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The Mirettes

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The Mirettes
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresSoul, R&B
Occupationgirl group
Years active1966–1971
Labels
Past membersRobbie Montgomery
Venetta Fields
Jessie Smith
Pat Powdrill

The Mirettes were a female vocal trio composed of former members of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.[1]

History

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Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields and Jessie Smith were the first official incarnation of the Ikettes, a backing trio for Ike & Tina Turner.[1] In 1965, the Ikettes had a top 40 pop hit with "Peaches 'N' Cream" and a top 20 R&B hit with "I'm So Thankful" on Modern Records.[2] As their popularity grew, Ike Turner sent a different set of Ikettes on the road with "The Dick Clark Caravan of Stars" and kept Montgomery, Smith, and Fields on tour with his revue which caused much annoyance to the trio. They also were not receiving the extra money from their hits, so they left the revue in late 1965.[1]

After trying unsuccessfully to continue using the name the Ikettes under management of Tina Turner's sister, Alline Bullock, they signed to Mirwood Records and changed their name to the Mirettes in 1966.[3][1] After their two singles on the label did not chart, they signed to Revue Records where they had some success. Their first single, "In the Midnight Hour" reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 18 on the R&B chart.[4][5] Their next two singles made little impression, as did a single on Minit Records in 1968 entitled "Help Wanted." In June 1968, they performed at the Soul-In show held by the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA).[6]

A transfer to Uni Records in 1969 was more fruitful for them, but the songs were not big hits.[7] That same year they sang on The Lost Man soundtrack produced by Quincy Jones.[8] In 1970, they signed to the independent label, Zea Records, and released "Ain't My Stuff Good Enough".[9][10] Venetta Fields left the group and was replaced by former Ikette Pat Powdrill before they broke up in 1971.[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details
In The Midnight Hour Released: 1968

Label: Revue Records

Catalog Number: RS – 7205

Whirlpool Released: 1969

Label: Uni Records

Catalog Number: 73062

Vocal credits

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Other appearances

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  • 1970: A Little Shot Of Rhythm & Blues (Rhapsody Records)
  • 2006: The Mirwood Soul Story Volume 2 (Kent dance)
  • 2010: Northern Soul Of Revue (Soul World)
  • 2016: Quincy Jones – The Cinema Of Quincy Jones (Decca Records)
  • 2017: Mirwood Northern Soul (Kent Dance)

Singles

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Single (A-side, B-side) Release date Label & Cat # Peak chart
position 		Album
US Hot
100
[2] 		US
R&B
[2]
"He's All Right With Me"

b/w "Your Kind Ain't No Good"

Apr 1966 Mirwood – 5514 — — Non-album tracks
"Now That I Found You, Baby"

b/w "He's All Right With Me"

Mar 1967[12] Mirwood – 5531 — —
"In The Midnight Hour"

b/w "To Love Somebody"

Nov 1967 Revue – 11004 45 18 In The Midnight Hour
"Help Wanted"

b/w "John's Big Chance" by Huggy's Ork

May 1968[13] Minit – 32045 — — Non-album track
"The Real Thing"

b/w "Take Me For A Little While"

May 1968[14] Revue – 11017 — — In The Midnight Hour
"I'm A Whole New Thing"

b/w "First Love"

Nov 1968[15] Revue – 11029 — —
"Stand By Your Man"

b/w "If Everybody'd Help Somebody"

Feb 1969 Uni – 55110 — — Whirlpool
"Heart Full Of Gladness"

b/w "Ain't You Trying To Cross Over"

Apr 1969 Uni – 55126 — —
"Whirlpool"

b/w "Ain't You Trying To Cross Over"

Jul 1969 Uni – 55147 — —
"Sweet Soul Sister"

b/w "Rap, Run It Down"

Sep 1969 Uni – 55161 — — The Lost Man
"Ain't My Stuff Good Enough"

b/w "The Time And The Season"

1970 Zea – ZEA 50002 — — Non-album tracks
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Jeannette, Cooperman (February 26, 2010). "A Conversation With Robbie Montgomery". St. Louis Mag.
  2. ^ a b c "The Mirettes Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF, US & UK hits charts.
  3. ^ "From Music Capitals of the World: Los Angeles" (PDF). Billboard. April 16, 1966. p. 34.
  4. ^ "Billboard Best Selling R&B Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 16, 1968. p. 38.
  5. ^ "Billboard Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. March 23, 1968. p. 74.
  6. ^ "From Music Capitals of the World: Chicago" (PDF). Billboard. July 13, 1968. p. 73.
  7. ^ "Uni, Revue Roster Sparkles" (PDF). Record World: 104. August 16, 1969.
  8. ^ Spencer, Kristopher (2014-01-10). Film and Television Scores, 1950-1979: A Critical Survey by Genre. McFarland. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7864-5228-6.
  9. ^ "Roulette, Wilson Indie Label" (PDF). Billboard. June 27, 1970. p. 4.
  10. ^ Ochs, Ed (November 7, 1970). "Soul Sauce" (PDF). Billboard. p. 31.
  11. ^ Nevill, Brain. "Looking for Pat Powdrill". Spectropop.
  12. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 4, 1967. p. 14.
  13. ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 22. June 1, 1968.
  14. ^ "Top 60 Pop Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. June 8, 1968. p. 78.
  15. ^ "Special Merit Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. November 16, 1968. p. 74.
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