I was doing some work as a contractor on the Staten Island ferries, one of the welders used to live a few doors away from the these girls and he remembered them continually rehearsing this song. What a small world.
Always love this song, I was 8 or 9 (1963-64) and would listen to this on my AM radio on the Chuck Leonard, Harry Harrison, & Cousin Brucie DJ's at that time. My aunt & uncle would come to visit and bring my cousins we had good times just playing and listening to the tunes. Never knew this group was from England. Their sound was similar to the groups from the states. Northern Soul rock on. You had the Bronx NYC hopping back in the day.
Even though the record only went to No. 51 nationally, AM radio DJs had a hell of a lot more clout in those days, and say-so about what they played. Philadelphia's Joe Niagra & Hy Lit of WIBG made sure every Philly youngster in that time knew this song. And I was one of them. Lit & Niagra were aggressively supportive of acts they knew were hometown based. Both of them returned to station's farewell week in 1977, and both of them made sure this got played again.
There was a group in Toronto who used to play this song at many of the dance clubs in the 60's. If you were a teen in the 60's you probably know Shawn Jackson and the Majestics, the best dance band inToronto. They could really rock this song. You couldn't help but get up and dance. It's a wonderful memory.
Sounds like one of those recordings that the Motown houseband, the Funk Brothers, moonlighted on. When Berry found out--and he always did--there was hell (and usually a fine) to pay.
Fabulous tune. I think it's alot more original than "In My Lonely Room", which was a very good song. "81" deserves a rare place in doowop history. I don't know why "no contest" was plead..could be alot of reasons. The song has my Gold Medal for lyrics and sound. Motown has my respect, but this tune, like many Motown hits, is a Masterpiece on it's own.
Hi Dick, Many thanks for your message. Yes, not Motown. But as good as Motown was what I wanted to convey. Motown has my respect, but, so does "81". Love it to death. Happy New Year.
An old girlfriend of mine gave me a Cameo Parkway demo copy of this track back in 1965 (her dad used to go around changing records on jukeboxes-What a great job!) she also gave me demo copies of Bobby Freeman-S.W.I.M. and Chubby Checker-(At the) Discotheque all of which fetch over £100GBP these days-whew!! Thanks Angie!! The 81 remains one of my all-time fave raves from the days when "Northern Soul" was just " SOUL".
AWESOME! When I first heard this song I thought it was martha Reeves & The Vandellas. it show the the strong influnence of the Motown Sound. I LOVE IT!! JUST lOVE IT!!
First heard this on chiltern radio 1988 (the station manager was a huge northern soul/motown fan and the station would go motown on friday afternoons and play a heavy mix of dance music at the weekends - you don't want to hear the station now!) Thanks for posting this cracking tune.
Almost all of the songs in the 1960's that were about a dance (e.g. twist, mashed potato, 81, Bristol Stomp, etc.) came from Philadelphia. The reason for this is that Philadelphia teens were without question the best dancers in the U.S.A. The writers and record producers such as Cameo-Parkway invented songs to appeal to Philly teens, since that is the world that they knew best. The 81 was the first hit for Gamble & Huff.
@jrusso9722 This song is not MOTOWN. The 81 is PHiladelphia and a Philadelphia classic at that. The 81 got considerable Philadelphia radio and TV airplay in its day. A day I wish we could re-live.
nice to see the ol' cameo parkway label again, great track from back in the day, they had some nice stuff on cameo, bunny sigler, let the good times roll,, doris troy, i'll do anything, chubby checker, at the discotheque, to name a few, many thanks for posting, regards dave
@andersport That's funny, I always thought it was the Orlons. I remember my sisters and I got the 45, and we played it to death!! So great to hear it again. Thanks for posting
'64 a time of innocence for the country, but by '67 it was all goin to hell. However, that early sixties sound was so cool, and these Girl had it, they should of went to Europe, I think they would have made a bigger splash, from a career standpoint..
They are VERY similar, especially the jangle-y intros and ain't it great :-) It was originally on Cameo and tough to find on that label now. Motown actually sued earlier and won claiming Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" (another Cameo single) copied the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman," and Motown's house publisher, Jobete, ended up owning 'Potato' too. So this was tempting fate some more in 1964, but who cared: it was ALL terrific music. 'Cause it's so fine, do the 81.' :-)
First heard this at the CIVIC at Orpington, Andy Ruw was the DJ, I was just a little bit too young for Wigan and the rest. But we still give it a good try with the Saxon Tavern, Leighton Buzzard and Hundred Club all nighters and the Le Beat Route on saturday afternoons at Greek street, round the corner from Carnaby Street! Good days, Keep The Faith. Yee Haa
Rip Itupish Yeah we did talk about the Tavern but I am pretty sure we was talking about the Rave all dayers! I was in at the very beginning of that House thing, well we called it Balearic but this was b4. As it happens this was right b4 I got into the raving thing, back then I was a Northern Soul Boy, boxing boots, Italian army Jacket and everything. Always loved the music ever since. They never done Mod/Northern nights at the Downham Tavern but they did do em at the Saxon Tavern (Bonnies). Leighton Buzzard, Hundred Club they was all Mod/Northern Soul all-nighters U going Tavern re-union? U know who is DJing, if its to be authentic it would have to be Tony (Wilson) hey? Yee Haa
Rip Itupish I used to be good mates wiv Tony, he tried to have it away wiv my bird while I was in jail. I know Steve as well and as for Besh, well I know him too. I used to go around with all that lot, Jacko an all. I was Terrys pal.... Gummidge (RiP). Yee Haa
This song is so similar that whoever wrote it was copying the 81checkit out on youtube in my lonely room martha and the vandellas it was one of their B sides that people would play at house parties in black neighborhoods in NY
It deosn't get more Philadelphia than this. Philadelphia neighborhoods were not only segrigated by race but by ethnic as well. Soon the civil rights movement would take a nasty turn. Yet songs like the 81 were popular from North to South Philly and every neighborhood in between.
Always liked this song. I once heard some mention of litigation surrounding the premise that "The 81" too closely copied "In My Lonely Room", and that Cameo-Parkway had to pay damages to Motown(?). Is any of this true?
Actually, it's not that difficult to find the original US 45 in the UK, as it's been imported in quantity since about 1971! - Much harder on UK cameo Parkway though!
@hookalakah Not just this one, but I remember every Philadelphia DJ, white station or black, getting behind everybody on Arctic (Barbara Mason & The Volcanoes, pointedly), Brenda & the Tabulations, the Magnificent Men, the Soul Survivors and Jay & the Techniques. It seemed like it was a great city to have a home-grown record, if you were willing to make the interview rounds and talk to the deejays.
influenced by "in my lonely room", maybe, but not really a copy... this is probably the "proto-MFSB" band playing on this, not the funk brothers. great song, though...
Why would you post a video and not make it available on mobiles. Please check the settings/options when uploading. I view nearly all my video on my mobile.
@dvlaries The song may have not been too big nationally, but was huge in selected markets, especially Philly where it originated. WABC wouldn't play it- a little racial? Let's let Cousin Brucie respond to this one.
The song sounds great because it is a 100% total rip-off of the Motown Sound of Martha and The Vandellas. Sure it sounds great - so would a song done by Beatle sound-a-likes that copied their sound and style. So - on one hand it's fun to listen to, but on the other hand, it's very creepy - like they just stole someone else's idea, you know?
+Patti Rabun No, actually he's right. Check out "In My Lonely Room" by Martha & The Vandellas. This is a shameless rewrite of that tune. But still, having said that, it's a great, great record nonetheless. Both records are awesome.
Well, I can hear some similar things, but maybe no more than any others. The 81 is a much better tune, whether there are similarities or not. It just seems to flow better. while it didn't even make Billboard's top40, for some reason it got tons of play in the New York metro area. Payola maybe? We'll never know.
I was doing some work as a contractor on the Staten Island ferries, one of the welders used to live a few doors away from the these girls and he remembered them continually rehearsing this song. What a small world.
Martha and the Vandellas did a song a couple yrs later called in my lonely room
Always love this song, I was 8 or 9 (1963-64) and would listen to this on my AM radio on the Chuck Leonard, Harry Harrison, & Cousin Brucie DJ's at that time. My aunt & uncle would come to visit and bring my cousins we had good times just playing and listening to the tunes. Never knew this group was from England. Their sound was similar to the groups from the states. Northern Soul rock on. You had the Bronx NYC hopping back in the day.
MY MOTHER HAD THIS SONG WHEN I WAS LIKE 4YRS OLD!! I REMEBER THIS SO FONDLY!! THEY STILL PLAYED IT IN NEW YORK RADIO STATIONS TODAY!
Even though the record only went to No. 51 nationally, AM radio DJs had a hell of a lot more clout in those days, and say-so about what they played. Philadelphia's Joe Niagra & Hy Lit of WIBG made sure every Philly youngster in that time knew this song. And I was one of them. Lit & Niagra were aggressively supportive of acts they knew were hometown based. Both of them returned to station's farewell week in 1977, and both of them made sure this got played again.
There was a group in Toronto who used to play this song at many of the dance clubs in the 60's. If you were a teen in the 60's you probably know Shawn Jackson and the Majestics, the best dance band inToronto. They could really rock this song. You couldn't help but get up and dance. It's a wonderful memory.
I'M From the 1960s Do The 81, GREAT SONG
AND MOTOWN
Absolutely superb track - what a gem !💎 👏🏽👍🏽
Don't forget- they were from Staten Island, NY even though they recorded in Philly
Love this track, fast and groovy
This is such a cool song! I don't understand why most oldies stations don't play it anymore. Thanks for posting it!
Sounds like one of those recordings that the Motown houseband, the Funk Brothers, moonlighted on. When Berry found out--and he always did--there was hell (and usually a fine) to pay.
NEY NEY NEY NEY - I still have my original. Gee I'm THAT old. time sure did fly!!!!!!
Discovered this 2 weeks ago. This is really really good. Can't believe this is 1964. Great record . Excellent.
Fabulous tune. I think it's alot more original than "In My Lonely Room", which was a very good song. "81" deserves a rare place in doowop history. I don't know why "no contest" was plead..could be alot of reasons. The song has my Gold Medal for lyrics and sound. Motown has my respect, but this tune, like many Motown hits, is a Masterpiece on it's own.
Hi Dick, Many thanks for your message. Yes, not Motown. But as good as Motown was what I wanted to convey. Motown has my respect, but, so does "81". Love it to death. Happy New Year.
such a happy upbeat song, I bought this on a 45 about 20 years ago.
Great track to dance too :)
An old girlfriend of mine gave me a Cameo Parkway demo copy of this track back in 1965 (her dad used to go around changing records on jukeboxes-What a great job!) she also gave me demo copies of Bobby Freeman-S.W.I.M. and Chubby Checker-(At the) Discotheque all of which fetch over £100GBP these days-whew!! Thanks Angie!! The 81 remains one of my all-time fave raves from the days when "Northern Soul" was just " SOUL".
AWESOME! When I first heard this song I thought it was martha Reeves & The Vandellas. it show the the strong influnence of the Motown Sound. I LOVE IT!! JUST lOVE IT!!
First heard this on chiltern radio 1988 (the station manager was a huge northern soul/motown fan and the station would go motown on friday afternoons and play a heavy mix of dance music at the weekends - you don't want to hear the station now!) Thanks for posting this cracking tune.
Another Gamble and Huff blast from the past.
Brillliant brilliant brilliant!
This always reminds me of "In My Lonely RooM' by Martha & The Vandellas. Good Philly song!
love this tnx
what a brilliant time, so good
i first heard this on siruis radio like the beat has that motown sound.
me too!!!!! I still have but its very WORN
northern soul,unity! :-)
this is a Jerry Ross Production out of Philly.
Almost all of the songs in the 1960's that were about a dance (e.g. twist, mashed potato, 81, Bristol Stomp, etc.) came from Philadelphia. The reason for this is that Philadelphia teens were without question the best dancers in the U.S.A. The writers and record producers such as Cameo-Parkway invented songs to appeal to Philly teens, since that is the world that they knew best. The 81 was the first hit for Gamble & Huff.
@jrusso9722 This song is not MOTOWN. The 81 is PHiladelphia and a Philadelphia classic at that. The 81 got considerable Philadelphia radio and TV airplay in its day. A day I wish we could re-live.
nice to see the ol' cameo parkway label again, great track from back in the day, they had some nice stuff on cameo, bunny sigler, let the good times roll,, doris troy, i'll do anything, chubby checker, at the discotheque, to name a few, many thanks for posting, regards dave
@andersport That's funny, I always thought it was the Orlons. I remember my sisters and I got the 45, and we played it to death!! So great to hear it again.
Thanks for posting
Has a Philly Sound thing goin on really, that previous post must have been the early 80's. Again Keep The Faith. Yee Haa
You're exactly right. Otherwise, hail to the thief--very nice record!
I heard Kenny Gamble (of Gamble & Huff) say that the 81 was their first hit.
'64 a time of innocence for the country, but by '67 it was all goin to hell. However, that early sixties sound was so cool, and these Girl had it, they should of went to Europe, I think they would have made a bigger splash, from a career standpoint..
They are VERY similar, especially the jangle-y intros and ain't it great :-) It was originally on Cameo and tough to find on that label now. Motown actually sued earlier and won claiming Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" (another Cameo single) copied the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman," and Motown's house publisher, Jobete, ended up owning 'Potato' too. So this was tempting fate some more in 1964, but who cared: it was ALL terrific music. 'Cause it's so fine, do the 81.' :-)
First heard this at the CIVIC at Orpington, Andy Ruw was the DJ, I was just a little bit too young for Wigan and the rest. But we still give it a good try with the Saxon Tavern, Leighton Buzzard and Hundred Club all nighters and the Le Beat Route on saturday afternoons at Greek street, round the corner from Carnaby Street! Good days, Keep The Faith. Yee Haa
South londoner partying in hertfordshire??
Downham Tavern reunion next month mate.
I swear me and you spoke about the tavern back in the day before didnt we mate?
Hope im not imagining things AGAIN Hahahaha
Rip Itupish Yeah we did talk about the Tavern but I am pretty sure we was talking about the Rave all dayers! I was in at the very beginning of that House thing, well we called it Balearic but this was b4. As it happens this was right b4 I got into the raving thing, back then I was a Northern Soul Boy, boxing boots, Italian army Jacket and everything. Always loved the music ever since. They never done Mod/Northern nights at the Downham Tavern but they did do em at the Saxon Tavern (Bonnies). Leighton Buzzard, Hundred Club they was all Mod/Northern Soul all-nighters U going Tavern re-union? U know who is DJing, if its to be authentic it would have to be Tony (Wilson) hey? Yee Haa
Yeh its Wilson, proctor, besh and andy nicholls. Original DJ line up by the original promoter *jacko*
Rip Itupish I used to be good mates wiv Tony, he tried to have it away wiv my bird while I was in jail. I know Steve as well and as for Besh, well I know him too. I used to go around with all that lot, Jacko an all. I was Terrys pal.... Gummidge (RiP). Yee Haa
Philly Sound!!
Sure, Bronxfan--I'll teach it to you any time you want.
Really good song, I'm glad I stumbled upon it.
but I can't help wondering how the Hells Angels feel about it
This song is so similar that whoever wrote it was copying the 81checkit out on youtube in my lonely room martha and the vandellas it was one of their B sides that people would play at house parties in black neighborhoods in NY
It deosn't get more Philadelphia than this. Philadelphia neighborhoods were not only segrigated by race but by ethnic as well. Soon the civil rights movement would take a nasty turn. Yet songs like the 81 were popular from North to South Philly and every neighborhood in between.
written and pruduced by the great kenny gamble 1964 philly soul!
Always liked this song. I once heard some mention of litigation surrounding the premise that "The 81" too closely copied "In My Lonely Room", and that Cameo-Parkway had to pay damages to Motown(?). Is any of this true?
Actually, it's not that difficult to find the original US 45 in the UK, as it's been imported in quantity since about 1971! - Much harder on UK cameo Parkway though!
@hookalakah Not just this one, but I remember every Philadelphia DJ, white station or black, getting behind everybody on Arctic (Barbara Mason & The Volcanoes, pointedly), Brenda & the Tabulations, the Magnificent Men, the Soul Survivors and Jay & the Techniques. It seemed like it was a great city to have a home-grown record, if you were willing to make the interview rounds and talk to the deejays.
influenced by "in my lonely room", maybe, but not really a copy... this is probably the "proto-MFSB" band playing on this, not the funk brothers. great song, though...
Sounds a LOTTT like "In My Lonely Room" by Martha & the Vandellas. Give credit where its due. Enough for infringement, in fact.
Do the 81 cos it's so fine......need candy or I say more
Bouncy tune! Was this affiliated with Motown?
reply to me when he does cause I want to see it
do u know what year is this song from?
Hey dviaries, did The Geater lean on this record like Hy and Joe did? And what about Georgie Woods?
Why would you post a video and not make it available on mobiles. Please check the settings/options when uploading. I view nearly all my video on my mobile.
@dvlaries The song may have not been too big nationally, but was huge in selected markets, especially Philly
where it originated. WABC wouldn't play it- a little racial? Let's let Cousin Brucie respond to this one.
1964 what where you doing
+arthur jones I was 8. Guess.
The song sounds great because it is a 100% total rip-off of the Motown Sound of Martha and The Vandellas. Sure it sounds great - so would a song done by Beatle sound-a-likes that copied their sound and style. So - on one hand it's fun to listen to, but on the other hand, it's very creepy - like they just stole someone else's idea, you know?
*cough Martha & the Vandellas rip-off cough*
Good point. I actually thought it was a Motown soog
+Patti Rabun No, actually he's right. Check out "In My Lonely Room" by Martha & The Vandellas. This is a shameless rewrite of that tune. But still, having said that, it's a great, great record nonetheless. Both records are awesome.
Well, I can hear some similar things, but maybe no more than any others. The 81 is a much better tune, whether there are similarities or not. It just seems to flow better. while it didn't even make Billboard's top40, for some reason it got tons of play in the New York metro area. Payola maybe? We'll never know.
Depends on when you wer born.
Leslie Brown it's the wall of sound thing, it all sounded like this. Phil spector