The Lewis Sisters


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Sisters Helen and Kay Lewis had cut a slew of niche and novelty records with a classical bent, but they came to Motown’s West Coast office in Los Angeles as songwriters and backing vocalists, rather than artists in their own right. The siblings' first song was published and recorded in 1952 and they previously recorded on Liberty, Verve, and World Pacific Records. LA producer Hal Davis liked the ladies’ voices a lot, and so they ended up with an artist contract too; billed, bafflingly, as The Singing School Teachers (even though neither of them were actually teachers), aka The Soul Teasers. Their 2 Motown singles failed to inspire much interest, despite the direct involvement of Motown president Berry Gordy Jr. and the rare privilege of seeing release in Europe. Thereafter, Helen and Kay stuck to songwriting, penning several excellent songs for more established Motown acts. The siblings wrote Just Walk In My Shoes for Gladys Knight & the Pips, Baby, Baby (not to be confused with Ooo, Baby Baby) for the Miracles, and Mr. Soul Brother for Blinky (aka Sandra Williams) which was unreleased but redone later by Christine Adams on Cyclone Records. Marvin Gaye's This Love Starved Heart Of Mine, released after his untimely demise and after the Sisters left Motown, became popular in Britain.

APPEARANCES +


Nancy Wilson
Can't Take My Eyes Off You / Now I'm A Woman
2013, CD, Comp, RM, SoulMusic Records, ,
Soul
Various
The Complete Motown Singles / Vol. 5: 1965
2006
Various
Stand By Me (Aids Day Benefit) – Live From Wembley
1987, VHS, ,
Europop
KTP*
Certain Things Are Likely
1986
Azymuth
Spectrum
1985, ,
Fusion/Jazz-Funk
Colina Phillips
Toronto Vocalist
1974, 7", EP, CBC Radio Canada Broadcast Recording, ,
Folk/Rhythm & Blues/Vocal/Soul
Eddie Harris & Les McCann
Second Movement
1971, ,
Soul-Jazz/Post Bop
Cleveland Heights High School Men's Chorus - Cleveland Heights High School Girls' Glee Club
We Believe In Music
1970, LP, Century Advent Recording
Les McCann With Roberta Flack
How Many Broken Wings / Baby, Baby
1970
Les McCann
Comment / What I Call Soul
1970
Les McCann
Comment
1970, Vinyl, ,
Soul-Jazz/Soul
Brenda Holloway
The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway
1968
Just Rita
Tomorrow's Another Day
1967, 7", Single, Mono, Promo, Barrington Recordings, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Pop Rock
Brenda Holloway
Hurt A Little Everyday / Where Were You
1966, Vinyl, ,
Soul/Ballad/Rhythm & Blues
Chris Clark
Do Right Baby Do Right
1965
Lightshine
He's The Light
LP, Light-Shine Productions
Teddy Washington & Sweet Happenings
Universal Prisoner
Various
Good Good Feeling! (More Motown Girls)
2021, CD, Comp, Ace, ,
Soul
Various
A Cellarful Of Motown! Volume 5
2020, 2xCD, Comp, Caroline Records, Caroline Records, ,
Soul
Various
Baby Iʼve Got It (More Motown Girls)
2018, CD, Comp, Ace
Various
Love & Affection (More Motown Girls)
2015, CD, Comp, Ace, ,
Soul
Various
Motown Unreleased 1965
2015, 28xFile, FLAC, Comp, 16-, Universal Music Group, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
The Sisters Anthology: A Celebration Of Four Decades Of Swinging Sisters
2011, 2xCD, Comp, Fantastic Voyage, ,
Swing/Vocal/Big Band
Various
A Complete Introduction To Northern Soul
2008, Box Set, 4x CD, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
The Ultimate Motown Collection: Girl Groups
2006, 3xCD, Comp, Reader's Digest
Various
(The Ultimate Motown Collection) The Sixties
2005, 3xCD, Comp, Reader's Digest, ,
Funk/Rhythm & Blues/Soul/Psychedelic
Various
A Cellarful Of Motown! (Volume 2)
2005, 2x CD Universal M & L, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Sound Of Detroit
2002, 3xCD, Comp, Digimode Entertainment Ltd.,
Various
Tamla Motown Big Hits & Hard To Find Classics (Volume Four)
2002
Various
A Cellarful Of Motown!
2002, 2x CD Universal M & L, ,
Soul
Various
Motorcity Dance Party
2001, 3xCD, Comp, Bestway Records
Various
Ladies Of Detroit Sound Vol. 1
1997, CD, Comp, Bar Records (2), ,
Soul
Various
The Best Of Motorcity, Vol. 14
1997, CD, Comp, Motorcity Records, ,
Disco
Various
The Best Of Motorcity, Vol. 11
1996, CD, Comp, Motorcity Records
Various
Motown's Leading Ladies
1995
Various
Motorcity Blue-Eyed Soul
1991, CD, Comp, Motorcity Records, ,
Disco
Various
Motorcity Love Songs
1990, CD, Comp, Motorcity Records
Various
Motorcity Footstompers
1990, CD, Comp, Motorcity Records, ,
Disco
Various
Blue Eyed Soul - Vol. 14
1990, CD, Comp, Down Town
Various
Hits That Jumped!
1959
Various
Soulful Reggae
Various
More Relative Soul
CDr, Comp, Unofficial, Red Onion Records (3)