The Flirtations are Americans – the Pearce sisters from South Carolina, plus Viola “Pearly Gates” Billups of Alabama – but they’re much better known in the UK. Our loss!
The trio moved to London in the late 60s, figuring correctly that they might stand out from other American girl-groups if they were outside of America. They had a string of singles during the UK’s soul revival; the most successful was the stirring “Nothing But A Heartache,” which came out in December 1968. The b-side, “Christmas Time Is Here Again,” was as timely as it was catchy, a magnificent slice of widescreen soul-pop that I just can’t stop playing this time of year.
