In 1961, The Marvelettes’ hit single ‘Please Mr. Postman’ dominated the US Billboard charts, earning the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot R&B Sides charts and number four on the New Zealand charts.
The song tells the story of a young woman’s longing for a letter from her lover, a common experience in an era without the luxury of cell phones or email. The Marvelettes, a group of five teenage girls from Inkster, Michigan, brought a unique sound and energy to the recording studio, displaying their talent despite their lack of prior recording experience.
Before the Marvelettes recorded the song, William Garrett, a songwriter friend of group member Georgia Dobbins, offered the lyrics to the group. With Gladys Horton on lead vocals, Dobbins rewrote the song to suit the Marvelettes’ style. Motown producers Robert Bateman and Brian Holland worked with the group to refine the song. At the same time, Marvin Gaye, then a young drummer trying to break into the business, provided the rhythm section. Freddie Gorman, a postman who sang with the Motown group The Originals, also helped complete the lyrics.
When The Marvelettes auditioned for Motown, the label didn’t have their full songwriting machinery, so they asked the girls to bring in material. Despite the absence of Motown’s backing machine, the group quickly gained traction with their unique sound and energy. Then, Florence Ballard, a member of another Motown girl group, The Supremes, suggested they loosen up, stretch out the word “postman,” and add “oh yeah” backing vocals. “We were all tight – petrified,” Gladys Horton said. “Florence was a sweetheart, and what he said was dead on.”
Watch this Motown classic to experience the pure joy of The Marvelettes’ performance. Then, share it with your friends because the Marvelettes deserve to be remembered for their unique contribution to American culture.
The Marvelettes made history with their distinctive sound and impressive performances, earning a special place in American culture. Their incredible talents, honed in choirs and glee clubs, shone through in their performances, and their influence can still be felt today. Although the group underwent many member changes before breaking up in 1969, its legacy lives on.
In 1961, a gallon of milk cost 49 cents, a dozen eggs were 57 cents, and gas was 31 cents per gallon. In addition, President John F. Kennedy was recently inaugurated, and the nation was embarking on a new era of hope and change. Against this backdrop, The Marvelettes’ ‘Please Mr. Postman’ burst onto the scene, providing a welcome burst of energy and fun that helped define the era.
