Album Review: You Don’t Have To by Gee Gee And The Upnilons (Lester Jr. & Co.)
Alright, let’s talk about this little gem from ‘64 that deserves way more love than it gets—You Don’t Have To, brought to you by the unsung heroes of rock-drenched doo-wop, Gee Gee And The Upnilons (with Lester Jr. holding it down). Released on Lummtone Records in the good ol’ US of A, this album is like finding a dusty vinyl at a garage sale and realizing it’s pure gold. Ray Shanklin handled the arrangements, which honestly? Adds just enough spice to keep things groovy.
Now, I gotta say, two tracks stuck with me after spinning this record: “Do The Movement” and—you guessed it—the title track, “You Don’t Have To.” Both are total earworms but for different reasons.
“Do The Movement” feels like your cool older cousin teaching you how to dance without looking like a total goofball. It’s upbeat, kinda cheeky, and has these harmonies that make you wanna grab someone’s hand and twirl around the living room. The rhythm hits hard enough to get your feet tapping, but there’s also this playful vibe that makes it feel like they weren’t taking themselves too seriously. Honestly? That’s what makes it memorable. There’s no overthinking here—just raw fun wrapped up in some sweet, sweet doo-wop goodness.
Then there’s “You Don’t Have To,” which is where the band really lets their heart show. This one slows things down a bit, giving you those classic rock vibes with a side of soulful crooning. The lyrics hit differently—they’re simple yet punchy, reminding you not to sweat the small stuff or try too hard when life already hands you lemons. Something about the way Gee Gee belts out the chorus sticks in your brain long after the needle lifts off the record. Like…damn, maybe we all need a reminder to chill sometimes, ya know?
What strikes me most about this album is how unpretentious it feels. These guys weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they were just making music that made people smile. And honestly? We could use more of that today. Listening to You Don’t Have To feels like stepping back into an era where everything wasn’t filtered through screens and algorithms—it’s real, raw, and refreshingly human.
Random thought though—if this album came out now, would TikTok kids go nuts over “Do The Movement”? Probably. But hey, who am I to judge? All I know is, if you haven’t heard this yet, go find it. Trust me, your ears will thank you later. Or at least, they’ll have something fun to chew on while you figure out how to do the movement yourself.
