The Mad Labs

The Mad Lads were an American rhythm and blues vocal group, who recorded on the Stax subsidiary

They were originally called The Emeralds, but changed their name because there was another group of that name; the name "Mad Lads" was suggested by Stax employee Deanie Parker in response to the group's behavior and also in recognition of local disc jockey Reuben "Mad Lad" Washington.

They first recorded for Stax in 1964, releasing "The Sidewalk Surf", co-written by Isaac Hayes under the name Ed Lee, which was not a hit. However, their second record, "Don't Have to Shop Around", rose to no. 11 on the Billboard R&B chart, and no. 93 on the pop chart.Featuring organ by Hayes and piano by Booker T. Jones,it has nonetheless been described as "curiously anachronistic, owing more to doo-wop than southern soul,"and featured "the high, innocent tenor of John Gary Williams.

The guitars and horns of Make This Young Lady Mine were sampled by De La Soul for their 1989 uplifting love song Eye Know.