The Chance Label
1953 - 1954

Contrary to popular opinion Alan Freed did not take the Moonglows to Chance Records. The Moonglows went to Chicago on their own to Chess Records. They never got to to see Phil Chess, but since the Chance label was only a few blocks away the group walked over to Chance and sang three new Fuqua compositions, "Hey Santa Claus", "Baby Please", and "I Was Wrong" for Ewart Abner, general manager of the label. He and owner Art Sheridan liked every song and signed them. In October 1953, they cut the blues ballard "Baby Please" (which is Harvey's favorite of the Chance recordings) and a harmony-filled jumper, "Whistle My Love" as the groups first single.

For Christmas, Chance issued two Moonglows originals, the rockin' "Hey Santa Claus" and another soulful blues ballad, "Just a Lonely Christmas".

In February 1954 their third Chance release was the only non-original, a cover of the Fain-Webster song "Secret Love", done in a beautiful Moonglows setting. Though B-Side rockers were mandatory, "Real Gone Mama" was a first class jazz-tinged jump side.

There biggest Chance single was their next 45. "I Was Wrong" in June 1954, a rhythm ballad with a bluesy melody, agreat bass part, and a jumpin' bridge that was another solid example of the Moonglows carving their own vocal niche.

The Moonglows last Chance side "219 Train" was during Chance's decline and so the song received no promotion, relegating a good R&B record to instant extinction. The Moonglows left Chance after those five classics for the standard reasons, no royalities and no royality statements.

NOTE: There were two other songs recorded on the Chance label "Fine Fine Girl" and "My Love" but they were never released on 45s. It wasn't until 1964 that they were finally released on a Collectors Showcase LP on the Constellation label.