"The Exciters"
(Members - Brenda Reid, Herbert Rooney (R.I.P), Carolyn "Carol" Johnson (R.I.P) and Lillian Walker)
Formed in the Jamaica district of Queens, New York City, this aptly named group, which included sole male Herb Rooney (Born New York City, New York, USA) alongside Brenda Reid, Carol Johnson and Lillian Walker, first came to prominence with the vibrant "Tell Him", a US Top 5 hit in 1962 (also a hit in the UK for Billie Davis in 1963). Produced by Leiber And Stoller and written by Bert Berns (under his pseudonym Bert Russell), the single's energy established the pattern for subsequent releases. "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (later a hit by Manfred Mann) and "He's Got The Power" took elements from both uptown soul and the all-female group genre, but later singles failed fully to exploit this powerful combination. The group had lesser hits with "I Want You To Be My Boy" (1965), a revival of "A Little Bit Of Soap" (1966) and "You Don't Know What You're Missing (Till It's Gone)" (1969), but failed to recapture the verve of those first releases. They re-entered the UK charts in 1975 with "Reaching For The Best". Ronnie Pace and Skip McPhee later replaced Johnson and Walker, while Rooney and Reid (his wife) had a minor 1978 hit as Brenda And Herb, releasing one album in 1979, In Heat Again.
In 1997, "Tell Him" was included on the soundtrack for the Julia Roberts/Cameron Diaz movie,
In 2009, "Tell Him" was included on the soundtrack for the film "Monsters vs. Aliens".
Group members Reid and Rooney are the parents of producer and label executive Mark C Rooney.
Discography:
Tell Him (United Artists 1963), The Exciters (Roulette 1965), Caviar And Chitlins (RCA Victor 1969), Black Beauty (Today 1971), Heaven Is Wherever You Are (20th Century 1976).
United Artists 544 - Tell Him */ Hard Way To Go - 1962 *Originally Recorded In 1962 On Capitol 4766 by Johnny Thunder as Gil Hamilton, song entitled "Tell Her".
United Artists 572 - He's Got The Power / Drama Of Love – 1963
United Artists 604 - Get Him / It's So Exciting – 1963
United Artists 662 - Do Wah Diddy Diddy* / If Love Came Your Way - 1963 *covered one year later by Manfred Mann on Ascot 2157.
United Artists 721 - We Were Lovers (When The Party Began)* / Having My Fun - 1964 *covered one year later by Sandra Barry on Parkway 943. Also covered in 1965 by Darin D'Anna on World Artists 1045.
United Artists 830 - We Were Lovers (When The Party Began) / Having My Fun – 1965
Roulette 4591 - I Want You To Be My Boy* / Tonight, Tonight - 1965 *originally recorded in 1956 by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - "I Want You To Be My Girl" on Gee 1012.
Roulette 4594 - Are You Satisfied / Just Not Ready – 1965
Roulette 4614 - My Father / Run Mascara – 1965
Roulette 4632 - There They Go / I Knew You Would – 1965
Bang 515 - A Little Bit Of Soap* / I'm Gonna Get Him Someday - 1966 *Originally Recorded in 1961 by The Jarmels on Laurie 3098.
Bang 518 - Weddings Make Me Cry / You Better Come Home* - 1966 *also recorded in 1962 by The Isley Brothers on Wand 127, also recorded in 1966 by The Headlyters on Wand 199.
Shout 205 - You Got Love / Number One – 1966
Shout 214 - You Know It Ain't Right / Soul Motion – 1967
RCA Victor 47-9633 - If You Want My Love / Take One Step (I'll Take Two) – 1968
RCA Victor 47-9723 - Blowing Up My Mind / You Don't Know What You're Missing ( 'Til It's Gone! ) – 1969
Elephant V Ltd-5 - Life, Love And Peace (Mono) / Life, Love And Peace (Stereo) – 1970
Today 1002 - Learning How To Fly / Life, Love And Peace – 1971
Today ? - Do What You Think Is Right / Don't It Just Make You Feel Good – 1971
Today ? - You Don't Know What You're Missing ( 'Til It's Gone! ) / ? – 1972
RCA Victor 48-1035 - Blowing Up My Mind / You Don't Know What Your Missing ( 'Til It's Gone! ) – 1972
Discography:
Tell Him (United Artists 1963), The Exciters (Roulette 1965), Caviar And Chitlins (RCA Victor 1969), Black Beauty (Today 1971), Heaven Is Wherever You Are (20th Century 1976).
United Artists 544 - Tell Him */ Hard Way To Go - 1962 *Originally Recorded In 1962 On Capitol 4766 by Johnny Thunder as Gil Hamilton, song entitled "Tell Her".
United Artists 572 - He's Got The Power / Drama Of Love – 1963
United Artists 604 - Get Him / It's So Exciting – 1963
United Artists 662 - Do Wah Diddy Diddy* / If Love Came Your Way - 1963 *covered one year later by Manfred Mann on Ascot 2157.
United Artists 721 - We Were Lovers (When The Party Began)* / Having My Fun - 1964 *covered one year later by Sandra Barry on Parkway 943. Also covered in 1965 by Darin D'Anna on World Artists 1045.
United Artists 830 - We Were Lovers (When The Party Began) / Having My Fun – 1965
Roulette 4591 - I Want You To Be My Boy* / Tonight, Tonight - 1965 *originally recorded in 1956 by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - "I Want You To Be My Girl" on Gee 1012.
Roulette 4594 - Are You Satisfied / Just Not Ready – 1965
Roulette 4614 - My Father / Run Mascara – 1965
Roulette 4632 - There They Go / I Knew You Would – 1965
Bang 515 - A Little Bit Of Soap* / I'm Gonna Get Him Someday - 1966 *Originally Recorded in 1961 by The Jarmels on Laurie 3098.
Bang 518 - Weddings Make Me Cry / You Better Come Home* - 1966 *also recorded in 1962 by The Isley Brothers on Wand 127, also recorded in 1966 by The Headlyters on Wand 199.
Shout 205 - You Got Love / Number One – 1966
Shout 214 - You Know It Ain't Right / Soul Motion – 1967
RCA Victor 47-9633 - If You Want My Love / Take One Step (I'll Take Two) – 1968
RCA Victor 47-9723 - Blowing Up My Mind / You Don't Know What You're Missing ( 'Til It's Gone! ) – 1969
Elephant V Ltd-5 - Life, Love And Peace (Mono) / Life, Love And Peace (Stereo) – 1970
Today 1002 - Learning How To Fly / Life, Love And Peace – 1971
Today ? - Do What You Think Is Right / Don't It Just Make You Feel Good – 1971
Today ? - You Don't Know What You're Missing ( 'Til It's Gone! ) / ? – 1972
RCA Victor 48-1035 - Blowing Up My Mind / You Don't Know What Your Missing ( 'Til It's Gone! ) – 1972
