Hey whats up? Just letting you all know that this is not yet an official RGB page. They didn't have one, so I made one as I consider myself their greatest fan ever and I'm determined to let the whole world know how great they are. My goal Im working on trying to get them to take it over so that we can all be informed of new tour dates or possible cd releases. Lets all keep our fingers crossed that they hear about their space and log on and contact me so I can hand it over to them. Mikey Spence( Suspence3000)
AI Goodman (b. 31st March 1947, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A.)
Harry Ray (b. 15th December 1946, Longbranch, New Jersey, U.S.A. d. 1st October 1992)
and William Brown (b. 30th June 1946, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.A).
Sweet soul ! Ahhhhhh....... The sound of it ! You know, some of that sweet soul sounds were coming right from the heart of Hackensack, NJ in the late 60's.
The sweet mellow sounds of .............The Moments !! The original line up of the Moments were, Mark Greene, Ritchie Horsey, and John Morgan. They were discovered by legendary singer / songwriter Ed Townsend in 1968. Sylvia & Joe Robinson who were married in 1964, formed their own record company in the summer of 1968 entitled, " All Platinum", located in Englewood, NJ. The first artist to be signed on the label was Leslie Valentine who recorded the company's first hit entitled, " I Won't Do Anything" released in August of 1968. Soon a few months later, Sylvia & Joe would form a subsidiary label named " Stang" named after Joe Robinson's 1967 Mustang. Later 2 more subsidiary labels would be added like, " Turbo" after another car that Joe would buy in 1971, and "Vibration" named after the vibration of both cars that Joe owned. The Moments were signed on the newly formed, " Stang" label in 1968.
The group's first hit, "Not On The Outside", sold a half million records by the end of 1968 !! Soon afterwards, Ritchie Horsley and Johnny Morgan would be replaced by Al Goodman and Billy Brown.
Billy Brown was from the group the Broadways, who had a classic hit in the summer of 1966 called, "Going, Going, Going" on the MGM label.
In 1969, the group was on a roll with a string of classics such as the lovely, "Sunday", " Lovely The Way She Loves" (with the voice of Sylvia Robinson on the bridge of the song). "I Do", "Somebody Loves You Baby" and " I'm So Lost".
In the spring of 1970, the Moments would release a song that is considered to be the mama and daddy of the blue light soul masterpiece of the early 70's, "Love On A Two Way Street". The song was originally recorded by Leslie Valentine, then later on the Moments . It was suppose to be a album filler for their second LP entitled, " The Other Side Of The Moments ". It's on Side B, last cut on the LP. Sylvia & Joe released the song in the spring of 1970, hit No 1 on the R&B charts for 5 weeks becoming an instant million seller for the group !!! " Love On A Two Way Street", features the great sounds of Willie and The Mighty Magnificents with Willie Feaster on the guitar, Arnold Ramsey on drums, Val Burke on bass. Burt Keyes did the beautiful string arrangements that was overdubbed 3 times, as well as played piano on the session.
The B side was Leslie Valentine's hit, " I Won't Do Anything". In the summer of 1981, Stacy Lattisaw would record a stunning version of the classic, hitting No 2 on the R&B charts on the Cottilion label.
From 1970 to 1973, the Moments would continue to present to the soul world, another string of more classic R&B masterpieces with, "All I Have" and "Lucky Me" written and produced by Sylvia Robinson and the legendary George Kerr, who at the time was producing label mates The Whatnauts.
A wonderful remake of the Ink Spots' 1939 classic, " If I Didn't Care" in which by the way, is Harry Ray's first lead song in the group.
"Gotta Find A Way", another beautiful dreamy masterpiece hit with Harry Ray running though the airport like O.J. Simpson, trying to persuade the girl he loves to come back in his life."
"Just Because He Wants To Make Love" and the up tempo, "My Thang" both released in 1972 are also soul classics.
During the latter part of 1973, the group's musical arrangements began to become to change some. Beginning with their classic hypnotic mind blowing, "Sexy Mama", Harry Ray's echo seductive slick lead trying to lead his lady into loveland, would hit No 3 on the R&B charts during the spring /summer of 1974.
Also doing this period, the Moments (really Harry Ray) would team up with Sylvia Robinson to record, " Sho Nuff Boogie" with a touch of sophisticated arrangements during the early part of the R&B disco era.
More teaming up would take place in the later part of 1974, with the Moments and the Whatnauts on their hit "Girls". The song was a hit the minute the DJ's dropped the needle on the wax. Legend has it that the Whatnauts don't appear vocally on the song, that it's just the Moments singing. Regardless, it's still a smoker, chalked up by the group or groups.
The smooth, "What's Your Name" is one of my many favorites sung by the Moments also released in 1974.
Fast forward to 1975 where in the spring of 75, the group would release the gorgeous, "Look At Me (I'm In Love)". Harry Ray's soft quiet melodic lead with the group's great harmony background, and with it's 12 strings and brass and French horn arrangements, makes you want to fall in love, even if you're not in love !
The arrangements of the song was done by the late great Sammy Lowe ( who did the string arrangements on James Brown's classic hit of 1966, " It's A Man's Man's Man's World" and many other hits).
"Look At Me" hit No 1 on the R&B charts for one week. Al Goodman composed the tune on his kitchen table in his home in Hackensack, NJ.
The following year of 1976, two more hits would occur. "Nine Times" and another blue light basement smoker, "With You", along with a few disco cuts the group would release on the label.
After 30 single releases and 11 LP classics such as, "Not On The Outside", "Live At New York State Women's Prison", >"The Other Side Of The Moments ", "Those Sexy Moments ", "My Thing", "Moments With You", " On Top", "Sharp", " Look At Me", " Live At The Miss Black America Contest", and, " The Moments Greatest Hits", the group would leave the " All Platinum" label in 1979.
With legal matters and hassles pertaining their name which was owned by Sylvia & Joe Robinson, the group renamed themselves after their last names, Ray, Goodman & Brown. They signed with Polydor Records and recorded their first No 1 hit in 5 years!!
"Special Lady" released in the spring of 1980, presented us music lovers with a masterful musical time capsule piece from the great doo-wop era of the 1950's into the early 1980's.
Their next release, "Inside of You" taken from their gold LP "Ray Goodman & Brown" is another blue light 80's smoker !!
Another LP entitled, "Stay" would feature another classic, "Heaven In The Rain" with a great story line opening when a young woman's car becomes sick in the pouring rain, so it's Billy Brown to the rescue, it's love at first sight for the both of them and stay together a year after the incident. Absolute true classic !!
More hits would arrive with " Take It To The Limit" from the LP of the same title, " Ray Goodman & Brown 2", " Mood For Lovin", would also be released during their mid chart run of the 80's.
Their last classic " Our Anniversary" would be released and Harry Ray left by this time to go solo. He was replaced by Kevin Owens who backed up Luther Vandross and is featured on a live LP with Goodman & Brown released in 1991. Sadly, Harry Ray would enter the gates of soul heaven on Oct 1,1992.
The Moments / Ray Goodman & Brown gave us soul fans some of the greatest music ever presented on wax / CD. They are wonderful examples of why we as fans of this music, must fight to keep it alive in everyway possible.
The sweet soul sounds came from the heart and soul of these talented brothers.
So if your in the mood for true love, slip on the Moments / Ray, Goodman & Brown, and I'll guarantee, you'll be in a moment of pleasure.......moment of thoughts............ Moments of love............ and Moments of continuing melodic beautiful eargasms for your ears of listening pleasure...........!!!
With the Moments ...............Listening is easier than breathing...........!!!
Ray, Goodman & Brown / The Moments's Friend Space (Top 23)
Ray, Goodman & Brown / The Moments has 2974 friends.
Thanks for all the love...RG & B have been out of the country are returning tomorrow 7/12/08. All inquiries have been forwarded to Al Goodman and will be distributed accordingly...we love you all and THANKS for the love back...especially u Mik!!
I'm ready to address all question Mike. I can answer a few at a time...LadyJai asked me one last week and i told her I'd work on getting the album for her...but I did answer her question. Thanks, made love. Candy
