20. The Gems – Can’t You Take a Hint? (1964)
Like Motown’s Martha Reeves and Syreeta Wright, Minnie Riperton moonlit as a secretary (at legendary Chicago label Chess) while starting out. Soon she was singing back-up on Chess releases (including Fontella Bass’s wonderful Rescue Me), and the label released 10 singles by her Supremes-like girl-group, the Gems. This was their most charming pitch at the charts.