What would you most like to sing if you were a Pip?

[Bossy Monkey]

Yes, I know I'm completely insane. But work with me here. C'mon! I can't be the only one whose sole ambition in life is to be a Pip, can I? (rhetorical question)

It's possible that this makes more sense to people old enough and lucky enough to see And The Pips perform on the Smothers Brothers' second go at a network TV show in the mid 70s after Gladys went solo. One of the funniest moments in television history, with them singing their parts and doing the little dances with no lead singer at all.

Also also, I know the Pips did fine work on all the rest of GK & tPs' hits (eg Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me) but Midnight Train is their greatest and their most unique contribution. (Also it's the one they did for the Smothers gig.)

Slightly less rhetorical question: Damn that Gladys Knight can sing, huh?

And The Pips' entire output:
(Too much for the man)
(He couldn`t make it)
(He said he`s going)
(Going back to find)
(leaving)
(Leaving on the midnight train)
(Going back to find)
(I know you will)
(Leaving on the midnight train
to Georgia, hoo hoo)
(My world is his, his and hers alone)
(dreaming)
(A superstar but he didn`t get far)
(Dreams don`t always come true)
(uh uh) (no, uh uh)
(Hoo hoo hoo hoo)
(Hoo hoo hoo hoo)
(leaving)
(Leaving on the midnight train)
(Going back to find)
(When he takes that ride
Guess who`s gonna be right by his side)
(I know you will)
(Leaving on the midnight train
to Georgia, hoo hoo)
(My world is his, his and hers alone)
(leaving)
(Leaving on the midnight train)
(Going back to find)
(When he takes that ride
Guess who`s gonna be right by his side)
(I know you will)
(Leaving on the midnight train
to Georgia, hoo hoo)
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
(For love)
(Gonna board)
(For love)
(gonna board)
(for love)
(gonna board)
(for love)
(gonna board)
(the midnight train and go)
(for love)
(gonna board)
(the midnight train and go)
(for love)
(gonna board)
(the midnight train and go)
(for love)
(gonna board)
(the midnight train and go)
(for love)
(gonna board)
(the midnight train and go)

[TahitiNut]

1. I love Midnight Train ...

... and I always sing with the Pips. I love Gladys, too, but she just doesn't sing in my key (Kwikset-flat).

Oh ... "Leaving on the midnight train" of course.

[last_texas_dem]

2. "I know you will"

I let loose with that part every once in a while...

[Bossy Monkey]

4. All true Pips do. We will not let TahitiNut in the group, nor teach him

the sacred dance steps.:D (Just kidding, TahitiNut!)

[TahitiNut]

5. I know you will.

:evilgrin: I got the choreography down cold. I'm from Motown!!! Anyone not able to do the dance steps back in my college days (mid 60's) at Wayne State University would've been ejected from the city.

[progmom]

3. had to go with When he takes that ride/ Guess who`s gonna be right by his

because that's the coolest one. B-)

[TahitiNut]

6. It's a riff. Riffs are easy. So's the vocal percussion.

:silly: It's the chorus that's kewl! :silly:

[kwassa]

7. The Pip Obituary ( I heard it through the grapevine)

A few weeks ago I was reading the Washington Post obituary section, where the recently deceased are often listed by their former occupation. There it was in big bold type:

"PIP"

this is the obit underneath it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56702-2005Feb26.html

Edward Patten, 66, a member of the Grammy-winning Gladys Knight & the Pips, died of a stroke Feb. 18 at a suburban Detroit hospital, said his cousin, another member of the group.

The stroke stole Mr. Patten's incredible voice, which had a range from bass to tenor. Besides singing harmonies backing up the group's lead singer, Mr. Patten also served as one of the group's choreographers as well as the treasurer who made sure that promoters paid and that travel and accommodation plans were set.

The group -- Knight, her brother, Merald "Bubba" Knight, and their cousins William Guest and Patten -- recorded for Motown from 1966 to 1973 and for Buddah Records from 1973 to 1977. The group later recorded for CBS until it broke up in 1989. Their hits included "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia." The group won four Grammys and was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.