Mad Lads

The Mad Lads were a 1960s doo wop group from Memphis, Tennessee.

Featuring the high, innocent tenor of John Gary Williams, the group were still in high school when they were signed to Stax in late 1964. In the mid-1960s, they enjoyed solid R&B hits with "Don't Have to Shop Around," "I Want Someone," and "I Want a Girl," although they never would cross over to the pop audience. Williams and fellow Mad Lad William Brown were drafted in 1966, and their recording career was suspended while they were in the service (although they carried on live with replacements). After their discharge, Williams and Brown were told by fellow original members Julius Green and Robert Philips that they didn't want Brown in the group; Brown and Stax co-owner Jim Stewart forced them to reinstate Williams, but their subsequent efforts were more in the Stax soul/funk formula, and not as memorable as their more atypical mid-1960s singles. They did return to the R&B Top 30 in 1968 with "Whatever Hurts You."

The song "Pass the Word (Love's the Word)" was sampled by Australian hip-hop group Hilltop Hoods on their song "Chase That Feeling."

Discography

Albums

• 1966 In Action (Volt S414)
• 1969 Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Lads (Volt VOS-6005)
• 1973 A New Beginning (Volt VOS-6020)

Singles

• 1965 "Don't Have To Shop Around" / "Tear Maker" (Volt127)
• 1966 "I Want Someone" / "Nothing Can Break Through" (Volt131)
• 1966 "Sugar Sugar" / "Come Closer To Me" (Volt135)
• 1966 "I Want A Girl" / "What Will Love Tend To Make You Do" (Volt137)
• 1966 "Patch My Heart" / "You Mean So Much To Me" (Volt139)
• 1967 "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" / "These Simple Reasons" (Volt143)
• 1967 "My Inspiration" / "Mr Fix-it" (Volt150)
• 1968 "Whatever Hurts You" / "No Time Is Better Than Right Now" (Volt162)
• 1968 "So Nice" / "Make Room" (Volt4003)
• 1968 "Love Is Here Today And Gone Tomorrow" / "Make This Young Lady Mine" (Volt4009)
• 1969 "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" / "No Strings Attached" (Volt4016)
• 1969 "Seein' Is Believin'" / "These Old Memories" (Volt4041)
• 1971 "Gone! The Promises Of Yesterday" / "I’m So Glad I Fell In Love With You" (Volt4068)
• 1972 "Let Me Repair Your Heart" / "Did My Baby Call" (Volt4080)
• 1972 "I'm So Glad I Fell In Love With You" / "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" (Volt409)