Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love (1958)

Born in Chicago, Illinois on December 8, 1939, Jerry Butler, Jr.’s family had very little money but attended church regularly. It was in a local housing community and the church choir that Butler would meet Curtis Mayfield, born June 3, 1942 in the mid-1950s. Together, the two boys sang in a gospel quartet known as the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers. Inspired by artists such as Sam Cooke, Butler and Mayfield united with Arthur and Richard Brooks, brothers, to develop a vocal group of their own known as The Roosters. What they eventually became, with the addition of Sam Gooden, was The Impressions. After signing with Vee-Jay Records, the band released their first hit, heard below, in 1958. After their next hit, “Come Back My Love,” Jerry Butler left the band to embark on a solo career. Mayfield wrote most of his successful songs. Mayfield also became The Impressions’ new primary singer and songwriter as the group welcomed Fred Cash to the lineup, a member who had previously been with them for a short while when they were still known as The Roosters. The new Impressions soared to new heights, reaching number two with “Gypsy Woman,” number one with “It’s All Right,” number three with the famous “People Get Ready” (previously featured), and numerous others. Mayfield would eventually leave the group in 1970 to have a successful solo career of his own, but the group continued on. Although their last hit song, “Loving Power,” was released in 1976, the group is still together today featuring original member Sam Gooden and Roosters-era member Fred Cash.

Written by Jerry Butler with help from Arthur and Richard Brooks, this song was The Impressions first big hit. Released in 1958, it was put out with the credit being given to “Jerry Butler & The Impressions,” as the group was known before Butler parted ways. The song peaked at number eleven and has since been covered by Jerry Butler (as a solo artist in 1966), Otis Redding (in 1965), The Rolling Stones (in 1989), and various others.



Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love (1958)

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Lyrics:

Your precious love
Means more to me
Than any love could ever be
For when I wanted you
I was so lonely and so blue
For that's what love will do

And darling, I'm-
(I'm so surprised)
Oh, when I first realized
That you were fooling me

And darling
They say that our love won’t grow
But I just wanna tell them
That they don't know

For as long
As you're in love with me
Our love will grow wider
Deeper than any sea

And of all the things that I want
In this whole wide world
Is just for you to say
That you’ll be my girl

And oh
(Wanting you)
Wanting you
(Oh, I'm lonely and blue)
I'm so lonely
(That's what love will do)

The Magic Lanterns - You Must Believe Me (1968)

Formed in Warrington, Lancashire in 1962, this group originally went by the name The Sabres. Notable members included the not-yet-famous duo Godley & Creme as well as Mike “Oz” Osbourne who spent several decades making sure that other Ozzy Osbourne didn’t mistakenly receive credit for his work. Despite their psychedelic sounding name, the group was not at all psychedelic sounding. They featured more of a pop rock sound.

This song was written by Curtis Mayfield and first performed by Mayfield’s group The Impressions. The version heard below appeared as the first track from the group’s first album Lit Up. It has been covered by numerous artists, with some of the more notable being Eric Clapton, The Hollies, and The Zombies.



The Magic Lanterns - You Must Believe Me (1968)

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Lyrics:

You must believe me
No matter what the people might say
You must believe me
Oh Lord, it just didn’t happen that way (oh, no)
Oh no, it just didn’t happen that way

You come ‘round with somethin’ on your mind
Darlin’ tell me, why are you cryin’?
You say, "Be serious, no time for fun”
While tryin’ to tell me somethin’ that I've done
The things I’d said couldn't be denied
But before your opinion, listen to my side

And you must believe me
No matter what the people might say
You must believe me
Oh Lord, it just didn’t happen that way (oh, no)
Oh no, it just didn’t happen that way

It's alright
It's alright

Girl you're wrong to believe what was said
For you know nothin’ could ever be that bad
The talk is out all over town
But darlin’ you know I'd never put you down
To you and me, we’re at the party again
There's nothing else to say about my love bad

And you must believe me
No matter what the people might say
You must believe me
Oh Lord, it just didn’t happen that way (oh, no)
Oh no, it just didn’t happen that way

It's alright
It's alright

Girl you're wrong to believe what was said
For you know nothin’ could ever be that bad
The talk is out all over town
But darlin’ you know I'd never put you down
To you and me, we’re at the party again
And there's nothing else to say about my love bad

And you must believe me
No matter what the people might say
You must believe me
Oh Lord, it just didn’t happen that way (oh, no)
Oh no, it just didn’t happen that way

Oh, you gotta tell ‘em now, now, now, now!
(Oh, it's alright)
Let me tell ya one more time
Oh, it's alright
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah!
(Oh, it's alright)...

The Impressions - People Get Ready (1965)

Formed in 1958 as a doo-wop group, The Roosters, this band eventually evolved into doing more gospel, soul, and R&B music as the years progressed. Their hit songs through the ‘60s served as anthems for the Civil Rights Movement in America. In 1965, their best known song, heard below, was released and would go on to be considered one of the top songs of all time.

This is that song. For as many artists on this site that cannot be summed up in one paragraph, this song cannot be summed up in one either. It has been covered by Alicia Keys, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, The Doors, John Denver, Phil Collins, Prince, Rod Stewart, Seal, U2, and many, many others, each with their own unique story. With vocals like this, you don’t need to be religious to enjoy this gospel and soulful song.



The Impressions - People Get Ready (1965)

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Lyrics:

People get ready
There's a train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord

So, people get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
Coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's hope for all
Among those loved the most

There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own (believe me now)
Have pity on those
Whose chances grow thinner
For, there’s no hiding place
Against the kingdom’s throne

So people get ready
There's a train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord