Raelettes vs. Ikettes?

m_dejeanm_dejean Quadratisch. Praktisch. Gut. 2,946 Posts
edited October 2008 in Strut Central
What are your favorite 'ettes?b,121b,121b,121vs.b,121b,121b,121Both were backing vocal trios/quartets for big r'n'b icons. b,121Both groups had good singers in varying constellations over the years and both had releases under their own name.b,121b,121I can't really call it, but I have a thing for PP Arnold, so I'll go with the Ikettes.b,12160s Pat was cute as hell.b,121b,121b,121I'm not that familiar with the two group's respective solo outputs, so feel free to school me on some jams.

  Comments


  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    The Ikettes (and later The Mirettes) are my pick. b,121I'm Blue (Ikettes) and Whirlpool (Mirettes) are unfukwitable and I'll fight anyone who tries to say otherwise.

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121I'm not that familiar with the two group's respective solo outputs, so feel free to school me on some jams. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Ikettes:b,121"So Fine"b,121"Beauty Is Just Skin Deep"b,121"I'm So Thankful"b,121"I'm Blue"b,121b,121Both "So Fine" and "Beauty" were on Pompeii, I think, and were mainly reissued on different Ike & Tina albums (as opposed to an Ikettes elpee).b,121b,121Raelettes:b,121"That Goes To Show You"b,121"One-Room Paradise"b,121"All I Need Is His Love"b,121"One Hurt Deserves Another"b,121b,121As much as I love their singles, that one Raelettes album on Tangerine is mainly disappointing, to me.b,121b,121We actually did this topic a while back (and it was pretty funny, too, IIRC)...if I had to choose I'd call it a draw, because both groups' own records were surprisingly tuff considering they were known as backup singers.

  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    I love I'm Blue, plus The Camel Walk = b,121b,121So I'm going with The Ikettes.

  • Ikettes/Mirettes for days.

  • Ikettes = 'Whatcha Gonna Do' = unfuckwittable

  • kalakala 3,361 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Ikettes/Mirettes for days. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121b,121also pat has an unreleased lp recorded in the 70s that is due out soon

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    Did Vanette Fields (?) or Mona Hendrixson sing in both groups?b,121b,121They say that sometimes Ray sang the Rayettes parts in the studio.

  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    (Venetta) Fields and (Clydie) King appeared as Barbra Streisand's backing singers (The Oreos) in the 1976 film A Star Is Born.b,121b,121cripes.

  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Did Vanette Fields (?) or Mona Hendrixson sing in both groups?b,121b,121They say that sometimes Ray sang the Rayettes parts in the studio. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121Yeah that's wha it says in his Autobiography, it's also hinted at in a scene from the movie, not sure how much of a regular occurence it was though.

  • Birdman9Birdman9 5,417 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Ikettes/Mirettes for days. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121yup

  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    I'm not too up on all the members of the Raelettes, but isn't it Margie Hendricks?

  • am i correct in recalling that the Ikettes sang backup on Frank Zappa's 'Montana'? They happened to be in the studio next door. I'm pretty sure i read that somewhere. Of course Ike wouldn't let them be credited on the album. now THAT'S a tough vocal line!!!

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121I'm not too up on all the members of the Raelettes, but isn't it Margie Hendricks? b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Yeah, IIRC that's her duetting with Ray on songs like "You Are My Sunshine" and "Hit The Road Jack." I think she was gone by the time they started cutting solo records as the Raelettes***...former Stax artist Mabel John was in the group by then.b,121b,121[color: green]***in the fifties, an early version of the Raelettes was recording as "the Cookies" for Atlantic; I believe that's where Ray met them!--color--1/font1

  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121I'm not too up on all the members of the Raelettes, but isn't it Margie Hendricks? b,121b,121h,121
    b,121Yeah, Margie's original Cookies were commandeered as Raelettes.. Later on people like Susaye Greene, Merry Clayton & Mable John also did time as Raelettes. I read also that Minnie Riperton was a member but find this hard to believe, anyone know for certain?

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121I'm not too up on all the members of the Raelettes, but isn't it Margie Hendricks? b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121I think your right. b,121b,121It would be great to see a list of all the singers who passed through those groups. b,121b,121There are stories about Bonnie Bramllet being an Ikette and blacking up for performences. I don't know if she recorded with the group or not.

  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts
    Yep, a different, but not all new people line-up kept the name. I heart later-era, post-Hendricks Cookies who worked with Carole King and did another song in the unfukwitable category - "Chains"

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121b,121b,121They say that sometimes Ray sang the Rayettes parts in the studio. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121Yeah that's wha it says in his Autobiography, it's also hinted at in a scene from the movie, not sure how much of a regular occurence it was though. b,121b,121h,121b,121b,121I think it just happened the one time, on "I Believe To My Soul." That is Ray singing (spooky) backup.b,121b,121There's at least one Raelettes solo recording where you can obviously hear Ray singing to himself in the background - "That Goes To Show You."

  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    Jo Armstead was a original Ikette too, for what it's worth.

  • m_dejeanm_dejean Quadratisch. Praktisch. Gut. 2,946 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121am i correct in recalling that the Ikettes sang backup on Frank Zappa's 'Montana'? They happened to be in the studio next door. I'm pretty sure i read that somewhere. Of course Ike wouldn't let them be credited on the album. now THAT'S a tough vocal line!!! b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121I actually never thought about who did the backup vocals on Over-Nite Sensation, but looking at the sleeve now I can see that they're not credited. Surfing around for more info on the internet, it seems that it's actually Tina & The Ikettes singing on the whole album.b,121b,121Just put the Claudia Lennear LP on for the first time in at least 5 years. I have no recollection of it at all.

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121b,121Just put the Claudia Lennear LP on for the first time in at least 5 years. I have no recollection of it at all. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Is it any good?

  • /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121am i correct in recalling that the Ikettes sang backup on Frank Zappa's 'Montana'? They happened to be in the studio next door. I'm pretty sure i read that somewhere. Of course Ike wouldn't let them be credited on the album. now THAT'S a tough vocal line!!! b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121I actually never thought about who did the backup vocals on Over-Nite Sensation, but looking at the sleeve now I can see that they're not credited. Surfing around for more info on the internet, it seems that it's actually Tina & The Ikettes singing on the whole album.b,121b,121b,121h,121b,121b,121I watched the Classic Albums episode about Over-Nite sensation and they discussed Tina & the Ikettes coming in to sing on the album.

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    Who were the Pepsi era Raelettes?b,121b,121I'm gonna try and use that google thingy.

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121Who were the Pepsi era Raelettes?b,121b,121I'm gonna try and use that google thingy. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Ikettes Wiki:b,121 * Jo Armstead (1960- c. 1964)b,121 * P. P. Arnoldb,121 * Bonnie Bramlettb,121 * Jean Brownb,121 * Mary Brownb,121 * Jean Burksb,121 * Shelly Clarkb,121 * Venetta Fields (1961-1966)b,121 * Yolanda Goodwinb,121 * Martha Grahamb,121 * Vera Hamiltonb,121 * Eloise Hesterb,121 * Brenda Hollowayb,121 * Patrice Hollowayb,121 * Janice Singletonb,121 * Delores Johnsonb,121 * Esther Jonesb,121 * Claudia Lennearb,121 * Charlotte Lewisb,121 * Bonnie Bramlettb,121 * Robbie Montgomeryb,121 * Paulette Parkerb,121 * Pat Powdrillb,121 * Edna Lejeune Richardsonb,121 * Vermettya Roysterb,121 * Diane Rutherfordb,121 * Gloria Scottb,121 * Linda Simsb,121 * Jessie Smithb,121 * Rose Smithb,121 * Jackie Stantonb,121 * Marquentta Tinsleyb,121 * Ann Thomasb,121 * Marcy Thomasb,121 * Adrienne Williamsb,121 * Carlena "Flora" Williamsb,121 * Debbie Wilsonb,121Ike Turner formed The Ikettes to replace The Artettes as the backing group for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. The Ikettes began recording in 1960, when lead Delores Johnson, Eloise Hester, and Joshie Armstead accompanied Tina Turner on her first recording, "A Fool In Love."b,121b,121Either the Raelettes did not have near as interesting a history or Wiki needs to do more research. Here are the members listed:b,121Darlene McCrea, Margie Hendrix, Patricia Lyles, and Gwendolyn Berry. Later members included Mable John, Merry Clayton, and Susaye Greene. The 1980s' set of Raelettes included Avis Harrell, Madlyne Qubeck, Estella Yarobourgh, Trudy Cohran, and Pat Peterso

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    I fished a little more for the Raelettes, and got some answer.com type sites that had more or less the same info and included Minnie Ripperton as a member. No mention of how, when or where she sang with Ray. b,121b,121Now where is that Minnie Ripperton Bio? Was she Canadian?


  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121 b,121b,121Now where is that Minnie Ripperton Bio? Was she Canadian? b,121b,121h,121
    b,121Born in Chicago I believe.

  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    "I Don't Need No Doctor" is a monster of a track, having Clydie, Merry & Minnie sing on it just makes it cooler! Also don't forget it was written by original Ikette Jo Armstead! Links yo!

  • m_dejeanm_dejean Quadratisch. Praktisch. Gut. 2,946 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121b,121Just put the Claudia Lennear LP on for the first time in at least 5 years. I have no recollection of it at all. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Is it any good? b,121b,121h,121b,121b,121Kind of nondescript with a rockish feel, especially on side 1, which features Ry Cooder and members of the Dixie Flyers. Side 2 (produced by Allen Toussaint) was a little better, but still, nothing special.

  • LaserWolfLaserWolf Portland Oregon 11,517 Posts
    /font1
    Quote:/font1h,121b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121/font1Quote:/font1h,121b,121b,121Just put the Claudia Lennear LP on for the first time in at least 5 years. I have no recollection of it at all. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Is it any good? b,121b,121h,121b,121b,121Kind of nondescript with a rockish feel, especially on side 1, which features Ry Cooder and members of the Dixie Flyers. Side 2 (produced by Allen Toussaint) was a little better, but still, nothing special. b,121b,121h,121b,121b,121Exactly how I remember it. I really like Ry Cooder and Allen Toussaint, but as I recall, they did nothing to make that record happen. b,121b,121I think it is on the same label the Kinks were on.
Sign In or Register to comment.