The Ovations - Hooked On A Feeling (1972)

The Ovations were an American R&B vocal group.

The Ovations had recorded for the Memphis-based Goldwax label in the 60s, and had reached the R&B singles chart with "It's Wonderful To Be In Love" and "Me And My Imagination". However the label had collapsed in 1969, leaving the group by themselves. In 1971 they were signed to the Sounds Of Memphis label with the help of producer Dan Greer. The next year they scored themselves a hit, their highest charting to date at the time - "Touching Me" got to #19 R&B. An album followed, produced by Greer and featuring the Hi Rhythm Section.
Compared to their earlier work with Goldwax, their new material was smoother and more polished, but that was to expected and just went to show how the sound of soul music was beginning to change as the 70s progressed. The defining characteristic of the group was still the Sam Cooke soundalike vocals of leader Louis Williams. Alongside the new hit, the album featured a cover of the B.J. Thomas hit "Hooked On A Feeling" as the title track, and a gospel medley featuring Sam Cooke's own "Touch The Hem Of His Garment" (originally recorded with The Soul Stirrers).

|> Having A Party (1973)
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The Ovations - The Goldwax Recordings (1964-1969)

Compilation
The Ovations were an R&B vocal group.

The Ovations came together in Memphis in the early 60s, consisting of Louis Williams, Nathan Lewis and Elvin Lee Jones. Both Williams and Lewis had sung in The Del-Rios (which also featured William Bell), and they got together with Jones whilst backing Don Bryant. Finding they got on well as a trio, they got themselves heard by Roosevelt Jameson, who reccomended them to Quinton Claunch of Goldwax Records (he also provided Goldwax with James Carr and O.V. Wright). 

Signed to Goldwax, The Ovations began recorded at Chips Moman's American Sound Studio. They were notable for the lilting lead vocals of Louis Williams, who had more than a passing resemblance to the great Sam Cooke. Their breakthrough hit was "It's Wonderful To Be In Love", which got to #22 on the R&B chart in 1965. It was also Goldwax's first national hit. They followed its success by touring alongside both James Brown and Otis Redding. They then went down to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where they cut a number of songs by the songwriting team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham - one of these in particular, "I'm Living Good", was tailor made for Williams' Sam Cooke style. In 1966 Elvin Lee Jones was replaced by Billy Young, and their next modest hit was 1967's "Me And My Imagiantion" (#40 R&B).

They stuck with Goldwax until 1969, when the label collapsed and the group moved to Sounds Of Memphis. This compilation covers their output whilst at Goldwax.

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