![]() In 1975, the group's costuming and style changed, becoming even more unusual and Funkadelic-influenced. "Help Yourself" became their second top-20 R&B hit, peaking at number 19, and reached number 63 on the Hot 100, the highest position attained by any The Undisputed Truth record for Motown besides their hit "Smiling Faces Sometimes". This new group scored several minor hits of their own, such as "Help Yourself" and "I'm a Fool for You" (both 1974). Vee McDonald is also the niece of Miracles member Warren "Pete" Moore. The latter four were all members of The Magic Tones, a Detroit soul group with similarities to George Clinton's pre- Funkadelic Parliament. Norman Whitfield subsequently took the opportunity to expand the group, and Joe Harris was joined by Virginia "Vee" McDonald, Tyrone "Big Ty" Douglas, Tyrone "Lil Ty" Barkley, and Calvin "Dhaak" Stephenson. She was briefly replaced by singer Diane Evans, but both Billie Calvin and she then left. In 1973, nevertheless, dissatisfied with the lack of major success, Brenda Evans left. ![]() They found some success with songs such as "What It Is" (1972) and " Law of the Land" (1973) becoming modest hits on the US R&B Chart. Īlthough they could never recreate the success of "Smiling Faces", they continued to make chart appearances throughout the early 1970s. Their single top-40 hit in the United States was the ominous " Smiling Faces Sometimes", originally recorded by The Temptations, which hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1971. A number of their singles became minor hits, and many of them were also songs for Whitfield's main act, the Temptations, among them 1971's "You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth" and " Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". The group's music and unusual costuming (large Afros and white makeup) typified the then-popular trend of " psychedelic soul", which Whitfield had inaugurated. In 1970, Motown producer Norman Whitfield – partly as a response to criticism from Temptations fans that he was using the group as his personal plaything – put together Joe Harris, Billie Calvin, and Brenda Evans to create his own recording act, The Undisputed Truth. Harris also became a member of the Ohio Untouchables (later the Ohio Players). Formed in 1962, the group was renowned for their energetic stage performances, and they cut a handful of singles for various different labels before their dissolution in 1968. Joe Harris had been part of a Detroit soul group called The Fabulous Peps. ![]() They sang backing on the hits " Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for Diana Ross and " Still Water (Love)" for the Four Tops. They were introduced to Motown by singer Bobby Taylor, so when The Delicates broke up in 1970, the two began providing background vocals for artists around Motown. In the 1960s, Billie Calvin and Brenda Evans had been part of a Los Angeles-based group called The Delicates. Joe "Pep" Harris served as main lead singer, with Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Joyce Evans on additional leads and background vocals. The Undisputed Truth was an American Motown recording act, assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield as a means for being able to experiment with his psychedelic soul production techniques.
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