The Sapphires were a trio consisting of Carol Jackson, George Garner,
and Joe Livingston, although Kenny Gamble was also closely associated with the group very
early in its history, arranging the vocals on their first album.
In 1963, a young producer named Jerry Ross discovered a group known as the Sapphires
featuring lead vocalist Carol Jackson, and back-up singers Joe Livingston and George
Garner. The guys and girl had a unique soul sound which Ross hypothesized would be very
commercial, and he soon had them signed to Swan Records.
"Where Is Johnny Now" b/w "Your True Love" was co-written by Carol,
and released in mid-1963. Although the single didn’t put the group on the map, it did
establish their sound, and made way for their first big hit. "Who Do You Love," a light
playful number bounced up the charts to land at number 25 at the beginning of 1964. The
song was a little gem written especially for the group by one young Kenny Gamble, who would find his
own success in the 1970s with his Philadelphia International label.
By the time the follow-up single, "I Found Out Too Late" was written, recorded,
and released, the Beatles had invaded North America and the girl group sound had some
competition on its hands. The song, very similar to "Who Do You Love" failed to
make significant gains in the market, but not for lack of beauty. Another girl group, the
Swans, was called in to do back-up on this and further Sapphires’ songs.
Interestingly, on many Sapphires’ records, the two male singers are often not even
heard. Perhaps a better name for Carol and the girls could have been Sapphire and the
Swans.
A belated album entitled Who Do You Love soon made its way onto
record shelves. It featured the six sides which had been used for single release and an
additional six songs from another session. "Gotta Be More Than Friends" and its
B-side also came from this LP and they were the last Sapphires’ tunes to be issued on
Swan.
ABC-Paramount signed an agreement with Ross to record the Sapphires on their label. The
Swans were believed to be left behind at this point, and new back-up singers Valerie
Simpson, Melba Moore, and Nick Ashford added a Motownish flavor to the groups record.
"Let’s Break Up For A While" was a haunting balled much in the style of 50s
doo-wop, while a further release, "Thank You For Loving Me" continued the
Sapphires’ slide from the charts.
Carol and company, however, soon found themselves back on track with a number 77 pop hit
and also a number 33 R&B smash with "Gotta Have Your Love." The song had an
excellent soul shouter, "Evil One" as its follow-up, but it’s wild
production didn’t translate into record sales.
"Gonna Be A Big Thing" was later recorded by another Ross girl group called the
Yum Yums, but the Sapphires sang it to much of the same effect. By the end of 1965 this
tune hadn’t found any openings into the pop market.
The Sapphires last single, the go-go dance sensation "Slow Fizz" was arguably on
of the best girl group dance records ever recorded. Written by Whyte Boots members Pam
Sawyer and Lori Burton, the backing track also turned up as another song called "Baby
You’ve Got Me" on a 1994 compilation of the group’s best hits. The remnants
of the Sapphires were gone by the end of 1966.
