Gaylords had local popularity in Glasgow as a R&B band, but changed the sound when getting a recording contract with CBS. And the new pop-sound paid off in 1968 when three singles in a row hit the charts in Britain. Their cover version of Ob-la-di Ob-la-da took them all the way to the top in many European countries, including England and Sweden. When recording the song, ahead of the Beatles' release, Marmalade did not even know it was a Lennon-McCartney composition.

In 1969, the success continued with Baby Make It Soon(#9 in Britain), and Reflections Of My Life(#3 in Britain and #10 in U.S.).

Between 1970 and 1972 the group had another six hits on the british charts, until bad press and lineup changes eventually halted their career. In 1976 Marmalade, with new members, managed a small come back with Falling Apart At The Seams.

In U.S. Reflections Of My Life and Rainbow (1970) managed to reach Billboard, and the album Reflections of My Life (#71) did better in U.S. than in Britain. Otherwise Marmalade was a relatively unknown group in U.S.

In 2006, Marmalade are still performig as an oldies act, playing at cabarets and clubs and touring in Europe.