- Chee Chee (aka Keith Bolling - vocals

- Peppy (Dorthy Moore) - vocals

- Ambassadors of Song

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Chee Chee & Peppy

Company: Buddah

Catalog: BDS 5116

Year: 1972

Country/State: Pennsylvania

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: was sealed; still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4646

Price: $20.00

Cost: $66.00

The massive early 1970s commercial successes enjoyed by young acts such as The Jackson Five, The Partridge Family and The Osmonds saw record companies raiding any source of youth talent they could get their hands on.  One of the stranger signings was Chee Chee and Peppy.

More than anxious to hop onboard the youth train, soulster Jesse James was responsible for bringing 14 year Keith Bolling (aka Chee Chee) and the 12 year old Dorthy Moore (Peppy) together.  Bolling already had some performance experience as a member of the gospel oriented Ambassadors of Song.  Signed to Buddah the duo released a string of cutesy 45s:

- 1971's 'I Know I'm In Love' b/w 'My Love Will Never Fade Away' (Buddah catalog number BDA-225)

- 1971's 'Never Never Never' b/w 'Loving You Really Comes Easy' (Buddah catalog number BDA-254)

With the two singles hitting the R&B charts, Buddah elected to finance an album.  Produced and largely written by James, "Chee Chee & Peppy" is a fascinating effort.  First off, if you own a dog, be careful playing this album around your pet.  The pair's prepubescent vocals are liable to send the dog scurrying for the door.  Some of you won't be that far being.  It really takes a little getting use to the pair's high pitched falsettos.  There's also something momentarily creepy in hearing 12 and 14 year old kids singing love songs such as 'This Magic Moment', 'Mocking Bird' and 'I Know I'm In Love'.  Overlooking those issues, James manages to get some nice performances out of the two.  Imagine a really young Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, or early Jackson Five and you'll actually get a good feel for what the album sounds like.  Capturing that unique early 1970s blend of pop and soul, highlights include the earlier single 'Never, Never, Never' and the James-penned 'Try the Man (Finds Peace of Mind)'.  (I've always wanted to see a copy of the performance, but the pair appeared on an American Bandstand episode.  Anyone seen it?)  

"Chee Chee & Peppy" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) This Magic Moment   (Doc Pomus - Mort Shuman) - 

2.) A Lover's Question   (Benton - Williams) - 

3.) Never, Never, Never   (Jesse James) - 

4.) Mocking Bird   (Charles Foxx - Inez Foxx) -

5.) Loving You Really Comes Easy 

6.) Try the Man (Finds Peace of Mind)   (Jesse James) - 

(side 2)
1.) I Know I'm In Love  (Jesse James) - 

2.) We Belong To Each Other   (Jesse James) - 

3.) We Call It Love   (Jesse James - B. Williams) - 

3.) Yaba Daba Do  (Jesse James) - 

4.) My Love Will Never Fade Away   (Jesse James) -