The Andantes

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The Andantes were a prolific female session singing group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Comprised of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on over ten thousand^{[citation needed]} Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, among others, along with the occasional non-Motown recording (Jackie Wilson's hit "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" being one example).

The Andantes were most prominently used on all of the Four Tops' Holland-Dozier-Holland-produced hits, including "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", "Reach Out I'll Be There", and more. The Andantes were used on Motown singles starting in 1962. The Andantes were used as substitutes for Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong on many of the Diana Ross & the Supremes recordings done in 1968 and 1969. They were also called upon to overdub and smooth out the The Marvelettes' background vocals records; the producers had this done without the Marvelettes' knowledge. The final Marvelettes album, The Return of the Marvelettes, was actually recorded by Marvelette Wanda Young with the Andantes, not her bandmates, on backgrounds.

The group also issued two singles of their own: "Just Be Yourself"/"I Can't Help It I've Got To Dance" (1963) and "(Like A) Nightmare" / "If You Were Mine" (1964).

[edit] Motorcity Records

As part of the Ian Levine's Motorcity Records project in the late 1980's and early 1990's, The Andnates were signed to the label and once again provided a stellar service in recording backing vocals to the former Motown artists. By this time the group was a quartet, with the addition of latter-day Andante Pat Lewis joining Jackie, Marlene and Louvain. The ladies had not worked together in a numebr of years, although all had been very busy providing demo and backing vocals for numerous artists on various labels.

Motorcity Records boss Ian Levine also recorded several songs with The Andantes, issuing a new single 'Lighning Never Strikes Twice', which featured Louvain demps on lead vocals. Most other songs recorded by the group at Motorcity had Pat Lewis on lead vocals.

[edit] Motorcity Recordings

Original Recordings

Lightning Never Strikes Twice
Hurricane
Throw Love Away
Step Into My Shoes - also recorded by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas
Two Sides Of Love
One Drop Of Rain
Will You Always Be There
Love Is A Bumpy Road
All Around The Motorcity

Cover Versions

Girls Are Out To Get You
Superstition
Mercy, Mercy Me
I Wish - cover of the Stevie Wonder classic
My World Is Empty Without You
The Boss
Last Dance
Little Darlin'
Why Am I Loving You

Unreleased Tracks

Back In My Arms Again
In And Out Of Love
I Wish It Would Rain
Waste of Time (Instrumental only)

Louvain Demps - Better Times

Whilst under contract to Motorcity Records, Louvain was given the opportunity to step up to the microphone and record a full album, which was released in 1992 under the title 'Better Times', which a pleasing mix of original tunes and one cover of the Diana Ross hit 'Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand'

On The Front Page
Better times
One Shot At Happiness
Lost & Found
Good INtentions
Blind Love
On The Beach
My Heart Won't Say No
No Time For Tears
Reach Out & Touch Somebody's Hand

Louvain recorded two further tracks with Motorcity which did not appear on the above album:

On Top Of The Mountain
Sight And Sound

Pat Lewis

Ian Levine has cited that he has recorded more songs with Pat Lewis than with any other artist. Several songs recored by Pat whilst with Motorcity Records are:

Cover Verions