Dealin' (Groovin With The Feelin')
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Album Summary
By 1969, The Flamingos were living legends of American vocal harmony, and 'Dealin' (Groovin' With The Feelin')' finds them moving with the times, leaning into the soul and funk currents that were reshaping Black popular music at the end of that decade. Released on Polydor Records, this single-heavy project captures the group stretching into a groovier, more rhythmically charged sound than the doo-wop and romantic ballads that had made their name in the 1950s. The production reflects the era's desire to keep classic acts relevant on the dance floor, wrapping the Flamingos' silky vocal tradition in a contemporary soul arrangement that felt right at home on the radio dial.
Reception
- The record was aimed squarely at the soul and R&B market, though it did not achieve the mainstream crossover attention of the group's earlier landmark recordings.
- Within R&B circles, the Flamingos' ability to adapt their sound was noted with respect, as the title track demonstrated the group still had the chops and charisma to move a crowd.
- The release was modest in commercial scale, consistent with the experience of many veteran vocal groups navigating the shifting landscape of late-1960s popular music.
Significance
- This recording stands as a testament to The Flamingos' resilience and willingness to evolve, showing a legendary doo-wop vocal group embracing the funk and soul sensibility that defined Black music at the close of the 1960s.
- The instrumental counterpart, 'Dealin' All The Way (Instr.),' reflects a common and culturally important practice of the era — releasing stripped-down groove versions that gave DJs and dancers a pure rhythmic experience, bridging the worlds of soul and early funk.
- For a group whose roots stretched back to the early 1950s Chicago vocal scene, this release represents a remarkable arc of artistic longevity and cultural adaptability across two distinct musical generations.
Tracklist
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A Dealin' (Groovin' With The Feelin') —
2:58
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B Dealin' All The Way (Instr.) —
3:00
Artist Details
The Flamingos were a silky smooth doo-wop vocal group who rose out of Chicago in the early 1950s, blending gospel roots with lush harmonies so heavenly they could make a grown man weep right there on the dance floor. Their 1959 recording of I Only Have Eyes for You stands as one of the most hauntingly beautiful moments in all of American popular music, a dreamlike masterpiece that showcased their ability to transform a standard into something otherworldly and eternal. Their influence stretched far beyond the doo-wop era, touching soul, R&B, and pop for decades to come, earning them a rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and cementing their legacy as true architects of vocal group harmony.
