Biography
This energetic group from Detroit has a recording career that spreads over at least nine different labels. Beset by personnel changes, the Precisions dropped singles on Strand, Golden Crest, Wild, Highland, and Debra Records from 1960 to 1963. They achieved some regional play by emulating Nolan Strong's falsetto on two D-Town singles: My Lover Come Back b/w I Wanna Tell My Baby and You're Sweet b/w Mexican Love Song, but enjoyed their best run on Drew Records.

Their lineup consisted of Arthur Ashford, Michael Morgan, William Rodney Prince, Dennis Gilmore, and Robert Lowe; Billy Brooks was also around and may have blended with them on D-Town and Drew at some point. The first Drew single, A Lovers Plea b/w Such Misery, flopped. A second attempt, Sugar Ain't Sweet, wasn't issued. Why Girl, the lively lamenter with the gritty tenor lead, got them recognized in the Midwest and the East, expanding their fan base to Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and other cities.

Martin Coleman, Michael Valvano, and Charles Cholly Bassoline wrote If This Is Love (Than I'd Rather Be Lonely), a dweller on both the RB and pop charts, the well-executed song would have passed Motown's quality control with flying colors. It got them television appearances on second-tier dance shows like #Ken Hawkins World of Soul in Cleveland, #DJ Hops, and better-paying gigs. The members wrote their fourth Drew single, Instant Heartbreak (Just Add Tears), which charted, but not as high as expected. The Drew story ends with Never Let Her Go, but with no promotion it didn't have a chance and Drew folded.

The same lineup, minus Lowe, switched to Atco Records and hoped to score big. Atco, part of Atlantic, was a giant compared to Drew; plus, they had Coleman, Valvano (ex-Motowners), and Bassoline crafting the material and twisting the control dials. But the change was a disaster. Into My Life died upon release; a second, New York City b/w You're the Best, was totally ignored. Their final single is believed to be Take a Good Look on Hen Mar. Dennis Gilmore later wrote Highway to Heaven with James Dean for the Dramatics. No one has compiled a Precision CD and a good chronicle of their career is overdue. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi




 
Videos
Close
The Precisions - if This Is Love.wmv
The Precisions - If This Is Love ( Northern Soul Stomper )
The Precisions - If This is Love
The Precisions - Why Girl
The Precisions - Someone To Watch Over Me 1962
THE PRECISIONS - Instant Heartbreak (Just Add Tears)
The Precisions - If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely)
Download SoundHound
The only App that can give you results through singing and humming search!
You can sing any song from this artist to help SoundHound users find it!