Earl-Jean
Encyclopedia
Ethel "Earl-Jean" McCrea is an American pop/R&B singer. She was a member of The Cookies
, the only person in both versions of the group, and she had a solo hit with the original version of "I'm Into Somethin' Good
".
Her cousin, Darlene McCrea, and the other original Cookies (a group actually first formed in 1954), eventually evolved into Ray Charles
' backing group, The Raelettes. In 1961, Earl-Jean McCrea was recruited for a new version of the Cookies. This line-up scored hits with "Don't Say Nothing Bad About My Baby", and "Chains
" (later covered by The Beatles
).
In 1964 Earl-Jean left the Cookies and signed for Colpix
, recording the Goffin
and King
song "I'm Into Somethin' Good
", which reached number 38 in the United States
on the Billboard Hot 100
. Later that year in Britain
, a cover version
by Herman's Hermits
topped the charts.
The Cookies
The Cookies were an American R&B girl group in the 1950s to 1960s. Members of the original lineup would later become The Raelettes, the backing vocalists for Ray Charles.-History:...
, the only person in both versions of the group, and she had a solo hit with the original version of "I'm Into Somethin' Good
I'm into Something Good
"I'm into Something Good" is a song composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and made famous by Herman's Hermits. The song was originally recorded by Cookies member Earl-Jean McCrea in 1964 and reached number 38 on the US pop singles chart...
".
Her cousin, Darlene McCrea, and the other original Cookies (a group actually first formed in 1954), eventually evolved into Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' backing group, The Raelettes. In 1961, Earl-Jean McCrea was recruited for a new version of the Cookies. This line-up scored hits with "Don't Say Nothing Bad About My Baby", and "Chains
Chains (song)
"Chains" is a song composed by the Brill Building husband-and-wife songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King and was a major hit for Little Eva’s backing singers, The Cookies "Chains" is a song composed by the Brill Building husband-and-wife songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King and was...
" (later covered by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
).
In 1964 Earl-Jean left the Cookies and signed for Colpix
Colpix Records
Colpix Records was the first recording company for Columbia Pictures–Screen Gems. Colpix got its name from combining Columbia and Pictures . It was founded by Jonie Taps and Harry Cohn in 1958, and was based in New York City. Paul Wexler headed the label. Stu Phillips was in charge of A&R...
, recording the Goffin
Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
and King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
song "I'm Into Somethin' Good
I'm into Something Good
"I'm into Something Good" is a song composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and made famous by Herman's Hermits. The song was originally recorded by Cookies member Earl-Jean McCrea in 1964 and reached number 38 on the US pop singles chart...
", which reached number 38 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Later that year in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
topped the charts.