Pat Lewis - No One To Love

"No One To Love" sung by such a wonderful artist. Pat Lewis, one of the legendary Motown backing girls and a Northern Soul hero in her own right. She has the distinction of being the artist who I have produced more songs on, in my life, than any other artist. She was the mainstay of Motorcity, arranging and singing on almost all of the backing vocals on several hundred songs, as well as performing both solo and as the lead singer of The Andantes. Here, filmed in a snowstorm in Detroit in early 1999, she performs her legendary Northern Soul classic "No One To Love", which we re-recorded with her especially for "The Strange World Of Northern Soul" our six disc DVD set. The original 45, on the Solid Hit label, has fetched prices of up to two thousand pounds, and remains one of the most elusive and sought after 1960's Detroit rarities. In the early sixties, Pat along with her sister Diane Lewis, formed a group called "The Adorables" along with two other sisters Betty and Jackie Winston. They signed with Golden World Records, owned by Ed Wingate, who along with Joanne Bratton managed the group. Pat then went on to fulfil her dream and ventured out on her own as a single artist. She recorded her first single at Golden World Records, "Can't Shake It Loose". She also began singing background vocals for "The Andantes", the background group for Motown Records, so she began singing background at Motown, starting with Stevie Wonder's "Uptight", and also worked for numerous other recording studios. She also recorded a lot at Brunswick in Chicago on Jackie Wilson's album, "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher". In 1966, Golden World Records was sold to Motown. Pat then signed with Solid Hit Bound Records, owned by Don Davis and LaBaron Taylor, where she recorded several singles, "Look At What I Almost Missed", along with "Warning" and "No One To Love". In 1967, Aretha Franklin asked her to become one of her background singers on the road. She remained with Aretha off and on for a few years travelling and recording in the studio. In 1969, Don Davis owner of United Sound Recording Studio (writer/producer for Stax Records) called in Pat and her sister Diane for yet another session which was for Isaac Hayes' album "Hot Buttered Soul", Pat was hired to arrange and record background vocals. When the album was released it was a hit. Isaac asked if they wanted to travel with him. Pat gave Aretha Franklin her notice and they became "Hot Buttered Soul". Pat remained with Isaac Hayes from 1969 to 1982 as his opening act and his studio group. In 1989 she teamed up with Motorcity Records, and recorded more lead and backing vocals than any other artist, as well as rejoining The Andantes.