The Mad Lads

The Mad Lads were an American soul music group formed in Memphis, Tennessee. The band was founded in 1963 by John Gary Williams, Julius E. Green, William Brown, and Robert Phillips. Initially known as The Emeralds, they changed their name to avoid confusion with another group of the same name. While still in high school, the Mad Lads signed their first record deal with Stax Records at the end of 1964. Their music featured doo-wop-influenced harmonies, a style more commonly associated with Philadelphia Soul than Memphis. The Mad Lads achieved significant chart success in the mid-1960s with three singles reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard R&B Charts: "Don’t Have to Shop Around" (Number 11), "I Want Someone" (Number 10), and "I Want a Girl" (Number 16). In 1966, John Gary Williams and William Brown were drafted into the military, leading to a hiatus in the band's career. Upon their return, tensions arose within the group, particularly regarding William Brown's reintegration. Despite these challenges, The Mad Lads returned to the charts with "Whatever Hurts You" (Number 31) and "So Nice" (Number 35) in 1968, followed by their final charting single "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (Number 28) in 1969. After releasing A New Beginning in 1973, the group disbanded. John Gary Williams later re-activated The Mad Lads with new members, resulting in the albums Madder Than Ever in 1990 and Love Songs for Lovers in 2011.