The Dells [1968] - Make Sure (You Have Someone Who Loves You) [Cadet #5631]

I'm having a break from drudging thorough the myriad of mediocre new releases to regain some sanity. 

You may have seen the final instalment of Richard Searling's Hot 100 Modern Soul 45s posted yesterday. This is one by The Dells, "Make Sure (You Have Someone Who Loves You)" which, in my view, that he missed although he did feature a Dells track at #26 "It's All Up To You" so I guess he was limiting it to only one recording per artist.

Released in 1968 on Cadet as the flip side to  "Does Anybody Know I'm Here".

The Dells are one of (if not 'the') longest running groups in history with the same members. They have released albums for 6, and singles for 5, decades between 1955 and 2002. Undoubtedly their 'golden' period was between 1967-74. Their last hit album was 'Second Time' in 1988 and single 'Oh My Love' was released in 1992.

They originally formed in 1952 as The El-Rays, consisting of Mickey & Lucius McGill, Marvin Junior, Verne Allison Johnny Funches and Chuck Barksdale.  

Lucius McGill left around 1954 leaving a quintet. In 1955 they changed their name to The Dells. The line-up remained the same, until Funches was replaced by Johnny Carter, who was a founding member of The Flamingos, in 1960. That line-up remained until the death of Carter (aged 75) in 2009. 

The group continued to perform until 2012 when the ill health of Marvin Junior and Chuck Barksdale forced the group to retire. Marvin Junior died in 2013 aged 77 and Barksdale in  2019 aged 84.  The original member who left in 1960, Johnny Funches, died in 1998 aged 62.

As far as I am aware the three surviving members are alive and will now be in their mid 80s (85/86).