He/Him
Marginally missing the top 20 is:
#21
The Exciters – Tell Him
Average Score: 7.678
Highest Score: 10 x 4 (@Filippa, @ohnostalgia, @unnameable, @DJHazey)
Lowest Score: 4 x 2 (@Zar-Unity, @GhettoPrincess)
And a very controversial number leaves us just before the top 20! This sweet seamless song has indeed caused me some grief due to the fact there was a male in The Exciters mix, so they were not technically a girl group at the time of Tell Him’s release! Controversy galore! Fortunately I wasn’t the only one fooled as Billboard did rank Tell Him among the greatest girl groups songs of all time at #95. Thankfully also, there are also minimal male vocals here, so it’s not a total cheat having them on the list!
Let’s start by just pointing out the obvious – Tell Him is an absolute classic! Whether you became familiar with it through knowing it at the time of release, through All McBeal or discovering it in this rate – there is something magical, constant and classic about Tell Him. The instrumental and intense repetition really takes you into the inner turmoil of the protagonist and their struggle to confess. Originally written as Tell Her by Bert Berns, it became the classic it is in the Exciters’ hands as Tell Him. The track would be released a few times as Tell Her, two notable versions in 1966 by Dean Parrish, and by Kenny Loggins in 1989 – neither being as iconic or timeless as the Exciters’ version.
Tell Him was actually quite a constant and consistent top 30 entry during the rate’s voting period, eventually breaking into the top 20 until the last couple of voters caused it to drop a few spots for this finish. Looking at it in the context of the remaining 60s entries we’ve got, I can understand it leaving now as the other four 60s cuts have some extra oomph to them (though I would personally have gotten rid of another first). As discussed, Tell Him is a classic for all the right reasons, it was quite successful when released too, making it to #4 on the US charts and the top 5 in Australia. Much like the Go-Go’s this struggled in the UK, only reaching #46 and another version by Billie Davis reaching the top 10 instead. France stanned hard and took it to #1 (with Claude Francois doing a French version of the track later on too).
A piece of trivia you may not know is that legend Dusty Springfield was inspired to embark on a solo career with a Pop/Soul sound due to hearing Tell Him on a late night walk in New York City, singling out the opening line ‘I know something about love’ and its delivery as her influential highlight. Now, going back a bit to that controversial male in the band – The Exciters did start out as a girl with founding members Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson, Lillian Walker and Sylvia Wilbur coming together in high school as the Masterettes, a sister group to the Masters. Their first release was Follow The Leader. With a line-up change, they auditioned for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stroller for a recording contract. When Penny Carter (replacement for Sylvia Wilbur) left she was replaced by Herb Rooney (our mystery male), explaining the confusion over their legacy a bit. This was where their name changed to The Exciters. Jason Ankeny credits Tell Him boasting ‘an intensity that signified a sea change in the presentation and perception of feminist in popular music, paving the way for such tough sexy acts as the Shangri-Las and the Ronettes.’
What did PopJustice have to say?
Zar-Unity (4) has nice comments for the acidic score - Well performed, very entergetic pop! Though not my style. Tech: 3 Taste: 1 = 4 points. Kermit_The_Frog (9) has Julia Roberts on the mind - Forever associated with My Best Friend’s Wedding (but not spoiled by that). Giddy, manic and lots of fun. ComeOnGloria (8.7) is all about Danny Crane - First heard this through Ally McBeal and Vonda Shepherd's album. Saviodxl (4.5) must be ready to go at a moment’s notice - They excite me, but not much
Spillett (8.5) shows you how many versions are around too! - (Think the first time I heard this was the Caroline Quentin/Lesley Ash version LMAO. Filippa (10) sees the light - This was the original? Know the song from Ally McBeal and always loved it. But this version is wonderful! Trouble In Paradise (9) have only nice things to say - I adore the chorus of this song and think it’s pop genius. It’s such a perfect little ear worm and it’s such a sweet sentiment.
Empty Shoebox (6) clocks the lead and the inspiration - Solid vocal performance from the lead here (Brenda?). Obviously I'm going to rate this higher than other similar songs because apparently it inspired Dusty Springfield to have a solo career, and I love Dusty Springfield. Londonrain (7.5) is also all over William Shatner as Calista was not available - A classic. I confess I only heard this for the first time when it was prominently featured in Ally McBeal, but the original stands up so well in 2018 (barring the “women were created to make love their destiny” bit). Some of the ad libs, though... yikes.
Baby Clyde (9) goes into her rants that make me love her - (Not a girl group???) DominoDancing (8) points out the technique that makes Tell Him a standout - For once a song that breaks away from the standard chord progressions at least a bit - the verses and the glockenspiel in the intro turn it into a bit of a stand out. Iheartpoptarts (5) was marking using the link provided, excellent! - This one always bordered on annoying for me, so let me not be swayed by the cute zoo animals.
Ufint (8) shows that Ally McBeal truly wins the reference battle - Oh, this brings back memories of Ally McBeal! Unnameable (10) is taken – this has such an infectious beat. DJHazey (10) has lots to love - The doo-wop backing vocals of the prechorus is a big yaaas. Also, the verses have always had this, well it's hard to place a finger on it, but they give me this contemplative feeling, almost a meditative state of "you tell me about love" and I'll just listen. The words aren't asked of you, they are delivered to you without hesitation.
Let’s start by just pointing out the obvious – Tell Him is an absolute classic! Whether you became familiar with it through knowing it at the time of release, through All McBeal or discovering it in this rate – there is something magical, constant and classic about Tell Him. The instrumental and intense repetition really takes you into the inner turmoil of the protagonist and their struggle to confess. Originally written as Tell Her by Bert Berns, it became the classic it is in the Exciters’ hands as Tell Him. The track would be released a few times as Tell Her, two notable versions in 1966 by Dean Parrish, and by Kenny Loggins in 1989 – neither being as iconic or timeless as the Exciters’ version.
Tell Him was actually quite a constant and consistent top 30 entry during the rate’s voting period, eventually breaking into the top 20 until the last couple of voters caused it to drop a few spots for this finish. Looking at it in the context of the remaining 60s entries we’ve got, I can understand it leaving now as the other four 60s cuts have some extra oomph to them (though I would personally have gotten rid of another first). As discussed, Tell Him is a classic for all the right reasons, it was quite successful when released too, making it to #4 on the US charts and the top 5 in Australia. Much like the Go-Go’s this struggled in the UK, only reaching #46 and another version by Billie Davis reaching the top 10 instead. France stanned hard and took it to #1 (with Claude Francois doing a French version of the track later on too).
A piece of trivia you may not know is that legend Dusty Springfield was inspired to embark on a solo career with a Pop/Soul sound due to hearing Tell Him on a late night walk in New York City, singling out the opening line ‘I know something about love’ and its delivery as her influential highlight. Now, going back a bit to that controversial male in the band – The Exciters did start out as a girl with founding members Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson, Lillian Walker and Sylvia Wilbur coming together in high school as the Masterettes, a sister group to the Masters. Their first release was Follow The Leader. With a line-up change, they auditioned for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stroller for a recording contract. When Penny Carter (replacement for Sylvia Wilbur) left she was replaced by Herb Rooney (our mystery male), explaining the confusion over their legacy a bit. This was where their name changed to The Exciters. Jason Ankeny credits Tell Him boasting ‘an intensity that signified a sea change in the presentation and perception of feminist in popular music, paving the way for such tough sexy acts as the Shangri-Las and the Ronettes.’
What did PopJustice have to say?
Zar-Unity (4) has nice comments for the acidic score - Well performed, very entergetic pop! Though not my style. Tech: 3 Taste: 1 = 4 points. Kermit_The_Frog (9) has Julia Roberts on the mind - Forever associated with My Best Friend’s Wedding (but not spoiled by that). Giddy, manic and lots of fun. ComeOnGloria (8.7) is all about Danny Crane - First heard this through Ally McBeal and Vonda Shepherd's album. Saviodxl (4.5) must be ready to go at a moment’s notice - They excite me, but not much
Spillett (8.5) shows you how many versions are around too! - (Think the first time I heard this was the Caroline Quentin/Lesley Ash version LMAO. Filippa (10) sees the light - This was the original? Know the song from Ally McBeal and always loved it. But this version is wonderful! Trouble In Paradise (9) have only nice things to say - I adore the chorus of this song and think it’s pop genius. It’s such a perfect little ear worm and it’s such a sweet sentiment.
Empty Shoebox (6) clocks the lead and the inspiration - Solid vocal performance from the lead here (Brenda?). Obviously I'm going to rate this higher than other similar songs because apparently it inspired Dusty Springfield to have a solo career, and I love Dusty Springfield. Londonrain (7.5) is also all over William Shatner as Calista was not available - A classic. I confess I only heard this for the first time when it was prominently featured in Ally McBeal, but the original stands up so well in 2018 (barring the “women were created to make love their destiny” bit). Some of the ad libs, though... yikes.
Baby Clyde (9) goes into her rants that make me love her - (Not a girl group???) DominoDancing (8) points out the technique that makes Tell Him a standout - For once a song that breaks away from the standard chord progressions at least a bit - the verses and the glockenspiel in the intro turn it into a bit of a stand out. Iheartpoptarts (5) was marking using the link provided, excellent! - This one always bordered on annoying for me, so let me not be swayed by the cute zoo animals.
Ufint (8) shows that Ally McBeal truly wins the reference battle - Oh, this brings back memories of Ally McBeal! Unnameable (10) is taken – this has such an infectious beat. DJHazey (10) has lots to love - The doo-wop backing vocals of the prechorus is a big yaaas. Also, the verses have always had this, well it's hard to place a finger on it, but they give me this contemplative feeling, almost a meditative state of "you tell me about love" and I'll just listen. The words aren't asked of you, they are delivered to you without hesitation.
