writer on "I'll get you yet" is A. Himons. Maybe this was not the time they recorded with Juggy (I assumed it was because of his affiliation with sue / symbol /etc.) but it was released probably in the early 60s. I will post a scan later today when I get home. You can hear the audio in refosoul, I previously posted both songs. Thanks.

Thanks

Dave

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