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Queens of Harmony: Ten Best Girl Groups of All Time

by Robyn McGee

 As we enter this season of “Dreamgirls” while the hype machine roars to a fever pitch, www.dreamgirlsmovie.com it’s time to give major props to the top ten  sistas with voices  who sang the soundtracks to our sweetest memories,  whose rhythms and blues, brightened our darkest days.  They were singers who celebrated the collective, confirmed the power togetherness and transformed singular notes into unforgettable harmonies. From the time I was first introduced to the original configurations of these girl groups, much has changed.    In fact, with the exceptions of The Emotions, and En Vogue, none of my ten faves are still together making music.  Tragedy stilled the voices of women who sang of love, pain, desire and the need for R-E-S-P-E-C-T. (Florence Ballard, June Pointer and Left Eye).  Uncommon ambition (Diana and Ross, Beyonce) and graduated musical tastes (Labelle) forever altered other ensembles.  Lucky for us the music of the ten best girl groups can forever be Karaoke-warbled, CD burned, You-Tubed and Ebay-ed.   When they were hot, they were nuclear, selling millions and millions of records, winning a ton of Grammys.  In evening gowns and mini skirts, they made fashion statements and defined the sights and sounds of popular music   No one will agree with all ten groups on my list; that’s the risk of compiling a “best of” rundown,  someone is inadvertently left off to the chagrin of her biggest fan.  So if I forgot a star whose voice and music you would die for, let me apologize for my misstep in advance.   Otherwise, let the music play.  10. Brownstone According to a 1995  Essence article, Nicole "Nicci" Gilbert, Charmayne "Maxee" Maxwell and Monica "Mimi" Dolby made the rounds to record executives in search of a deal for their group, Brownstone. When the "suit" that was nonchalantly ushered into one of their boardroom auditions turned out to be the Michael Jackson, herstory was launched.   My play- till- it’s- scratched song by Brownstone: “Grapevine”  9. Destiny’s Child: Beyonce, Kelley and Michelle burst on the scene with salty lyrics, sizzling dance moves, killer hooks  and three part harmonies that catapulted  them to the top both the R&B and pop charts.  The group went their separate ways in 2006 and Beyonce is quickly becoming a multi-media superstar mogul.  Play-it- till- it’s scratched: “Soldier” 8. Mary Jane Girls: Rolled together like the cannabis he loved, the late funkmeister Rick James originally hired Joanne 'Jojo' McDuffie, Yvette Marine, Candice Ghant,  Kim Wuletich, and Ann Bailey to sing backup for his Stone City Band.  This girl group went on to singe the charts with a string of R&B hits in the 1980’s. Play- it- till it’s scratched: “All Night Long”  7. SUV or Sisters with Voices featured Taj, Coko and LeLee".  Their debut album, “It's About Time”  sold more than 2 1/2 million copies in record time, making them not only sisters with hit-making harmonies but also ones with clout. Play- it- till it’s scratched: “Weak” 6. Labelle, named after lead singer Patti LaBelle this trio including Nona Hendrix and Sarah Dash, successfully blended dance music with funk and glam rock and soared up the charts in the 1970’s with their often copied but never duplicated classic song about a Creole hoe.  Play- it- till- it’s scratched: “Lady Marmalade” 5. The Emotions: I was fortunate to see Jeanette, Wanda, Sheila, and Pamela on New Year’s Eve a couple of years ago in L.A. and they torn down the house with a bunch of their happy feet hits.    Play- it- till it’s scratched: “Don’t Ask My Neighbor”  4. Diana Ross and the Supremes: What can I say about the group my sisters and I would imitate to the delight of my parents on chilly Seattle nights?  As the Vietnam War raged and the civil rights movement entered America in a bloodbath, Diana, Flo and Mary were elegance, inspiration and hope for better days.    Play- it- till- it’s scratched: “Baby Love”   3. En Vogue: The funkiest of divas Cindy, Maxine, Dawn and Terry went through a breakup and lived to sing another day.  During their 1990’s heyday, the foursome  sold 18 million records and were known for their retro chic style and bombastic videos. Play-it-till-its-scratched: “Hold On”  2. The Pointer Sisters: The Bay Area’s pride and joy.  I remember when the sisters wore feathers and too much rouge, but when they sang to the world their need for  a slow hand and a lover with an easy touch, caution swooned.   Play- it –till- it’s scratched: “Jump”  1. TLC: I cried the day Left-Eye died. Even as a middle age woman, long past dating scrubs and way too proud to beg, TLC’s, jaded innocence, hip hop/ r &b blend, infused with Left-Eye’s playful rap moved me and made me reconsider. T-Boz, Chili and Lisa "Left-Eye" created music to tease foolish men and taunt foolish women, sung with a wink  which invited listeners to nod in acknowledgement and approval.   This combination established TLC as the best selling girl group of all time.   Play –it- till-it’s scratched: “Creep” “Silly Ho” and “Fanmail”

 

 

Posted by Robyn McGee on December 11, 2006 07:21 PM |

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Comments

What?!...No Spice Girls!!!
Seriously though, Diana Ross and the Supremes should have been Number 1. All else a distant second. But you have forgotten a few:
The Marvelletes - The Hunter Captured by the Game;
The Honey Cones - One Monkey Don't Stop no Show;
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Dancin' in the Street;
The Sherrels - Baby It's You; and last but not least,
A Taste of Honey - Sukiyaki.

Posted by: Off Dat Chronic | December 12, 2006 12:27 AM

Interesting list...

I'm partial to the older groups myself. The Supremes would definitely be at the top of my list.
I agree with the previous comments.

But an interesting list though.... there are a few groups there that I had not thought of.

This topic is being covered this month in a great Yahoo Group for those interested. I've been a member for several years... a lot of interesting folks there who are knowledgeable about Classic Soul and Jazz...among other things.

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/classicsoulmusic70sstyle/

Posted by: The Angry Independent | December 12, 2006 01:07 AM

Pro McGee here.

Thanks for the yahoo link.
I had forgotten about Sister Sledge. What a remarkable musical tradition we have, an embaressment of riches.

Posted by: Anonymous | December 12, 2006 09:24 AM

Hmmm...Interesting pick for #1. I guess it all depends on what critera you are using to judge these groups. I would have to put the Supremes as my number one. Dont you find it strange that the Supremes never won a Grammy?

Posted by: Cincinnati NAMjA | December 12, 2006 10:06 AM

Please, respek to tha youte but, The Supremes are...supreme.

Posted by: Punch | December 12, 2006 10:15 AM

Pro McGee here.
I did not know the Supremes never won a Grammy. Surely Diana Ross won many as a solo artist?

Posted by: Anonymous | December 12, 2006 10:52 AM

The list was definately posted by someone under the age of 40. How about First Choice? The Jones Girls?, The Three Degrees?, Honeycomb?

Posted by: Harlemknight | December 12, 2006 11:01 AM

Well, if we are going to reach back that far, how about
High Energy - You cant turn me off, not in the middle of turnin' me on.

Posted by: Off Dat Chronic | December 12, 2006 11:28 AM

What about, Patti Labelle and the bluebells, Labelle, and another vote for the marvelletes, (my baby must be a magician).

Posted by: randolph | December 12, 2006 04:38 PM

I like the old classics: the Shirelles, the Dixie Cups, the Ronettes.

Posted by: do-wop | December 14, 2006 01:03 AM

My list would go something like this..TLC, EnVogue, Xscape, The Jones Girls, The Emotions, The Clark Sisters, SWV, Jade, Kut Klose, Destiny's Child, 702, Brownstone, I love the HARMONY that these girls had with each other...

Posted by: Sheema Sheem | December 26, 2006 11:26 AM

So long as you include The Emotions, I`m happy

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Posted by: girl chat | January 20, 2007 09:25 AM

i wonder why FIRST CHOICE is so underated.rochelle fleming has a powerful voice.i feel FIRST CHOICE needs to be reconized.

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