Archie Bell and the Drells

ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS
 
 
Archie Bell & the Drells  was an American R&B vocal group from Houston, Texas, and one of the main acts on Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records.  The band’s hits include “Tighten Up”, “I Can’t Stop Dancing” (both 1968), “There’s Gonna Be A Showdown”, “Girl You’re Too Young” (1969), “Here I Go Again” (also a UK hit in 1972), “Soul City Walk” (1975), “Let’s Groove”, “Everybody Have A Good Time” (1977), and “Don’t Let Love Get You Down” (1976).  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

 

 

Mikki Farrow moved to Philadelphia in 1968 to get involved in the soul music scene there.  As noted on the Rare and Obscure Music post:  “Mikki worked as a songwriter and background singer, working with artists such as Archie Bell and the Drells, Loleatta Holloway, Blue Magic, and the Trammps.”  

 

Besides providing background singing for the classic Archie Bell and the Drells song “I Can’t Stop Dancing”, Mikki Farrow co-wrote “Green Power” with Mervin Steals and Melvin Steals; the song was on their third and final album for Atlantic Records, There’s Gonna be a Showdown (1969).  The two Stealses (credited as Mystro & Lyric) later wrote “Could it Be I’m Falling in Love”, a huge hit for the Spinners.  

 

(July 2014)

 

*       *       *

 

The cover of their breakthrough album, Brothers has a plain appearance and simply states: “This is an album by the Black Keys. The name of this album is Brothers.” The cover of their hit single “Tighten Up” has similar packaging. (This is not the same song as the 1968 hit by Archie Bell and the Drells also called “Tighten Up”).  
(June 2017)