Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Under The Covers

"Betcha By Golly Wow" written by Linda Creed and producer/songwriter Thom Bell, was first recorded in 1970 by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and featured on The Best of Freddie Hubbard. Creed and Bell composed many other Philly soul classics, including "You Are Everything," "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)," "Ghetto Child," and "The Rubberband Man." Intelligent lyrics, superb arrangements, lush production and the falsetto of lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr turned "Betcha By Golly Wow" into a hit for The Stylistics. Recorded for their debut album, The Stylistics, "Betcha By Golly Wow" became a #2 R&B hit and reached #3 on the Pop charts. Six years later Phyllis Hyman wrapped her bittersweet romantic vocals around the Creed/Bell composition and created a brilliant slowed down remake. Hyman's version is featured on the Norman Conners album, You Are My Starship. Not as popular as The Stylistics' version, "Betcha By Golly Wow" is considered to be one of Hyman's finest recordings.


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