FLIRTATIONS
The Flirtations (previously The Gypsies) are an all-female musical group who have recorded since the early 1960s.
In 1962 in New York City, Lestine Johnson and sisters Ernestine Pearce, Shirley Pearce and Betty Pearce from South Carolina formed The Gypsies. In 1964 they signed to Old Town Records, where they released their debut single “Hey There, Hey There”. The song achieved airplay only on local radio stations, but their next single — the J.J. Jackson-written “Jerk It” — was more successful, reaching #111 (pop) and #33 (R&B) in the spring of 1965. Despite the relative success of “Jerk It”, Lestine Johnson left the group, replaced by Viola Billups. The Gypsies released only two singles on Old Town Records in 1966, giving them a total of four.
That year, now on Josie Records, the four women renamed themselves The Flirtations and released the well-regarded northern soul dancer “Change My Darkness Into Light”. It was ignored by DJs and sales suffered. The quartet then moved to Festival Records, where they released “Stronger Than Her Love” and “Settle Down” as a single, which failed to spark much interest.
Following an unsuccessful December 1968 US release, “Nothing But a Heartache” was re-issued in the US in early 1969, with “How Can You Tell Me?” now replacing the original seasonal B-side. “Nothing But a Heartache” debuted at No. 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 8 March 1969. The single reached the Top 20 in several US markets – its chart peak in Boston was No. 3 – but the staggered regional success indicated by its 14-week Hot 100 run dictated that its national peak – achieved on the 24 May 1969 Hot 100 – would be No. 34. (The Cash Box singles chart peak for “Nothing But a Heartache” was No. 31.) Somewhat reminiscent of mid-1960s Supremes – particularly “Stop! In the Name of Love” — the single is now generally regarded as a pop and Northern soul classic.
The Flirtations recorded Hi-NRG tracks such as “Earthquake” (1983), “Read All About It” (1986) and “Back On My Feet Again” (1989), the latter reuniting Viola with the Pearce sisters. The track became a major hit in South Africa in 1984 reaching No. 6.
The band were rediscovered in the disco and Northern soul circuits of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the U.S.. In the UK “Nothing But A Heartache” was used in an advertising campaign for KFC and, in 2007, was covered by The Freemasons. Ernestine Pearce can be seen at various venues along with Clem Curtis and Jimmy James as part of “The Soul Explosion” tour.
With Ian Levine forming his label Centre City Records, 2007, the ladies recorded regularly for the label compilations. In 2009, they released their first single in 20 years, “Roulette”, produced by Soren Jensen for Night Dance Records, including mixes and a music video. The track peaked at No. 10 in Music Week’s Commercial Pop Club Chart by December 2009.
Flirtations with Nothing but a heartache
Flirtations – Nothing But A Heartache
Nothing But A Heartache 2:41
This Must Be The End Of The Line 2:55
I Wanna Be There 3:04
Stay 3:33
How Can You Tell Me? 2:59
Someone Out There 3:01
Need Your Loving 2:56
South Carolina 2:44
Once I Had A Love 2:45
Momma I’m Coming Home 3:02
Love Is A Sad Song 3:07
What’s Good About Goodbye My Love 3:03
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