Mickey & Sylvia
Although this duo is primarily remembered as a one-hit act -- for "Love Is Strange," which reached number 11 in 1957 -- they actually recorded quite a few exciting hybrids of R&B and rock & roll in the mid- and late '50s. Playing on countless '50s sessions for various labels (especially Atlantic and OKeh), Mickey Baker was one of the greatest guitar players of early rock & roll. With his partner (and former guitar student) Sylvia Robinson, he got to stretch out a bit from his usual role, with some trailblazing, piercing, lean, and bluesy leads. Vocally, Mickey & Sylvia had an engagingly playful, occasionally sly and sassy repartee that makes up in charm what it might lack in smoke and firepower. Their recordings were inconsistent, but at their best they offered a fetching blend of blues, Bo Diddley, calypso, and doo wop.
After "Love Is Strange," whose devastating licks inspired countless guitarists, the duo notched a couple more substantial R&B hits. But although they recorded as late as 1965, they never approached the Top 20 again. Mickey Baker recorded as a solo artist and enjoyed a fairly successful career as an expatriate sessionman in France. Sylvia Robinson unexpectedly re-emerged with the number three pre-disco hit "Pillow Talk" in 1973, and co-founded the pioneering rap label Sugar Hill in the late '70s.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Presenting Mickey & Sylvia
R&B - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on 11 Mar 1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
New Sounds
Pop - Released by Legacy Recordings on 1 Jan 1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Love Is Strange
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 4 Jun 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Is Strange: the Best of
Rock - Released by Classic Music International on 3 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love in Strange: All the Hit Singles As & Bs (1950 - 1962)
R&B - Released by Jasmine Records on 6 Apr 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Master Tape Records on 3 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
There He Is (Rhythm 'n' Blues Legends)
Martha Reeves, The Vandellas, Lavern Baker, Mickey & Sylvia
R&B - Released by Rabbit Musik on 6 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Mickey & Sylvia
Soul - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 13 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Is Strange - I'm Going Home
Rock - Released by Tampete on 10 Apr 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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What Would I Do (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Mickey & Sylvia - The Essential
Soul - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 27 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mickey & Sylvia Love Is a Treasure (The Hit Singles)
R&B - Released by Bamboodi on 19 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rock and Stroll Room (Mono Version)
Rock - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mickey & Sylvia (Vintage Charm)
R&B - Released by Don't stop the music on 5 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bewildered (Billboard Hot 100 - No 57)
R&B - Released by Music Manager on 13 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Is Strange (Billboard Hot 100 - No 11)
R&B - Released by Music Manager on 13 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Dearest (Billboard Hot 100 - No 85)
Soul - Released by Music Manager on 13 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo