by Stephen Thomas ErlewineOne of the most popular smooth soul groups of the early 70s didnt hail from Philadelphia or Memphis, the two cities known for sweet, string-laden soul. Instead, the Chi-Lites were from Chicago, a town better known for its gritty urban blues and driving R&B. Led by vocalist Eugene Record, the Chi-Lites had a lush, creamy sound distinguished by their four-part harmonies and layered productions. During the early 70s, they racked up 11 Top Ten R&B singles, ranging from the romantic ballads Have You Seen Her and Oh Girl to protest songs like (For Gods Sake) Give More Power to the People and There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table). All the songs featured Records warm, pleading tenor and falsetto, and the majority of the groups hits were written by Record, often in collaboration with other songwriters like Barbara Acklin.The Chi-Lites had been around for nearly a decade before they finally had a hit in the late 60s. Eugene Record, Robert Lester, and Clarence Johnson formed the doo wop group the Chanteurs in the late 50s, and they released one single on Renee Records in 1959. Shortly afterward, Creadel Red Jones and Marshall Thompson, who had sung with the Desideros, teamed with the trio to form the Hi-Lites. Over the next four years, the Hi-Lites released a number of singles on local labels. In 1964, they changed their name to Marshall & the Chi-Lites, adding the C as tribute to their hometown Chicago. By the end of the year, Johnson left the group and the remaining quartet truncated their name to the Chi-Lites. Over the next four years, the group continued to perform and release independent singles, with Record slowly emerging as the groups lead singer, songwriter, and producer.In 1968, the Chi-Lites signed with the large Chicago indie label Brunswick Records, and early the following year Give It Away became their first national hit single, reaching number ten on the R&B charts. Despite the moderate success of Let Me Be the Man My Daddy Was, the group wasnt able to deliver another big hit until Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) climbed into the R&B Top Ten in early 1971, beginning a string of ten Top Ten hits that ran intermittently over the next four years. The follow-up to Are You My Woman?, (For Gods Sake) Give More Power to the People, was their first pop hit, setting the stage for a pair of slow, soulful ballads, Have You Seen Her and Oh Girl, which both reached number one on the R&B charts; the latter was a number-one pop hit, as well. in the spring of 1972.Shortly after the release of the hit Stoned Out of My Mind, the Chi-Lites began to splinter in 1973, when Jones left the group and was replaced by Stanley Anderson, who was quickly replaced by Willie Kensey. The revamped lineup had three Top Ten R&B hits — Homely Girl, There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table), and Toby — before they replaced Kensey with Doc Roberson. Shortly afterward, Brunswick became involved in serious financial problems, which prevented the label from promoting the groups record. Frustrated, Record left the band to become a solo recording artist for Warner Bros. The remaining trio, augmented by David Scott and Danny Johnson (who was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977), signed with Mercury, but none of their singles were hits.The original lineup of the Chi-Lites re-formed in 1980, and the group began recording for Eugene Records label, Chi-Sound. Although their first singles were more successful than their Mercury Records, they didnt have a genuine hit until 1982, when Hot on a Thing (Called Love) reached number 15. The following year, they moved to Larc Records, where they had their final Top Ten hit with Bottoms Up. Late that year, Creadel Jones retired and the group continued to tour as a trio throughout the remainder of the decade. Record left the group in 1990 to record as a solo artist. He was replaced by Anthony Watson. By the early 90s, Jones had re-joined the group, and this version of the Chi-Lites became a regular on the oldies and soul circuit during the 90s.\r