Bu May 1982, the group's
"One Track Mind album had been released in the UK on Red Lightenin' RL 0040. Saxophonist
Gene Barge joined the group after he toured with the Rolling Stones in Europe during 1982. It was reported by
Billboard in the magazine's 1 October 1983 issue that
Alligator Records had launched their first video clip. It was filmed at the Crystal Ballroom of Chicago's Blackstone Hotel. The production and direction of the clip was overseen by Michael Dawson. In the clip, Big Twist and the band changed the vibe of what appeared to be a stuffy cocktail event into a party of r&b fanatics. The clip was "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy", which was from the group's
Playing for Keeps album. The group recorded the single, "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy" bw "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man". By January 1984, it was released in the UK on
Sonet SON 2262. The group's fourth album,
Live from Chicago!, Bigger Than Life was released in 1987. It was reviewed in the November issue of
Down Beat, where it received four stars. The reviewer said that it was possibly their best album. Nelson George of
Billboard called it a Good house-rocking record and said that the band wasn't original but it was fun, giving "300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy" as an example of that fun. Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows and another act, The Van Dorens played at the Celebrate Brooklyn festival on 17 July 1988. It was reported in the 20 November 1992 issue of
Cash Box that Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows were one of the nominees for the 15th annual
NAACP Image Awards. ==Later years etc.==