Barbara and the Uniques

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Barbara and the Uniques was a 1960s and 1970s R&B girl group.

[edit] History

The group began when Barbara and Gwen Livsey's duo, the Duettes, was liquidated in 1965. The Livseys then got together with their other sister, Doris, and released the soul ballad "There It Goes Again" on Eugene Records in 1970. The song was very successful at the local level, causing Arden Records to distribute it nationally. The song became a huge hit, and reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it was a solid R&B entry, it didn't fair so well on the R&B charts, where it only reached #91.

The group followed up with two singles on the Arden label in 1971: "You're Gonna Make Me Cheat On You"/"I'll Never Let You Go" and "You Make Me Feel So Young Again"/"Take Me As I Am".

In 1972, the group moved to Abbot Records and released "He's Gone," which recycled "Take Me As I Am" for the B-side.

Gwen and Doris quit the group and were replaced with male session singers. Now dubbed Barbara Blake and the Uniques on 20th Century Records, in 1974, they released "Prized Possession"/"It's Not That Easy" and "Teach Me"/"Everlasting Thrill." Both releases flopped, but still the group's eponymous LP was released in 1975. A 1975 single, "I Need Your Love So Bad"/"Let Me Down Easy" also failed.

The band broke up when their contract with 20th Century Records expired.