The Elgins - Heaven Must Have Sent You video free download


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Duration: 03:49
Uploaded: 2007/04/06

When I managed to track down the Elgins to record for Motorcity, and get them to reunite again after so many years, the project I most wanted to do was to get them to re-record "Heaven Must Have Sent You", but in the style of Bonnie Pointer's wonderful disco classic of 1979. So this was the first project we did together. I always loved The Elgins. Along with The Velvelettes they were one of my favourite Motown groups. They were originally The Downbeats in 1962, with the three guys, Johnny Dawson, Norman McLean, and Duke Miller. They added a girl lead singer in 1965, Saundra Edwards, and recorded such classics as "Heaven Must Have Sent You" and "Put Yourself In My Place". In 1968 Saundra left and Yvonne Allen joined Motown and took over as lead singer. She recorded tons of stuff at Motown but they never released any more Elgins records. In 1972, "Heaven Must Have Sent You" was reissued in England and became a huge hit, and the group appeared at The Torch allnighter in Stoke On Trent, where I was DJing. I met all four of them, Yvonne, Johnny, Norman, and Duke. So then, seventeen years later, in 1989, I persuaded them to reform for my Motorcity project. Duke had died, so Johnny brought in Jimmy Charles, and together with Norman and Yvonne, The Elgins had a whole new lease of life. And now, in 2007, they're about to return to England for the first time in sixteen years, to appear at a big Northern Soul Weekender in Northampton. And long may they continue, always smart, sharp, and timeless.

Comments

9 years ago

Montery12

What's the name of the lead singer of this song?

9 years ago

Jacky Tew

Cannot beat motown just love it

9 years ago

Sharon D

This brought a huge smile thank you for keeping this great music going xxx

13 years ago

IanLevine

@EventsExtraordinair1 - I've already been in touch

13 years ago

Fee Fee EventsExtraordinaire

@IanLevine Hi Uncle John is doing just fine he is on facebook if you want to connect with him take care!

14 years ago

KathyS2008

Wild. I was just looking at the original. Not quite the same but the lead singer still has a great voice. I LOVED this when I was a kid! : )

14 years ago

vera2344

Well done

14 years ago

Wayne Brasler

Diana Ross recorded the song too (in a very early morning session at Motown before catching a flight out of town) and it's one of her best performances. She recorded "Just A Little Misunderstanding" at the same session, also fabulous. They finally surfaced on the Supremes' 25th Anniversary C.D.

14 years ago

Thomas Morton

They knew what was back then

14 years ago

Jim Porter

I agree about the choice of arrangements. But if you'll look at the dress, haircuts and letter fonts, you can see when this performance took place. Do you think ole Don Cornelius and the cynical American music audience would have set still for their original hit arrangement? I fear much good music is discarded because it is somehow perceived as being dated or not currently cool. Appreciate your comment about the old arrangement.

15 years ago

prunella goodrich

Funny that they would use the name...Elgens...after the Tempts discarded it

15 years ago

acceitunas

Perfecto Mondo.

15 years ago

starbabe58

well it is a good song

15 years ago

Leonard Goodwin

kool motown!!!

15 years ago

varietylover

5 stars... It's no surprise that so many big British singers raved about Motown and recorded tracks for their albums and performed the songs live on stage. Fabulous...music bridging Britain and U.S.A.

15 years ago

barriobajaj

It's interesting that they chose the Bonnie Pointer disco arrangement over the original that they sang and had a hit with. Living in So-Cal, I hear this song quite often on oldies stations. This song and Darling Baby are big favorites with Low Riders and lovers of Motown and classic soul.

15 years ago

soulsue

one of my fav motown tracks thanks for posting ian

15 years ago

hitsvillechalky

Just phoned Yvonne Allen who told me Johhny did have a heart attack after he had his surgery on his knee in the Hospital . Hopefullly Yvonne will reply on this page and asked me to reply before she will. At the end of the day it's such great news that Johhny is fit and well.

15 years ago

IanLevine

How very lovely to hear from you. Is Johnny okay ?? I heard he had a heart attack.

16 years ago

IanLevine

These are the proper Motown group who had all the hits.

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