The Pips, "Linda" c/w "Darling," Fury 1067 (rel. 7/1962)

The Pips were part of a family-based act in support of Gladys Knight, one of the great soul vocalists of the 20^th century. They formed at a 10^th-birthday party of Gladys’ brother Merald Knight and in their ranks were cousins William Guest and Edward Patten, who formed the core of the group. Sister Brenda Knight, cousin Eleanor Guest and Langston George (the lone non-relative) sang back up. The group was named after the handle of another family member.

The group made its first single in 1958, but didn’t hit until 1961, when their version of Johnny Otis’ “Every Beat of My Heart” charted in two competing versions. The group first recorded it for Chicago’s Vee-Jay label. After they signed with Bobby Robinson’s Fury Records, he asked them to re-record both sides—no law against self-covers—and both made the hit parade in what must have been confusing scenario for retailers and buyers.

They had another charter with “Letter Full of Tears,” and the less-successful “Operator,” in 1961 and ’62. Robinson had The Pips do a solo single—their only recordings without Gladys Knight. It was the chance of a lifetime, and group created two powerful showcases for a vibrant, eccentric vocal approach. This obscure single failed to chart and is scarce. I was gifted a run-down copy of this single with the proviso: "maybe you can clean it up."

It took four baths in record-cleaning solution and some audio wizardry, but I got presentable—not perfect—results and share them with you today. There’s nothing quite like them in all of rhythm and blues, and it was the world’s loss that these guys didn’t get much opportunity to shine on their own. Their voices added depth to Gladys Knight’s leads, but they were like the other members of many girl groups and vocal combos: just there to provide background.

Penned by Merald Knight and William Guest, “Linda” abounds with vocal capers, from the percussive battery of doo-wop phrases that kick off this engaging, bluesy side. An orchestral harp joins them, alongside a shimmering organ. The three Pips sing in thick, powerful harmony; their voices lock into elegant precision as they swoop, lift, punctuate and blur as one.

Their voices are mesmerizing, and the dreamy, airy arrangement results in a delirious field of musical joy. It’s a magical exercise in risk-taking that blossoms and intensifies as it goes on. “Linda” has a hearty, satisfying beauty and soul that haunts the listener; I can’t listen to it just once. It’s that kinda record.

Cash Box ladled on the catch-phrases for this one.

“Darling,” by Edward Guest, Merald Knight and Edward Patten, is a slow-grind soul ballad with haunted-skating rink organ and tympani drum. This also-bluesy side offers brief solo passages by the Pips alongside their clustered, fascinating harmonies—again delivered with finesse and passion. The repeated bluesy refrain at the record’s coda is stunning; as you’ve heard me say before, I could listen to an hour of those last 20 seconds. I wouldn’t change one note on either of these sublime sides. I just wish we had more of them.

The group did record solo in 1963 and ’64, when Gladys dropped out to wed and have a child. For a spell, she recorded without them; they reunited for the Maxx label, where they produced a Northern Soul favorite in the non-hit “Stop and Get A Hold of Myself.”

Once they signed with Motown Records in 1966, the group became household names. They recorded for the label’s Soul subsidiary and soon had major hits with “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “The End of Our Road,” “Friendship Train” and “If I Were Your Woman”—all top 20 pop hits.

The group called it a day in 1989; Gladys has continued as a solo performer, with her affairs managed by brother Menard (who goes by “Bubba”). On the own, The Pips made two disco-infused LPs for Casablanca Records in the late 1970s; both are far outside my musical purview, but I’m sure other people dig ‘em.

Tomorrow: Gene Chandler’s debut single for Constellation Records, with a pair of powerful soul items from 1963, plus asides about the scammy, grifty Ewart Abner.