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The Chi-Lites

Biography

One of the most popular smooth soul groups of the early '70s didn't hail from Philadelphia or Memphis, the two cities known for sweet, string-laden soul. Instead, the Chi-Lites were from Chicago, a town better known for its gritty urban blues and driving R&B. Led by vocalist Eugene Record, the Chi-Lites had a lush, creamy sound distinguished by their four-part harmonies and layered productions. During the early '70s, they racked up 11 Top Ten R&B singles, ranging from the romantic ballads "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl" to protest songs like "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People" and "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)." All the songs featured Record's warm, pleading tenor and falsetto, and the majority of the group's hits were written by Record, often in collaboration with other songwriters like Barbara Acklin.

The Chi-Lites had been around for nearly a decade before they finally had a hit in the late '60s. Eugene Record, Robert Lester, and Clarence Johnson formed the doo wop group the Chanteurs in the late '50s, and they released one single on Renee Records in 1959. Shortly afterward, Creadel "Red" Jones and Marshall Thompson, who had sung with the Desideros, teamed with the trio to form the Hi-Lites. Over the next four years, the Hi-Lites released a number of singles on local labels. In 1964, they changed their name to Marshall & the Chi-Lites, adding the "C" as tribute to their hometown Chicago. By the end of the year, Johnson left the group and the remaining quartet truncated their name to the Chi-Lites. Over the next four years, the group continued to perform and release independent singles, with Record slowly emerging as the group's lead singer, songwriter, and producer.

In 1968, the Chi-Lites signed with the large Chicago indie label Brunswick Records, and early the following year "Give It Away" became their first national hit single, reaching number ten on the R&B charts. Despite the moderate success of "Let Me Be the Man My Daddy Was," the group wasn't able to deliver another big hit until "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" climbed into the R&B Top Ten in early 1971, beginning a string of ten Top Ten hits that ran intermittently over the next four years. The follow-up to "Are You My Woman?," "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People," was their first pop hit, setting the stage for a pair of slow, soulful ballads, "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl," which both reached number one on the R&B charts; the latter was a number-one pop hit, as well. in the spring of 1972.

Shortly after the release of the hit "Stoned Out of My Mind," the Chi-Lites began to splinter in 1973, when Jones left the group and was replaced by Stanley Anderson, who was quickly replaced by Willie Kensey. The revamped lineup had three Top Ten R&B hits -- "Homely Girl," "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)," and "Toby" -- before they replaced Kensey with Doc Roberson. Shortly afterward, Brunswick became involved in serious financial problems, which prevented the label from promoting the group's record. Frustrated, Record left the band to become a solo recording artist for Warner Bros. The remaining trio, augmented by David Scott and Danny Johnson (who was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977), signed with Mercury, but none of their singles were hits.

The original lineup of the Chi-Lites re-formed in 1980, and the group began recording for Eugene Record's label, Chi-Sound. Although their first singles were more successful than their Mercury Records, they didn't have a genuine hit until 1982, when "Hot on a Thing (Called Love)" reached number 15. The following year, they moved to Larc Records, where they had their final Top Ten hit with "Bottoms Up." Late that year, Creadel Jones retired and the group continued to tour as a trio throughout the remainder of the decade. Record left the group in 1990 to record as a solo artist. He was replaced by Anthony Watson. By the early '90s, Jones had re-joined the group, and this version of the Chi-Lites became a regular on the oldies and soul circuit during the '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

Hit Highlights From The Chi-Lites
1998

A Lonely Man
1972

Similar Artists

The Temptations
The Stylistics
The Spinners
The Four Tops
The Delfonics

Kerry P. Roberts says:

09-30-2009

I remember as a 12-14 year old in early 70's listening to them, my radio picked up WLS from Chicago at night. Living in Oklahoma, I couldn't get legendary KOMA from OKC, only during day. I loved their music, actually bought a cassette, not an 8 track, but cassette so I could rewind and listen as needed. OH GIRL is such a great song, no matter who remakes it, is not as good as Chilites.

Nikki D-Washington says:

08-30-2009

Real music--and they are from my hometown.

Suse says:

05-16-2009

Coldest day of my life did it for me.

LatinaG says:

04-27-2009

I love the Chi-Lites my fave is "I wanna pay you back"

dabraat1958 says:

03-04-2009

Chi-Lites, Blue Magic, Delfonics, Stylistics, the Dramatics, Temptations, The Moments, Smokey, Marvin, The Drifters...a l l day long, man. All day...

I want to blend my stuff into my own stations! Eddie Holman, Al Wilson, Billy Paul...whew! What music.

CEB says:

02-28-2009

Love this group......a h h h h h , memories!!!

Crys_dock06 says:

02-09-2009

I LOVE THE CHILITES

CHILITES FOREVER

Crys_dock06 says:

02-09-2009

I LOVE THE CHILITES CERTINLEY ONE OF THE BEST I LOVE THE SONG OH GIRL AND MANY MORE

hsmith1988 says:

02-06-2009

what great memories all these songs have

cbwasher says:

01-28-2009

i LOVE YOUR LINE UP YOU FLIPPIN GREAT MUSIC YEAH!

sexy47p says:

01-27-2009

you have all the music that i love to hear

Truly says:

01-22-2009

Love The Chi-Lites. Toby is one of my favorite songs by them. Sad yet mellow.

dannettewash i n g t o n says:

edited on 01-07-2009

i am looking for the 6o;s songs by the chi-lites and 70;s songs

pbritton9 says:

01-07-2009

Fabulous....

milesfelder says:

12-14-2008

i like ther song my daddy was oh girl and down below all those soul groups like the chiltes and the escorts nobbody will never be as good as these groups

bronzelady_4 e v e r says:

12-12-2008

Thank you, Pandora for taking me back down memory lane. As well as the harmonizing. I am loving this so much. They don't make them like this anymore!

Robert De La Cruz says:

12-02-2008

I remeber cruzin central blvd in phoenix, AZ. 105 temp at 11pm, in my 62 impala, these song's make me feel like "uncle rico" just livin the dream of yesterday.
I'm 47 now driven an Ls 400 and with the same girl form 30 years ago..wow! who say's you can never go back. All it takes is a song like this to make that happen.

imjthree says:

11-30-2008

This song brings me waaaay back. Love it.

patrod1050 says:

11-10-2008

I AM VERY NOSTALGIC,I WISH I COULD TAKE ALL THE 'R&B' WITH ME IN THE AFTERLIFE.

mcjmwnc says:

10-24-2008

please play more

lourose33 says:

10-17-2008

just makes me want to wrap up in my babydoll

catrat1957 says:

10-06-2008

This music just makes me daydream! Nothing will ever replace this!

Krystal Pernell says:

09-08-2008

I am 23 and I love old school music, it is so soothing and full of love. I wish I grew up during those times.

duke duval says:

09-03-2008

reminds me of the slow mellow days a time very much missed gives such a warm feeling the times are very much missed

MsEvil says:

08-12-2008

The harmony is so beautiful. In those days men actually let a woman know how they felt in song. I wish they did that for us today.

Rolundus Rice says:

08-06-2008

This song inspired me to be a romantic guy and to date i still am.
I've seen them on PUBLIC BROADCAST CONCERTS. Excellent shomanship !

indiahart57 says:

08-05-2008

I AGREE, THEY JUST DON'T MAKE MUSIC ANYMORE LIKE THEY DID IN THE 70'S...I LOVED "HAVE YOU SEEN HER" WHY OH WHY !!!!!

anthonyhill3 4 says:

07-24-2008

I really miss that sound and the times my favorites were Oh Girl, Have you seen her.

I crush the ignorant with my might says:

06-13-2008

So many good sounds. I'm gonna go home and make a baby.

mike.miller7 says:

edited on 05-09-2008

my favorite song by chi lites is oh girl!!!

johnstafford s r says:

05-09-2008

my favorite is have you seen her

winbush_tamm y says:

edited on 05-08-2008

TB. There is nothing like old school music .thats when true love started .Ilove old school music more than i love my man.

mmagwood says:

05-08-2008

never get old.

dennis l johnson says:

04-17-2008

the chi-lites were tops in the day but no can replace eugene record

MRS QUANWANIS HEATH says:

04-14-2008

DOES,NT GET BETTER THAN THE CHI-LITES OLD SCHOOL IS THE BETTER EVER , THE MUSIC TODAY DOES'NT HAVE THE MEANING IT DID THEN!

E. Gordon says:

04-07-2008

I can't lie, I used to hear this on Saturday morn" when my mom was running the vac" and I was watching cartoons. not the same as today, with 2oo plus cable stations, and playstation, or whatever.

2lucky34667 says:

04-03-2008

Lots of memories of my mom and dad playing this song, loved it then, love it now. One of my favs!!!

Juanita Claiborne says:

03-25-2008

just sa good now as it was back then maybe better

Barry N Jamison says:

03-16-2008

Terrific sound coming from late 60's and early 70's. Fond memories on the dance floor.

richard farber says:

01-27-2008

i put them amoung the elite of soul groups, ojays,spinne r s , s t y l i s t i c s , a n d will always remind me the 70's.

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