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The Chiffons - Sweet Talkin' Guy

Uploaded by: JBauder1948
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In 1960, the Chiffons formed at James Monroe High School in the Bronx, New York. The lead singer was 14 year old Judy Craig (born August 6,1946), and she sang along with Patricia Bennett (born April 7, 1947) and Barbara Lee (born February 6, 1944). It was at the after school center that they met writer/manager/entrepreneur Ronnie Mack. Mack's claim to fame at that time was as a local Philadelphia hit by Little Jimmy and the Tops called "Puppy Love." Though partial to his own songs, Mack got wind of a new Luther Dixon-Shirley Owens composition in the summer of 1960. Owens was lead singer of the Shirelles, so it was only nature that they record the song "Tonight's the Night." Mack decided to have the unknown Chiffons cover "Tonight's the Night" and to fight it out on the charts with the more established Shirelles.
The girls than choose the name Chiffons out of the hat. Mack signed the trio to Big Deal Records. They then recorded "Tonight's the Night," and both versions hit the charts on September 12th. The Shirelles, having a stronger lead vocalist and fuller harmonies climbed to #39 while the Chiffons' first release managed to reach #76. It would be 2 1/2 years before the Chiffons would again make the national charts. During this time Mack talked them into taking on lead singer, Sylvia Peterson (born September 30, 1946) She too was a student at James Monroe High and had sung with Little Jimmy and the Tops.
In the fall of 1962, Mack took some songs to a new production team in New York City. The company Bright Tunes and the producers were Phil and Mitch Margo, Jay Siegel, and Hank Medress a.k.a. The Tokens. They liked one of the songs called "He's So Fine" and asked if he had a group to sing it. Fearing a negative response would end their interest he said that he had a terrific group. The Tokens said "Great. Bring them in tomorrow."
It was several months before the Chiffons were called in to record the single. The Tokens not only produced it, but played all the instruments too. Finally in December 1962, it was released on Laurie Records. By March 20th "He's So Fine" was the #1 record on both the Pop and R &B charts. The next single. "Lucky Me" was a flop. In order to not lose momentum, the Tokens immediately produced a third single "One Fine Day" which proved to have the same simple appeal as "He's So Fine." The Carole King-Gerry Goffin composition rocketed up the charts to #5 Pop and #6 R&B.
The Tokens then decided to create a dual personality for the group, so at the same time that: One Fine Day" was being released, they recorded the Chiffons on Laurie's Rust subsidiary as the Four Pennies. The Pennies' first single was "My Block" and it reached the charts three weeks after "One Fine Day. It was a cha-cha rhythmed song with a sound reminiscent of Phil Spector's productions. It only went #67 Pop. In September the Chiffons had their third Top 40 hit in four tries with "A Love So Fine." Back as the Four Pennies their September release of "When the Boy's Happy" reached #95 Pop in November.
The Chiffons were now in great demand and began appearing on TV's American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, Shindig, as well as Murray the K's Brooklyn Fox live show, and singing commercials for Great Shakes drinks.
In 1963, they joined Dion's rock and roll show at the Pittsburgh Civic Center that also featured the Shirelles, Freddy Cannon, Little Peggy March, the Impressions and Dione Warwick. In November, they were with James Brown at the Apollo theater in Harlem, New York.
In the fall of 1963 the Chiffons released "I Have a Boyfriend." considered to be their best recording. Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and the Tokens, the rhythm ballad was a Ronettes styled mix of the early '60s rhythm and blues and doo wop. It reached #36 on the Billboard's Best Seller list in November, but was gone ten weeks later.
After "One Fine Day," their sales dropped dramatically.
On February 11, 1964, the Chiffons were among the opening acts on the Beatles first U.S. concert at Washington Memorial Coliseum. In June, 1964 they opened for the Rolling Stones on their first U.S. tour.
Several strong Chiffons recordings followed ("Tonight I Met an Angel," "Sailor Boy," and "What Am I Gonna Do With You"), but the charts were now moving to the British sound. However, a good song is a good song, and in the spring of 1966 the Chiffons had a Top Ten Record in June with "Sweet Talkin' Guy."
In 1968 the Tokens moved the group from Laurie to its own label B.T Puppy for one single called "My Secret Love" which remained a secret to the public as it received little air play.
In 1969 Judy Craig called it quits. The groups had some additional but smaller successes after this.

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