Barbara and the Uniques

Barbara and the Uniques was a 1960s and 1970s R&B girl group.

History

The group began when the Duettes, a group featuring Barbara Livsy and her cousin, Mary Hayes, was liquidated in 1965. Barbara got together with her sister Gwen Livsey and a friend, Doris Lindsey, and released the soul ballad "There It Goes Again" (written by Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites) as Barbara and the Uniques in 1970.^[1] The song was very successful at the local level, causing Arden Records to distribute it nationally. The song became a huge hit, and reached #16 on the R&B charts. Although it was a solid R&B entry, it did not fare so well on the Billboard Hot 100, where it reached #91.^[2]

The group followed up with two singles on the Arden label in 1971: "You're Gonna Make Me Cheat On You" / "I'll Never Let You Go" and "You Make Me Feel So Young Again" / "Take Me As I Am". In 1972, the group moved to Abbot Records and released "He's Gone", which recycled "Take Me As I Am" for the B-side.

Gwen and Doris quit the group and were replaced with male session singers. Now dubbed Barbara Blake and the Uniques on 20th Century Records, in 1974, they released "Prized Possession" / "It's Not That Easy" and "Teach Me" / "Everlasting Thrill". Both releases flopped, but still the group's eponymous LP was released in 1975. A 1975 single, "Need Your Love So Bad" / "Let Me Down Easy", also failed.

The band broke up when their contract with 20th Century Records expired.

References