Song:Groovy Situation
Album:Whole Lotta Soul 1970-1971
Of course Gene Chandler is best known for the 1961 classic Duke Of Earl. But Chandler continued to release music through the 60s and he scored again with Groovy Situation in 1970. The song got a big boost when Will Ferrell used it in his film Anchorman. After Duke Of Earl, Chandler left VeeJay Records in 1963. He had modest success with songs like Just Be True in 1964 and Nothing Can Stop Me in 1965 for Constellation Records. Curtis Mayfield wrote both songs. When Constellation closed in 1966, Chandler and producer Carl Davis moved to Brunswick Records. Chandler scored top ten R & B hits with I Fooled You This Time in 1966 and To Be A Lover in 1967. Then Chandler started his own record company. After scoring a distribution deal with Mercury Records, Groovy Situation reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the R & B Singles chart. Chandler adapted well to changing musical styles. He wasn't trying to be a nostalgia act. Groovy Situation was written by Russell Lewis and Herman Davis and was first recorded by Mel & Tim in 1969. The song got a big boost when Will Ferrell used it in his 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. You can get Groovy Situation on the soundtrack or on this various artists CD. Most Gene Chandler comp CDs don't include Groovy Situation probably due to licensing costs. And the one that had both songs is out of print. Chandler recorded an album with Jerry Butler and appeared on Curtis Mayfield's 1973 album Curtis In Chicago. In the late 70s, he reunited with Carl Davis at Chisound Records and recorded disco music. Get Down was probably his biggest hit in 1978. Gene Chandler still makes appearances but he hasn't recorded since the 80s. Here's a video for Groovy Situation by Gene Chandler.
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