Dorothy Moore -

Dorothy Moore is an American soul singer who released twenty albums between 1976 and 2020. She first appeared in The Dolletts, an R&B girl group that morphed into The Poppies, which cut four singles and one 1966 album.

As Dottie Cambridge, she cut two 1968 singles on MGM, followed by a one-off with Dorothy & The Hesitations. After four non-album singles, she signed with Malaco Records and charted with “Misty Blue,” a crossover pop ballad followed by the R&B hits “Funny How Time Slips Away,” “I Believe You,” and “With Pen in Hand.”

Background

Dorothy Moore was born on October 13, 1946, in Jackson, Mississippi, to Mary Moore and Melvin Hendrex Sr. Her father performed under the stagename Melvin Henderson in a 1940s incarnation of Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, a perennial gospel quartet. Dorothy was raised by her great grandmother and sang in church choir from an early age.

The Dolletts

In 1964, Dorothy Moore formed The Dolletts, a soul-pop girl group with singers Petsye McCune and Rosemary Taylor. They linked with ABC/Paramount for the February 1965 single “Small Talk (Doesn’t Bother Me),” a co-write by producer Bob McRee and songwriting brothers Clifton and Edward Thomas; backed with the Thomas brothers’ “Free From the Chains of Love.” Moore, McCune, and Taylor renamed their act The Poppies.

The Poppies

Between January 31 and April 22, 1966, The Poppies released two Epic singles: “Lullaby of Love” (b/w “I Wonder Why”) and “He’s Ready” (b/w “He’s Got Real Love”). All four sides appear on their 1966 Epic album Lullaby of Love.

A1. “Lullaby of Love” (2:18) Billy Sherrill, Larry Butler
A2. “The Love We Knew” (2:38) Clifton Thomas, Edward Thomas
A3. “Don’t Throw Our Love Away” (2:28) B. Patterson, C. Thomas
A4. “Spellbound” (2:22) George Motola, Rickie Page
A5. “Sure Is Worth It” (2:15) Bob McRee, Thomas/Thomas

B1. “He’s Ready” (2:20) Sherrill, Glenn Sutton
B2. “Wonderful World of Love” (2:40) McRee/Thomas/Thomas
B3. “I Wonder Why” (2:31) Patsy McCune
B4. “The Love Song” (2:43) Sherrill/Sutton
B5. “He’s Got Real Love” (2:45) Thomas/Thomas

Between August 5 and December 30, 1966, The Poppies released two non-album Epic singles.

A. “Do It with Soul” (2:30) – Clinton Thomas, Ed Thomas
B. “He Means So Much to Me” (2:55) – George Motola, Richard Page

Billy Sherrill produced both sides of Epic 5-10059.

A. “There’s a Pain in My Heart” – Clinton Thomas, Ed Thomas
B. “My Love and I” – Billy Sherrill, Larry Butler

Billy Sherrill produced both sides of Epic 5-10086.

Dottie Cambridge Singles

Between October 1967 and March 1968, Moore cut two singles for MGM as Dottie Cambridge.

A. “Cry Your Eyes Out” (2:32) – B. McRee, Ed Thomas, C. Thomas
B. “Perfect Boy” – B. McRee, Ed Thomas, C. Thomas

Huey P. Meaux produced both sides of MGM K 13846 for Alan Lorber Productions.

A. “He’s About a Mover” (1:58) – Doug Sahm
B. “Save Our Love Baby” (2:27) – Ed Thomas, B. McRee, C. Thomas

Huey P. Meaux produced both sides of MGM K 13902.

Dorothy & The Hesitations

In August 1968, Moore cut one single on Jamie Records as the namesake of Dorothy & The Hesitations.

A. “Trying to Work a Plan” (2:10) – Ed Thomas
B. “Don’t Set Me Up (For the Kill)” (2:03) – Ed Thomas

MAC Productions produced both sides of Jamie 1358.

1972 Avco Singles

Between February and July 1972, Dorothy Moore cut two singles for Avco.

A. “See How They’ve Done My Love” (2:33) – Dave Crawford, Willie Martin
B. “One Day You’re Gonna Hurt Me” (3:19) – Jerry Puckett

Jerry Puckett produced both sides of Avco AV-4590 at Malaco Studios. Puckett and Ed Butler arranged “See How They’ve Done My Love.”

A. “Same Old Feeling” (2:51) – Paul Davis
B. “One Day You’re Gonna Hurt Me” (3:19) – Jerry Puckett

Paul Davis and Jerry Puckett produced “Same Old Feeling,” which Davis and Ed Butler arranged. Puckett produced “One Day You’re Gonna Hurt Me.”

1973–74 Singles

In September 1973, Moore released one single on GSF Records.

A. “Cry Like a Baby” (2:56) – Jo Armstead, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
B. “Just the One I’ve Been Looking For” (2:20) – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Alvertis Isbell

Jerry Puckett produced both sides of GSF 6908 for Malaco Productions. “Cry Like a Baby” reached No. 79 on the US R&B chart.

In 1974, Moore released one single on Chimneyville.

A. “Don’t Let Go” – Jesse Stone
B. “Two of a Kind” (3:12) – Paul Davis, George Soule

Tommy Couch and James Stroud produced “Don’t Let Go.” Malaco staff produced “Two of a Kind.”

Misty Blue

Dorothy Moore released her debut album, Misty Blue, in May 1976 on Malaco.

Misty Blue blends ballads and country-derived material, performed with the Malaco Rhythm Section and the Muscle Shoals Horns, arranged by Wardell Quezergue.

The personnel include nearly thirty players. The core rhythm credits name keyboardist Carson Whitsett, drummer James Stroud, guitarist Jimmy Johnson, and bassist Don Barrett. Moore sings with backing vocalists Jewel Bass, Jeanette Williams, and Marquis Butler.

“Misty Blue” opens on Moore’s hum; she curls the verse line toward a restrained string refrain and rhythm-guitar shading. “Funny How Time Slips Away” sets plain-spoken lament around measured pauses and soft downward cadences. “The Dark End of the Street” holds Moore in a hushed register across the central confession.

“The Only Time You Ever Say You Love Me” sets her lead against compact response vocals around the refrain. “Ain’t That a Mother’s Luck” sharpens the complaint lines through harder consonants and clipped phrase endings.

A1. “The Only Time You Ever Say You Love Me” (3:35) – Phillip Mitchell
A2. “At the Dark End of The Street” (2:54) – Chips Moman, Dan Penn
A3. “Funny How Time Slips Away” (3:52) – Willie Nelson
A4. “Laugh It Off” (3:12) – Carson Whitsett
A5. “Misty Blue” (3:42) – Bob Montgomery

B1. “There’s Enough Woman Left (To Be Your Lady)” (3:05) – Whitsett
B2. “I Don’t Want to Be With Nobody But You” (4:15) – Eddie Floyd
B3. “Ain’t That a Mother’s Luck” (3:21) – Jerry Strickland, Dino Zimmerman
B4. “Too Much Love” (3:25) – Floyd, Whitsett
B5. “It’s So Good” (2:27) – Floyd

Tommy Couch produced and engineered Misty Blue with James Stroud and Wolf Stephenson in both roles. George Williams designed the cover package with photography by Billy Ray.

Malaco lifted “Misty Blue” as a November 1975 single (b/w “Here It Is”). The single reached No. 2 on Billboard R&B Singles and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart. Billboard also placed it at No. 14 on Adult Contemporary.

“Funny How Time Slips Away” became a July 1976 single (b/w “Ain’t That a Mother’s Luck”). The single reached No. 7 on Billboard R&B Singles and No. 58 on the Hot 100 chart. Billboard also placed it at No. 46 on Adult Contemporary.

Misty Blue reached No. 10 on Billboard R&B Albums and No. 29 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Dorothy Moore

Dorothy Moore released her self-titled second album in July 1977 on Malaco.

Moore sings ballads, mid-tempo R&B, and dance-chart material across the album, performed again with the Malaco Rhythm Section. Mike Lewis arranged the string and horn parts, with Wardell Quezergue credited on “For Old Time’s Sake.”

Malaco credited the core rhythm group of Stroud, Whitsett, guitarist Dino Zimmerman, and Barrett. The record adds harpist Betty Rosenbaum, horn player Bob Cheesman, and additional horn parts by Mike Lewis and Phares Corder. Moore’s daughter Formeka appears in the spoken passage on “With Pen In Hand.”

“I Believe You” lingers through a love-ballad form, with Moore easing the refrain through long vowels and contained upward turns. “Let the Music Play” loosens the album with a firmer dance-side rhythm, where the chorus answers the lead in short, public-facing phrases. “1-2-3 (You and Me)” clips the text into a lighter count-pattern refrain. “With Pen in Hand” recites part of its divorce-letter text through a child’s spoken vocal, then returns Moore to a controlled adult plea.

A1. “Let the Music Play” (3:47) – Frederick Knight
A2. “I Believe You” (3:39) – Dick Addrisi, Don Addrisi
A3. “Love Me” (3:41) – Eddie Floyd, Sonja Floyd
A4. “Make It Soon” (3:27) – Bob McRee, Carson Whitsett
A5. “With Pen In Hand” (6:08) – Bobby Goldsboro

B1. “1-2-3 (You And Me)” (3:10) – George Fischoff
B2. “Loving You Is Just an Old Habit” (3:58) – Jim Weatherly
B3. “Daddy’s Eyes” (3:23) – James Stroud, Tommy Couch, Wolf Stephenson
B4. “For Old Time’s Sake” (3:43) – Knight
B5. “Too Blind to See” (4:14) – Dorothy Moore

Tommy Couch produced Dorothy Moore with James Stroud and Wolf Stephenson. The recording and remix engineer credits also name James Griffin. Image Art Studio designed the cover package.

“For Old Time’s Sake” appeared as a November 1976 single (b/w “Daddy’s Eyes”). Billboard placed it at No. 53 on R&B Singles.

The label lifted “I Believe You” as a June 1977 single (b/w “Love Me”). The single reached No. 5 on Billboard R&B Singles and No. 27 on the Hot 100 chart. Billboard also placed it at No. 24 on Adult Contemporary.

“With Pen In Hand” became a 1977 single (b/w “Too Blind To See”). Billboard placed it at No. 12 on R&B Singles.

In April 1978, “Let The Music Play” reappeared as a single (b/w “1-2-3 (You And Me)”). Billboard placed “Let The Music Play” at No. 50 on R&B Singles and No. 32 on Dance Music. “1-2-3 (You And Me)” reached No. 93 on R&B Singles.

Dorothy Moore reached No. 26 on Billboard R&B Albums and No. 120 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Once More with Feeling

Dorothy Moore released her third album, Once Moore With Feeling, in November 1978 on Malaco.

Feeling contains four Jim Weatherly songs, two Sam Dees credits, and single-song credits by Ralph Graham and King Floyd. Mike Lewis arranged strings and horns across Side A. Charles Chalmers arranged “Being Alone” and “He Knows Just Where To Touch Me.” Mickey Davis arranged “If I Could Just Find My Way Back To You.”

The rhythm credits name bassist Don Barrett and drummer James Stroud. The same credit group adds keyboardist Carson Whitsett with guitarists Dino Zimmerman and Fred Knobloch. Backing vocalists include Donna Rhodes, Charles Chalmers, Sandra Rhodes, Jewel Bass, Jeanette Williams, and Kathy Young.

“Special Occasion” broadens from the title phrase into a softened romantic chorus. “What Am I to Do” lets the direct-question line hang before the cadence. “(We Need More) Loving Time” repeats the title phrase as a compact plea. “He Knows Just Where to Touch Me” closes in intimate address as Moore holds the vocal line close to the text.

A1. “Special Occasion” (3:49) – Sam Dees
A2. “What Am I to Do” (3:12) – Ralph Graham
A3. “Girl Overboard” (3:54) – Frederick Knight, Dees
A4. “Write a Little Prayer” (3:00) – King Floyd
A5. “The Going Ups and the Coming Downs” (3:15) – Weatherly

B1. “(We Need More) Loving Time” (3:33) – Joe Shamwell, A.D. Prestage, Charles McCullough
B2. “Being Alone” (3:51) – Weatherly
B3. “If I Could Just Find My Way Back to You” (4:09) – Weatherly
B4. “He Knows Just Where to Touch Me” (3:30) – Weatherly

Tommy Couch produced Once Moore With Feeling with James Stroud and Wolf Stephenson. James Griffin joined Couch, Stroud, and Stephenson in the engineering credits.

“Special Occasion” appeared as a 1978 single (b/w “Girl Overboard”). The single reached No. 30 on Billboard R&B Singles. “(We Need More) Loving Time” followed as a 1979 single (b/w “Write A Little Prayer”) and reached No. 81 on Billboard R&B Singles.

Definitely Dorothy

Dorothy Moore released her fourth album, Definitely Dorothy, on October 16, 1979, on Malaco. In Australia, RCA Victor issued the album as Once or Twice.

The album places recent country songs beside older pop material and a medley that joins “Since I Don’t Have You” with “Since I Fell For You.” Jim Weatherly contributes “How’d We Ever Get This Way” and “Mississippi Song.”

“Once or Twice” lingers on wistful phrasing, with Moore weighing the refrain through small turns and soft cadences. “Rain” darkens the album with a murkier rhythmic bed and low-register vocal shading. “Mississippi Song” stretches Moore’s lead into a sustained place-name lament. “Since I Don’t Have You / Since I Fell for You” joins two confession songs into one medley, with the vocal held to slow release points. “The End of the World” settles into plain question phrasing and measured cadence.

A1. “Once or Twice” (2:45) – Carol Anderson, Robert Parsons
A2. “Rain” (3:09) – Mac Rebennack
A3. “How’d We Ever Get This Way” (3:43) – Jim Weatherly
A4. “I Feel the Hurt Coming On” (2:55) – Dennis W. Morgan, Rhonda Fleming
A5. “Can’t Keep A Good Love Down” (3:24) – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

B1. “Since I Don’t Have You / Since I Fell For You” (3:18) – Buddy Johnson, James Beaumont, Joseph Rock, John Taylor, Janet Vogel, Joseph Verscharen, Lennie Martin, Walter Lester
B2. “Sleeping Single In a Double Bed” (2:41) – Morgan, Fleming
B3. “The End of the World” (3:17) – Arthur Kent, Sylvia Dee
B4. “Lookin’ for a Lovin’” (2:43) – Barry Goldberg, Phyllis Brown
B5. “Mississippi Song” (4:57) – Weatherly

Tom Collins produced Definitely Dorothy. Bergen White arranged the string parts. Lonnie Keyes photographed the cover package.

“Once Or Twice” appeared as a 1979 single (b/w “Love Me”).

Talk to Me

Dorothy Moore released her fifth album, Talk to Me, on March 15, 1980, on Malaco.

The album opens with Joe Seneca’s “Talk To Me / Every Beat Of My Heart” and closes with Carson Whitsett’s “Lonely.” Side B contains three extended cuts, with two Whitsett titles surrounding George Harrison’s “Something.”

“Talk to Me / Every Beat of My Heart” pairs Moore’s close lead with a steady answering chorus. “Crazy in Love” compresses the confession text into short refrain turns. “Angel of the Morning” slows the reading around controlled cadences and a clean title phrase. “There’ll Never Be Another Night Like This” sets Moore against long vocal lines and softened backing voices. “Lonely” resigns on close-miked restraint and measured phrase endings.

A1. “Talk to Me / Every Beat of My Heart” (3:45) – Joe Seneca
A2. “Crazy In Love” (4:10) – Thomas Cain, Clifford Curry Jr.
A3. “Angel of the Morning” (5:20) – Chip Taylor
A4. “It’s All In the Game” (3:38) – Charles Dawes, Carl Sigman
A5. “If I Could Feel That Old Feeling Again” (4:10) – David Camon

B1. “There’ll Never Be Another Night Like This” (7:00) – Carson Whitsett
B2. “Something” (6:38) – George Harrison
B3. “Lonely” (7:25) – Whitsett

Tommy Couch and Wolf Stephenson produced Talk to Me with Carson Whitsett. Mike Lewis arranged the string and horn parts. Reedist Jay Stricker appears on saxophone solo and flute.

“Talk to Me / Every Beat of My Heart” appeared as a 1980 single (b/w “Lonely”). The single reached No. 87 on Billboard R&B Singles.

“There’ll Never Be Another Night Like This” followed as a 1980 single (b/w “Crazy In Love”). “Angel of the Morning” also appeared as a 1980 single (b/w “Make It Soon”).

Discography: