Brenda And The Tabulations

In the landscape of Philadelphia soul acts during the 1960s and 1970s, Brenda & the Tabulations crafted several memorable ballads steeped in heartbreak, most notably "Dry Your Eyes" and "Right on the Tip of My Tongue." The founding members consisted of lead vocalist Brenda Payton alongside Jerry Jones, Eddie Jackson, and Maurice Coates, with Bernard Murphy coming aboard in 1969. By 1970 the ensemble had contracted to a trio of Payton, Pat Mercer, and Deborah Martin. Their signature success arrived with "Dry Your Eyes," which climbed to number eight on the R&B chart and number 20 on the pop side in 1967. The group remained with Dionn through 1969 before moving to Top & Bottom for the period spanning 1970 to 1973, after which they recorded for both Epic and Chocolate City. "Right on the Tip of My Tongue" restored their visibility in 1971 by reaching number ten on the R&B listings, while its successor "A Part Of You" attained number 14 the same year. Sporadic visibility on the late-1970s disco scene came via the album I Keep Coming Back for More, whose single "Let's Go All the Way (Down)" generated international and club attention.