Ray Charles Presents The Raeletts - Yesterday...Today...Tomorrow (1972) Tangerine (FLAC) LP Only Release - Rare Soul

The Raelettes (or occasionally The Raelets or The Raeletts) were an American Girl group from the 1950s to the 1990s, formed, as the name suggests, to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles an undisputed genius period. Ray knew the standard of performances that he required and only recruited the best voices for his group. There,s been an abundunce of performers who have passed through the line up of the Raeletts over the years. I think ive got the lot LISTED BELOW THE BACK COVER. This was their debut album in their own right on ray,s own Tangerine label,apart from ray on Piano this is just the girls.They did a couple of albums prior to this release backing Ray on the ABC & Atlantic labels,a live album on tour with Ike and Tina Turner(then signed to Tangerine) with a further live album recorded in 1972 in Europe.The girls recorded 30 odd 45,s most featured on the albums and a bootleg cd on titanic that i would post up if requested but the quality isnt great but passable.The quintet consisting of Vernita Moss, Susaye Green, Mable John, Dorothy Berry and Estella Yarbrough are featured on this album. Here,s what Mabel John,Lead Singer at that time had to say-“At the end of 1970, we went to Mexico City and we were booked by ourselves. It was supposed to be for two weeks but they kept us for eleven. We packed the room every night and Ray flew down to see us. He caught our show, he wanted to see how we were doing. The following year, he booked us in Japan during our off season and he had every girl in the group learn at least two songs they could lead. When we came back, he said, ‘I want to do an album on you’, and that’s when we did this one"Yesterday...Today...and Tomorrow. We all sang and Ray always pushed everyone on. If you hit a wrong note, he would play it on stage so you got it right. I loved talking back to him on stage on songs because that helped make the show spicy. And Ray was great with me, he never contradicted anything I said to the group and his attitude was, ‘I gave you the position of leader, I won’t go behind you’ and he lived by that standard, even after I left the group…” Separate from Charles, the Raelettes had a number of pop and R&B hits, although they never gained fame for their singles. Several members later went on to solo careers. Before becoming the Raeletts, the group was known as The Cookies. Its membership originally consisted of Darlene McCrea, Margie Hendrix (also known aa Margie Hendricks), Patricia Lyles, and Gwendolyn Berry. Of Hendricks, Ray Charles said, "Aretha, Gladys, Etta James,these gals are all bad, but on any given night, Margie will scare you to death." The longest spanning career as a Raelette was had by Madelyn Quebec totaling 14 years (1973-1987), however, the longest uninterrupted career was accomplished by Angela Workman, touring for over 11 years continuously (1987 - 1999). The shortest career as a Raelette was had by Tracey Whitney (1991).A great album Of Soul that still sounds superb 50 years on!...Never released on CD ? A Special from them tomorrow!.. If i,m correct Mable John held the distinction of being the only female artist to record on Stax & Motown.

AMM

                                                                           The Taster

                       THE COMPLETE LINE UP OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE RAELETTS

Adams, Shalaine - Raelette (2005 - )
Armed, Mabel - Raelette (1969 )
Basket, Fritz - Raelette (1964, 1965 )
Berry (Durr), Dorothy - Raelette (1971 - 1980)
Berry, Gwen(dolyn) ("Squatty Roo") - Raelette (1960 - 1968)
Biggers, Tangy - Raelette (1999)
Brooks, Anita (Nika) - Raelette (1989 )
Brown, Alex(andra) - Raelette (1966 - 1968)
Bryant, Helen - Raelette (1964 )
Clark, Dottie - Raelette (c 1964?)
Clayton, Merry - Raelette (1966 - 1968)
Cobb, Chrylynn - Raelette (1978 )
Cohran(-Hunter), Trudy - Raelette (1977 - 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991)
Collier, Kathy (Kathryn) - Raelette (c1973, ?1989?)
Creighton, Sharon - Raelette (1986 - 1987)
Diggs - King, Pamela - Raelette (1992 )
Drake, Berlando - Raelette ( - )
Evans, Karen - Raelette (1996 - 1999)
Flenaugh, Verlyn - Raelette (1968)
Fort, Lillie (Lillian) - Raelette (July 1964 - 1965)
Geason, Valerie - Raelette (?)
Georges, Renee - Raelette (1994 - 1996, 2000 - 2003)
Gleese, Deborah - Raelette (1977)
Graham, Rita - Raelette (1968 - 1969 )
Greene, Susaye - Raelette (1968 - 1975)
Harper - Cooke, Katrina - Raelette (1997)
Harrell, Avis - Raelette (1979 - 1982 or 1983)
Hendricks (Hendrix), Margie (Marjorie, Margaret) - Cookie & Raelette (1955 - July 1964)
Hutcherson, Peggy - Raelette (c 1966)
Jackson, Denise - Raelette (1973)
James, Doretta - Raelette (1957)
John, Mable - Raelette (1966 - 1978, 1998)
Johnson, Ann [= Ledoria?] - Raelette (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985)
Johnson, Ledoria [=Ann?] - Raelette (c 1981)
King, Clydie - Raelette (1966 - 1968)
Lesure, Beverly Ann - Raelette (1968)
Lion, Pat - Raelette (1957)
Lyles, Pat (Priscilla) - Cookie & Raelette (1954 - 1965)
Mackey, Kathy - Raelette (1997)
McCann, Tammy - Raelette (2001)
McCoo, Marilyn - Raelette (1965)
McCoy, Gladezz - Raelette ( - )
McCrea, Darlene (Ethel) - Raelette (1956 - 1958, 1963, 1964)
McKinney, Tonette - Raelette (1994 - 2003)
Michelle, Paula - Raelette (1991)
Mitchell (Trees), Janice (Afreeka) - Raelette (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985)
Mosely-Lyles, Mae - Raelette (1959, 1960)
Moss, Vernita - Raelette (1969 - 1975)
Moye, Paula - Raelette (1991, 1992)
Nickerson, Kay - Raelette (1st soprano) (1990)
Peterson, Pat - Raelette (1980 - 1989)
Pierce, Bobbie - Raelette (1964 )
Quebec, Madelyn - Raelette (1973, 1975, 1979 - 1987)
Richards, Patricia - Raelette (1963)
Riperton, Minnie - Raelette (1967 - )
Roberson, Ruby Rae - Raelette (1959 - 1960)
Royster, Vermetea - Raelette (1965 - 1966)
Saunders, Mae - Raelette (1960 - 1961)
Scott, Cynthia - Raelette (1972 - 1974)
Sims, Linda - Raelette (1975, 1977, 1978 )
Smith, Bettye - Raelette (1960 - )
Smith, Gwen(dolyn) (Wendy) - Raelette (1988, 1991)
Styles, Joy - Raelette (2005)
Terrault, Barbara Nell - Raelette (1968 - )
Tucker, Brianna - Raelette (2001 - 2002 )
Turre, Andromeda - Raelette (2003 - 2005)
Washburn, Lalomie (Lomie) - Raelette (1990)
Whitney, Tracey - Raelette (1991)
Woodard (Ross), Elaine - Raelette (1983 - 1987)
Workman, Angela (Angie) - Raelette (1987 - 1999)
Wright, Edna (a.k.a. Sandy Wynns) - Raelette (1966)
Yarbrough, Estella - Raelette (1969 - 1999)