The Moments: The Unsung Soul Singers

Hello all! It's been along time, but I have a new writing gig for the Examiner.com. By day - Educational Technology Specialist, but by night - ohhh that sweet, beautiful night - Creative Maven. Today, I am talking a about a music groups whose melodic crooning is so delicious that they are a feast for the ears! This group isssssss The Moments! Yes, that's right the moments. Their voices are hauntingly beautiful and the tracks upon which they are laid are far ahead of their time. I chose to write about them because, aside from being one of my most favorite vocal groups, I feel that they never get enough recognition.

The Moments is a group who has many had evolutions. Founding members of The Moments are Eric Olfus, John Morgan, Mark Greene and Richard Gross. After the groups first hit record, "Not on the Outside." After, they charted with such hit as "Love on Two-Way Street," and "My Confession of Love, which featured legendary DJ Frankie Crocker. In my opinion, "Love on a Two-Way Street" is one the most beautiful songs ever recorded by a man or woman. William "Billy" Brown's voice is chilling. It's beyond falsetto, because it's more pure.

After having had members come and go, the group finally developed it's most well-known ensemble with members William "Billy" Brown, Al Goodman, and Harry Ray. With this line up, the group created it's most successful hits included but aren't limited to:

If I Didn't Care
Sexy Mama
Look At Me, I'm in Love
Girls (part 1)
What's Your Name?
Making Love


Having been on the Stang Label, the group came to an impasse with owner Sylvia Robinson. Seeking more creative freedom, the group left Stang records to sign with Polydor records. As a result of Stang owning the group's name, The Moments, the group renamed itself Ray, Goodman, and Brown. They achieved some of their biggest hit ( and my favorite songs) as Ray, Goodman, and Brown including but not limited to:

Special Lady
Happy Anniversary
Inside of You
Where did you get that body baby?
Stay

Special Lady is a fun and catchy tune. Their harmonies were in such perfect sync that if they have combine to become one ultra male vocalist. The jam of all of jams is "Where Did You Get That Body?" I was in second grade when this single was released and it sound as good now as it did back then. Since, I am now an adult, I have an even deeper appreciation for their very masculine, mature voices. A close second to "Where did you get that body?" is "Girls (part 1)." In fact, it is a tie between the two. While being a disco song, "Girls (part 1)" clearly possesses strong overtones of what was to come on the 80's funk and R&B scene.

This group was and still is phenomenal. If you want to know more about The Moments and Ray, Goodman, and Brown; you gotta check out Ray, Goodman, & Brown. Now, see them in action!

Ray, Goodman, & Brown - Girls (part 1)


Ray, Goodman, & Brown - Special Lady (1980)


Ray, Goodman, & Brown - Special Lady (2008 performance)