Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes ~ Bad Luck 1975 Disco Purrfection Version

Harold Melvin joined the Charlemagnes in the early 50’s along with Franklin Peaker, Bernard Williams, Roosevelt Brodie and Jesse Gillis, Jr. In 1954, they changed the name to “The Blue Notes“ but had little success until 1960 with “My Hero“ (#80, 1960) and then again in 1965 with “Get Out (And Let Me Cry)“ which did not chart. The group had a revolving membership, with Wilson leaving the group and was replaced by lead singer John Atkins who stayed until 1970. Atkins left and Melvin recruited a new drummer named Teddy Pendergrass to back the band and also set him up as the voice of the Blue Notes. This line-up of the group, featuring Melvin, Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, and Lloyd Parks signed with Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International label in 1972 and began their career in earnest with the classic “If You Don’t Know Me By Now“ a smash hit at #1 R&B and #3 on the Hot100. Their next pop hit was “The Love I Lost“ which made it to #7 pop in 1973. Their 1975 LP “To Be True“ contained a little