The Angels (band)
Encyclopedia
The Angels are an American
girl group
, best known for their 1963 million selling #1 hit single
, "My Boyfriend's Back
".
as The Starlets which consisted of sisters, Barbara "Bibbs" and Phyllis "Jiggs" Allbut, Bernadette Carroll, and Linda Malzone. They had some minor local hits and wound up doing back-up work in the studio. When Linda Malzone left, Linda Jankowski (later Jansen) became the new lead singer. Their manager, Tom DeCillis, turned his focus to Bernadette Carroll and dropped the rest of the group. Carroll would find solo success in 1963 with her Laurie
single "Party Girl." After a failed attempt at record deal with producer Gerry Granahan
, the Allbut sisters turned their focus to education. Phyllis Allbut was in teacher's college at the time and Barbara Allbut was accepted into the Juilliard School
for her abilities as a musical arranger. Soon Granahan, who had previously rejected the group, suddenly saw hit potential in the song they had performed for him in their audition, a version of "Till
," and wanted them to record it in the studio. "Til
" became their first single under their new name, The Angels, and also their first hit (#14 US) released by Granahan's Caprice label in 1961. The song was followed up with a less-successful single, "Cry Baby Cry." The Angels had one album on Caprice, titled ...And The Angels Sing in 1962.
Jansen left the group in late 1962 to go solo and was replaced by Peggy Santiglia
, formerly of The Delicates
(with Denise Ferri and Arleen Lanzotti). Santiglia had sung jingles for WINS Radio, appeared on Broadway
, and had songwriting experience. In 1963, the trio
signed to Mercury Records
' subsidiary label Smash Records
and began working with the Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer
songwriting team, who wrote "My Boyfriend's Back
". The Angels' performance (with Santiglia on lead) was originally intended as a demo
for The Shirelles
' consideration, but the music publishers
chose instead to release it as it stood. The song was a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100
, but no follow-up of comparable success was released. "My Boyfriend's Back" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. The follow-up was the lower-charting "I Adore Him" (#25 US). The B-side "Thank You And Goodnight" was also favorable and charted at #84 US. During their Smash career, The Angels maintained a steady string of moderately successful singles which included "Wow Wow Wee (He's The Boy For Me)" (#41 US). Their album My Boyfriend's Back
made the top forty, charting at #33 but their next, A Halo to You, didn't chart at all. The group left Smash in 1964 and signed with Congress Records
.
The group became The Halos, following a dispute over the ownership of the name "The Angels." Peggy Santiglia took a leave of absence from the group in 1965 and was replaced by Toni Mason (Angie & The Chicklettes). The group released several more singles, none of which charted. Mason left the group in 1967 and was replaced by Debra Swisher (previously of The Pixies Three), who had recently recorded and released her own version of "Thank You And Goodnight" on the ABC-Paramount Records subsidiary, Boom Records. This lineup resumed using the name "The Angels" and released a handful of singles on RCA Records
. Former Starlet Bernadette Carroll was back in the group and became the new lead. They appeared on "The Dean Martin Show
" before disbanding in 1968. Santiglia and Phyllis and Barbara Allbut regrouped in the early 1970s and released a new single on Polydor Records
.
Phyllis Allbut and Santiglia still perform as The Angels, joined occasionally by Barbara Allbut.
Angels
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
, best known for their 1963 million selling #1 hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, "My Boyfriend's Back
My Boyfriend's Back (song)
"My Boyfriend's Back" was a hit song in 1963 for The Angels, an American girl group. It was written by the songwriting team of Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer . The recording was originally intended as a demo for The Shirelles, but ended up being released as recorded...
".
History
The group originated in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
as The Starlets which consisted of sisters, Barbara "Bibbs" and Phyllis "Jiggs" Allbut, Bernadette Carroll, and Linda Malzone. They had some minor local hits and wound up doing back-up work in the studio. When Linda Malzone left, Linda Jankowski (later Jansen) became the new lead singer. Their manager, Tom DeCillis, turned his focus to Bernadette Carroll and dropped the rest of the group. Carroll would find solo success in 1963 with her Laurie
Laurie Records
Laurie Records was a record label started in 1958 by Gene Schwartz and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records , had been unsuccessful. As a result, Sussel joined forces with Schwartz to found Laurie Records, this time named after his other...
single "Party Girl." After a failed attempt at record deal with producer Gerry Granahan
Gerry Granahan
Gerry Granahan is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s....
, the Allbut sisters turned their focus to education. Phyllis Allbut was in teacher's college at the time and Barbara Allbut was accepted into the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
for her abilities as a musical arranger. Soon Granahan, who had previously rejected the group, suddenly saw hit potential in the song they had performed for him in their audition, a version of "Till
Till (song)
"Till" is a popular song with music by Charles Danvers and English lyrics by Carl Sigman, released in January 1957 by Percy Faith. It was derived from the French song "Prière Sans Espoir", released in 1956 by Lucien Lupi on the EP L'Amour Viendra with original French lyrics written by Pierre Benoit...
," and wanted them to record it in the studio. "Til
Till (song)
"Till" is a popular song with music by Charles Danvers and English lyrics by Carl Sigman, released in January 1957 by Percy Faith. It was derived from the French song "Prière Sans Espoir", released in 1956 by Lucien Lupi on the EP L'Amour Viendra with original French lyrics written by Pierre Benoit...
" became their first single under their new name, The Angels, and also their first hit (#14 US) released by Granahan's Caprice label in 1961. The song was followed up with a less-successful single, "Cry Baby Cry." The Angels had one album on Caprice, titled ...And The Angels Sing in 1962.
Jansen left the group in late 1962 to go solo and was replaced by Peggy Santiglia
Peggy Santiglia
Peggy Santiglia is an American singer-songwriter of the "girl group era". She is perhaps best known for her 1963 pop hit "My Boyfriend's Back" with The Angels, which she recorded at the age of 19.- Biography :...
, formerly of The Delicates
The Delicates
The Delicates, were a three-girl singing group, made up of members Denise Ferri, Arleen Lanzotti, and Peggy Santiglia. The group was formed in 1958 while all three members were attending Belleville High School in Belleville, New Jersey....
(with Denise Ferri and Arleen Lanzotti). Santiglia had sung jingles for WINS Radio, appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and had songwriting experience. In 1963, the trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
' subsidiary label Smash Records
Smash Records
Smash Records is an American record label. It was founded in 1961 as a subsidiary of Mercury Records by Mercury executive Shelby Singleton and run by Singleton with Charlie Fach. Fach took over after Singleton left Mercury in 1966...
and began working with the Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer
Richard Gottehrer
Richard Gottehrer is an American songwriter, record producer and record label executive.-Career:Gottehrer came to prominence as a songwriter in the 1960s with his most notable songs being "My Boyfriend's Back" and "I Want Candy". As Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer , he wrote various songs including...
songwriting team, who wrote "My Boyfriend's Back
My Boyfriend's Back (song)
"My Boyfriend's Back" was a hit song in 1963 for The Angels, an American girl group. It was written by the songwriting team of Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer . The recording was originally intended as a demo for The Shirelles, but ended up being released as recorded...
". The Angels' performance (with Santiglia on lead) was originally intended as a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
for The Shirelles
The Shirelles
The Shirelles were an African-American girl group that achieved popularity in the early 1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens , Doris Coley , Addie "Micki" Harris , and Beverly Lee...
' consideration, but the music publishers
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
chose instead to release it as it stood. The song was a major hit, reaching number one 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...
, but no follow-up of comparable success was released. "My Boyfriend's Back" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The follow-up was the lower-charting "I Adore Him" (#25 US). The B-side "Thank You And Goodnight" was also favorable and charted at #84 US. During their Smash career, The Angels maintained a steady string of moderately successful singles which included "Wow Wow Wee (He's The Boy For Me)" (#41 US). Their album My Boyfriend's Back
My Boyfriend's Back (album)
My Boyfriend's Back is the second album issued by American girl group The Angels in 1963. It was heavily weighted upon the success of the title track "My Boyfriend's Back" which was a number one hit; composed by the team of Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein , and Richard Gottehrer...
made the top forty, charting at #33 but their next, A Halo to You, didn't chart at all. The group left Smash in 1964 and signed with Congress Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
.
The group became The Halos, following a dispute over the ownership of the name "The Angels." Peggy Santiglia took a leave of absence from the group in 1965 and was replaced by Toni Mason (Angie & The Chicklettes). The group released several more singles, none of which charted. Mason left the group in 1967 and was replaced by Debra Swisher (previously of The Pixies Three), who had recently recorded and released her own version of "Thank You And Goodnight" on the ABC-Paramount Records subsidiary, Boom Records. This lineup resumed using the name "The Angels" and released a handful of singles on RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. Former Starlet Bernadette Carroll was back in the group and became the new lead. They appeared on "The Dean Martin Show
The Dean Martin Show
The Dean Martin Show is a TV variety-comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974 for 264 episodes. It was broadcast by NBC and hosted by crooner Dean Martin...
" before disbanding in 1968. Santiglia and Phyllis and Barbara Allbut regrouped in the early 1970s and released a new single on Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
.
Phyllis Allbut and Santiglia still perform as The Angels, joined occasionally by Barbara Allbut.
Members
- Barbara Allbut Brown (born September 24, 1940, in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New JerseyThe City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
). - Phyllis Allbut Sirico (born September 24, 1942, in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New JerseyThe City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
). - Peggy Santiglia Davison (born May 4, 1944, in Belleville, New JerseyBelleville, New JerseyBelleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
)
Albums
- ...And The Angels Sing (1962)
- My Boyfriend's BackMy Boyfriend's Back (album)My Boyfriend's Back is the second album issued by American girl group The Angels in 1963. It was heavily weighted upon the success of the title track "My Boyfriend's Back" which was a number one hit; composed by the team of Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein , and Richard Gottehrer...
(1963) - A Halo to You (1964)
- Love, The Angels (2008)
Singles
Starlets- "P.S. I Love You" / "Where Is My Love Tonight" (1960) Astro 202 - U.S. #106
- "Romeo And Juliet" / "Listen For A Lonely Tambourine" (1960) Astro 204
Angels
- "Til"Till (song)"Till" is a popular song with music by Charles Danvers and English lyrics by Carl Sigman, released in January 1957 by Percy Faith. It was derived from the French song "Prière Sans Espoir", released in 1956 by Lucien Lupi on the EP L'Amour Viendra with original French lyrics written by Pierre Benoit...
/ "Moment Ago" (1961) Caprice 107 - U.S. #14 - "Cry Baby Cry" / "That's All I Ask Of You" (1962) Caprice 112 - U.S. #38
- "Everybody Loves A Lover" / "Blow, Joe" (1962) Caprice 116 - U.S. #103
- "I'd Be Good For You" / "You Should Have Told Me" (1962) Caprice 118
- "A Moment Ago" / "Cotton Fields" (1962) Caprice 121
- "Cotton Fields" / "Irresistible" (1963) Ascot 2139 - U.S. #119
- "My Boyfriend's Back"My Boyfriend's Back (song)"My Boyfriend's Back" was a hit song in 1963 for The Angels, an American girl group. It was written by the songwriting team of Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer . The recording was originally intended as a demo for The Shirelles, but ended up being released as recorded...
/ "(Love Me) Now" (1963) Smash 1834 - U.S. #1 - "I Adore Him" / "Thank You And Goodnight" (1963) Smash 1854 - U.S. #25 and #84 (B side)
- "Wow Wow Wee (He's The Boy For Me)" / "Snowflakes And Teardrops" (1964) Smash 1870 - U.S. #41
- "Little Beatle Boy" / "Java" (1964) Smash 1885
- "Dream Boy" / "Jamaica Joe" (1964) Smash 1915
- "The Boy From 'Cross Town" / "A World Without Love" (1964) Smash 1931
- "What To Do" / "I Had A Dream I Lost You" (1967) RCA 9129
- "You'll Never Get To Heaven" / "Go Out And Play" (1967) RCA 9246
- "You're The Cause Of It" / "With Love" (1967) RCA 9404
- "The Modley" / "If I Didn't Love You" (1968) RCA 9541
- "The Boy With The Green Eyes" / "But For Love" (1968) RCA 9612
- "Merry Go Round" / "So Nice" (1968) RCA 9681
- "Papa's Side Of The Bed" / "You're All I Need To Get By" (1974) Polydor 14222