Girl Group Chronicles: The Orlons

Audrey and the Teenetts started out like most girl groups. A bunch of gals forming a little group, singing together at parties and dances. But unlike hundreds of other gals trying to make the big-time, the group, soon to be transformed into the Orlons would become one of the biggest dance acts of the 60s!

Audrey, Shirley, and Jean Brickley, Marlena Davis, and Rosetta Hightower were friends who started to harmonize together during the early fifties. The girls gained a favourable reputation around Philadelphia and they planned to start touring, but Audrey was too young, and she and Jean quit in protest. The remaining trio continued performing into highschool where they met Stephen Caldwell of the male doo-wop group the Romeos. He was so enthralled with the gals vocal talents he left his group to join them.

The popular group at their highschool at the time were the Cashmeres, and the unnamed group chose the name the Orlons as a tribute to their friendly rivals. Despite obvious rivalries the two groups became close friends, and Len Barry ("1-2-3") of the Dovells had the Orlons audition for their record label, Cameo Records. Famous for the best dance records at the time, including Chubby Checker’s "The Twist," and "Let’s Twist Again," and the Dovells own "Bristol Stomp," it was odd that their first single would be a slow ballad. "I’ll Be True," b/w "Heart Darling Angel" was given glowing reviews, but made little impact on the record-buying public. "Happy Birthday Twenty-One," also failed to dent the Top 100.

Having no solo success, the group was sent to provide back-up vocals for other artists. Finally they had a chance to record a dance song, "Mashed Potato Time." The results were astonishing. Number 2 on the Pop charts and Number One on the R&B; charts! The only problem, the Orlons were not given credit. Dee Dee Sharp who sang lead was given solo billing despite a great backing line. C’est la vie!

Happy with the results of Dee Dee’s new success, the group was offered "The Wah Watusi," a new dance craze to follow up the Mashed Potato. The plan worked, and soon the Philly Phillies (and phil) had the number two record in the country! At the same time the group had a second record in the Top 10, Sharp’s "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)," although the label still only gave Dee Dee credit.

A great piece of girl doo-wop followed. The thrilling "Don’t Hang Up," exploited the male-female aspect of the group with Steve helping the girls with his low baritone responses. The song became the group’s fourth Top Ten hit, when it climbed to number 4 on the pop charts. It managed to hit the Top 3 on the R&B; chart.

Now touring extensively to promote their records, while on the road "South Street," hit number 3 in 1963. "Not Me," stopped the groups Top 5 hit streak peaking at a respectable number 12. "Crossfire," managed to make number 19, the gals and guy’s last Top 20 hit in 1963.

Several classic recordings followed put only placed in the mid sixties range on the Hot One Hundred. "Shimmy Shimmy," and "Rules Of Love," both hit number 66, while the group’s most clever recording to date, "Knock Knock," featuring Steve with desperate pleas to be let into the girls' party, faired slightly better at number 64. It would become their last chart record.

"Goin’ Places," "Envy," and "I Can’t Take It," were released by Cameo as follow-ups, but by the time these records were released, the dance craze era was over, and the group was looking elsewhere to salvage their career. A stop at Calla, "Spinning Top," b/w "Anyone Who Had A Heart," had some air play, but no real push. ABC records carried the Orlons’ last two singles, "Everything," and "Kissin’ Time," in 1967, but the story was the same.

Although the group no longer owned the charts, they continued to be a popular road act, especially when the early seventies oldies revival shows became popular. Rosetta moved to England and the group broke up. Sadly, over the years all original women passed away, leaving only Stephen to carry on the tradition of the Orlons.

1