ABOUT
The Volumes (often written as The Volume's) were an R&B vocal quintet from Detroit, Michigan that became famous during the early 1960s. They are best known for the upbeat, Latin-influenced doo-wop smash, "I Love You" (1962), an oldies classic that showcases lead singer Eddie Union's soaring and soulful falsetto vocals and the group's close-knit harmonies. This song was featured in the soundtrack to the 1979 coming-of-age movie, "The Wanderers."
Formed in 1960 while the members were all still in high school, the lineup consisted of tenors Elijah Davis and Larry Wright, baritone Joe Travillion, bass singer Ernest Newsom (d. 1990), and lead singer Ed Union. While performing in Canada in 1961, the quintet was discovered by Willie Ewing who became their manager and signed them to his label, Chex Records. Their group name, The Volumes, was inspired by one of the members asking another one to turn up the volume while listening to music on the stereo. Some pressings of what would later become The Volumes' greatest hit, "I Love You," have an apostrophe between the e and s (in Volumes), and for some reason, that goofy punctuation error stuck and the group became better known in the charts and elsewhere as The Volume's.
The Volumes debuted in 1962 on the Pop/Rock charts with the Ernest Newsom/Willie Ewing-penned "I Love You," which became a Top 40 hit. This smash was followed by "Come Back Into My Heart" (1962), "Sandra" (1963), and "Gotta Give Her Love" (1964), the latter of which became a top regional hit in the Detroit area. Other songs for which The Volumes are well known include the non-charting "A Way To Love You" (1967) and "Ain't Gonna Give You Up" (1970). Although The Volumes never made a return to the charts after 1964, they continued to record through 1970 and released many singles on various labels. A retrospective of the group's recordings, "Chex Records Presents The Volumes," was released in 1985.
The Volumes disbanded in 1971 after Ernest Newsom left the group to join the R&B group, Fantastic Four.
LINKS
- This page about The Volumes by Bear Family Records gives a history of the group and describes how the quintet got its name.
- This page about The Volumes by soulwalking.co.uk lists the group's complete discography.
MERCHANDISE
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- The Volume's - CDs, vinyl, & more - Amazon.com
- The Volume's - Digital music - Amazon.com
- The Volume's - Rare vinyl, CDs, & more - MusicStack.com
SONGS
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The Volume's
- I Love You 1962
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