The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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Jelly Beans

“I WANNA LOVE HIM SO BAD”

(Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich)

Red Bird 10003

No. 9   August 8, 1964

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The Jelly Beans were four gals and a guy  from Jersey City.   Alma Brewer, Diane Taylor, sisters Elyse  and

Martine Herbert, and Charlie Thomas were but high schoolers when they were discovered by manager-to-

be  Bill Downs.   Bill knew producer Steve Venet, who brought the group to Red Bird Records.   At Red

Bird, the legendary recording/songwriting team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich were assigned the task

of making the quintet into hit-paraders.    “I Wanna Love Him So Bad” was the Jelly Beans’ first release.

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The girl-group sound was still hot.   With Charlie’s bass floppin’  like a flat tire, and the girlies cheerfully

chirpin’ along, their disk  sold close to a million copies.   “Baby Be Mine” (#51, 1964), also penned by

Barry and Greenwich, didn’t do too badly, either.   Things  looked good for the Jelly Beans.   There was talk

of releasing an album, and some tracks were recorded; however,  no  LP and or subsequent singles ever

appeared on Red Bird Records.

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The following year, a  lone 45 utilizing the group’s  logo was issued on the Eskee label.