Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Threesome


Some days ago I tried to analyze the deeper levels of the kiddie song »On The Good Ship Lollipop«. We find it on the album »In The Midnight Hour« (Revue LP # 7205) by The Mirettes. As is known, the »Mirettes« of 1968 actually were the former »Ikettes«, three female singers who were, understandably, so pissed off by Ike Turner's regime (and his envy of their success!) that they left his revue and went their own way, billing themselves as the »Mirettes«. Their 1968 LP was released towards the beginning of the year, and in the Billboard issue from February 24, 1968, we find a nice full-page ad showing the Mirettes (see also below).
From left to right: Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Smith and Venetta Fields:


Because their LP contains, apart from »On The Good Ship Lollipop«, several other songs worth listening to, I didn't want to hold them back. And because we're dealing with a trio I thought three songs might do them justice. The first two songs are originals that at the time were also released as singles.

The first song, »I'm A Whole New Thing«, is an uptempo song that much recalls, from the very first bars, »In The Midnight Hour«. It is a very danceable tune which I like a lot.
The second song, »The Real Thing«, is a ballad and actually a showcase for the blessed voice of Venetta Fields. It is lavishly orchestrated and introduced by a somewhat melodramatic, slightly bombastic part that exhibits much »churchy feel«.

Finally, the third song, »In The Midnight Hour«, is a cover of Wilson Pickett's great hit (r&b # 01 in the summer of 1965). Comparing it with the numerous cover ver- sions of Pickett's song in existence I always thought that the Mirettes really did a good job. Their recording stands out among the many others we have of that song.

The Mirettes:
»I'm A Whole New Thing« / »The Real Thing« / »In The Midnight Hour« from the Revue LP 7205 (1968):


From BILLBOARD, February 24, 1968
Posted by H.M.S.

3 comments:

  1. voyagerNovember 19, 2011

    Did you know that Venetta Fields later continued very successful career as a backing vocalist she became sort of Darlene Love in 1970s and could be found behind Barbra Streisand on her albums "Stoney End" and "Barbra Joan Streisand". Not only that, you could actually see Fields in a 1976 remake of "A Star is Born" where she plays a part of backing band "The Oreos" (along with Clydie King, ex-Raelette) performing funky "Queen Bee" in a nightclub and later they somehow turn out in a big rock concert behind Streisand on a stage.You can also find her singing behind the Rolling Stones, The Doors and Pink Floyd among others.I have to check my "Homeplate" album by Bonnie Raitt because Fields is singing there as well. I love Bonnie Raitt. By the way,what do you think about acoustic blues trilogy by Maria Muldaur - she recorded several tribute albums where covers early blues ladies from 1920s and 1930s the best of them is "Richland Woman Blues".

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  2. H.M.S.November 26, 2011

    Thanks a lot for this info about Venetta Fields. I didn't know much about her post-1970 career, just that she was doing backing vocals here and there. And, well, I don't know Maria Muldaur, so I have to find out about her.

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  3. TonypopJune 02, 2013

    hi
    great blog...
    i'd like write something about second lp of the mirettes
    "whirpool" ,and i read this post, wonderful post and blog...
    greetings from italy

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