"(Like A) Nightmare" is a 1964 single recorded by

The Andantes The Andantes were an American female session group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Ma ...

for the V.I.P. ( Motown) label. Written and composed by Motown's main production team

Holland–Dozier–Holland Holland–Dozier–Holland was a songwriting and production team consisting of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland. The trio wrote, arranged and produced many songs that helped define the Motown sound in the 1960s. Du ...

, it became the second and last official single by the session group from the company. The song's narrator tells off her lover, saying how it hurt her to find he's been unfaithful to her. :'' It was Like A Nightmare,'' :'' To know my love you didn’t share,'' :'' Like A Nightmare,'' :'' To see you in a love affair.'' Although this is the only single credited to the group, it was actually their second single; their previous single "

Too Hurt to Cry, Too Much in Love to Say Goodbye "Too Hurt to Cry, Too Much in Love to Say Goodbye" is a 1963 song and single written and composed by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland.The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 3: 1963 iner notes New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Univ ...

" was credited to "the Darnells". The Andantes, as one of the label's main session groups, sang background vocals for numerous Motown acts, and used to "sweeten" the sound of others. The group was apparently promised by the company that they would be allowed to record a few singles, but this single was the only one credited to the group. Furthermore, the group was not even allowed to front either side of either single. Former Challengers III lead, and future Marvelette, Ann Bogan leads both sides of this single. (Marvelette

Gladys Horton The Marvelettes were an American girl group that achieved popularity in the early to mid-1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who wa ...

, whom Bogan later replaced, was main lead on the previous single's A-side;

Lamont Dozier Lamont Herbert Dozier (; June 16, 1941 – August 8, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Detroit, Michigan. He co-wrote and produced 14 US ''Billboard'' number-one hits and four number ones in the UK. Career Doz ...

, of

, lead its B-side.) Motown did little to promote the single and it was quickly withdrawn, and thus did not chart. The group would continue to back the labels acts in the studio until the labels move to Los Angeles in 1972. The Andantes would back Bogan again on the Marvelettes' 1968 single "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can".The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969 iner notes New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records By the time the Marvelettes disbanded at the end of the decade, the Andantes had, including their singles as well, backed all three Marvelettes lead singers on 16 singles (and several more recordings).

Personnel

* Lead vocals by Ann Bogan * Background vocals by

: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps * Instrumentation by

The Funk Brothers The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Its members are considered among the most successful groups of stud ...

References

External links

"(Like A) Nightmare" -by ''The Andantes'' (1964) - Song Review from the "Motown Junkies" website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Like a Nightmare The Andantes songs 1964 songs 1964 singles Songs written by Holland–Dozier–Holland Song recordings produced by Lamont Dozier Song recordings produced by Brian Holland Motown singles