The Originals

The Originals, often labeled "Motown's best-kept secret," managed only a modest number of chart successes across their extended run, above all the commanding 1969 ballad "Baby I'm for Real," yet their unheralded work as composers and session singers anchors their role in the label's lasting story. Fronted by Detroit native Freddie Gorman, the group traces its roots to 1957 when he and longtime associate Brian Holland launched the Fideletones. Following the release of "Pretty Girl" on Aladdin Records in 1959, the lineup dissolved, prompting Gorman to resume his postal route until he encountered rising music entrepreneur Berry Gordy on his deliveries. Gordy soon brought Holland aboard as a writer and producer, pairing him with Robert Bateman to record a track for the Marvelettes; when Georgia Dobbins proposed the title "Please Mr. Postman," Holland enlisted Gorman to shape the lyrics, though credit for his input remained withheld for years. The song nevertheless climbed to the top of the Billboard pop chart in autumn 1961, earning Gorman a reciprocal solo release, "The Day Will Come," on the Miracle subsidiary. The songwriting alliance with Holland later incorporated Lamont Dozier, yielding early Motown productions such as Mary Wells' "Old Love" and the Supremes' "I Want a Guy" before Gorman was sidelined in favor of Eddie Holland and returned to postal work without contractual protection, disappearing from view for an extended period.

Gorman reemerged in 1964 with partner Bob Hamilton on the rival Golden World label, co-writing the Reflections' smash "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet." He followed with the solo singles "In a Bad Way" and "Take Me Back" on sister imprint Ric-Tic the next year. Once Gordy acquired Golden World's assets, Gorman rejoined the Motown fold, and in 1966 his resonant bass voice joined the Originals alongside lead tenor C.P. Spencer, second tenor Hank Dixon, baritone Walter Gaines, and briefly Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs; Stubbs departed soon after their debut single, a version of the Leadbelly standard "Goodnight Irene." The remaining four spent the next two years without a breakthrough, supplying background vocals behind Stevie Wonder and David Ruffin. Their second single, "You're the One," finally appeared in 1969, trailed by the title track from the debut album Green Grow the Lilacs; neither charted, yet the quartet drew notice from Marvin Gaye, who, with wife Anna, penned the soulful ballad "Baby I'm for Real." After leading the R&B chart, the track crossed to pop, peaking at number 14. Gaye also supplied the luminous follow-up "The Bells," which reached the R&B Top Five and nearly cracked the pop Top Ten in 1970. Two smaller entries, "We Can Make It Baby" and "God Bless Whoever Sent You," closed the year.

Commercial momentum faded thereafter as later singles such as 1971's "Keep Me" and 1972's "I'm Someone Who Cares" failed to register. C.P. Spencer's departure brought lead tenor Ty Hunter into the fold, yet the shift produced no chart gains, and releases including 1973's "Be My Love" and 1975's "Good Lovin' Is Just a Dime Away" drew scant radio or retail response. Following Motown's relocation from Detroit to Los Angeles, the Originals moved with the label and collaborated with Lamont Dozier on the 1976 album Communique, topping the disco chart with the dancefloor staple "Down to Love Town," Motown's first 12-inch single. Its successor, "(Call on Your) Six Million Dollar Man," stalled, prompting the group to exit Motown in 1978 for Fantasy and the single "Ladies (We Need You)." By the time they reached independent Phase II for the 1981 album Yesterday and Today, Spencer had returned; the set also featured the Originals' rendition of "Please Mr. Postman," though it otherwise attracted little notice. Apart from a later remake of "Baby I'm for Real," recording activity essentially ceased by the mid-1980s even as the members kept touring. Gorman released the solo album It's All About My Love in 1997. Spencer succumbed to a heart attack on October 20, 2004, and Gorman died of lung cancer on June 13, 2006.