Trivia: “Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom” is the 1st true studio album by Rose Royce. Their first actual album was the Original Soundtrack album for the film “Car Wash” from which they achieved two major hit singles “Car Wash” and “I Wanna Get Next To You.” “In Full Bloom,” though it did not have any major hits in the US was a bigger hit than “Car Wash” in the US and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. This was their only platinum in the US.
The album is solid and is full of dance and quiet storm hits. “Ooh Boy” one of the albums rhythmic ballads gives us a Michael Jackson sort of feel.
“You’re My World, Girl” not released as a single is very similar to “I Wanna Get Next To You.” Most of the songs on the album feature the lead vocals of the incomparable Gwen Dickey but “You’re My World, Girl” features the vocals of Kenny Copeland as does “I Wanna Get Next To You.
“Do Your Dance” and “It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’” both follow in the same vein as “Car Wash” both made it to #20 on the US Dance/Disco charts. “Do Your Dance” made it to US #39, becoming Rose Royce’s 3rd US top 40 hit out of four total.
The album highlight “Wishing On A Star” ironically was not a hit in the US. It only made it to #101 on the US singles chart and #52 on the US R&B chart. As time has gone by the song though has become a classic in the US. In other parts of the world, the song was a huge hit reaching #1 in France and #3 in the UK. The song was certified Silver in the UK.
"Wishing on a Star" was written by former Undisputed Truth member Billie Rae Calvin. The song was covered by several artists and was finally a hit in the US in 1992 by the Cover Girls but it is the original version by Rose Royce that is now most recognized in the US and around the world.
Singles and Chart Positions: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” #1 (US), #2 (Canada, France), #3 (Italy), #8 (UK), #12 (Netherlands, South Africa), #13 (Belgium), #23 (Australia), #25 (Germany), #1 (US R&B), #26 (US Adult Contemporary) “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” #1 (UK, Italy), #2 (US, South Africa), #3 (Brazil), #4 (France), #5 (Canada), #6 (Ireland, Belgium), #7 (Australia, Austria, Switzerland), #9 (Germany), #13 (Netherlands), #1 (US R&B), #2 (US Dance) Singles Certifications: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” (US Gold), “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” (US Gold, UK Silver) Other Charting Tracks: N/A Best Tracks: All Tracks – Solid Album from start to finish
“Can’t Get Enough” is Barry White’s third album and his first to crack the top five in the US and in many other parts of the world. This was Barry’s breakout, the one that launched him to worldwide superstardom.
The album topped the R&B albums chart, his third to do so. It also topped the US Billboard 200 and peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart as well as #1 in Italy and #2 in Canada and France.
Barry White wrote all the songs on the album as well as producing, arranging and engineering the album. White was a super talent well worth the recognition he received throughout the 70s and into the 90s.
Despite featuring two of his biggest career hits the album is a solid work with every song worthy of having been a single release.
“Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” was released as the first single from his album Can't Get Enough in 1974, the song topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts and was a big hit throughout much of Europe. It was his second U.S. chart-topper, after "Love's Theme". The song is a pop-soul track with lush string arrangements and a disco-influenced beat behind it.
Barry White fell in love in 1973 with Glodean James, who was one of the members of his Love Unlimited backing trio of singers. He wrote, “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” for her one night when he had troubles falling asleep. Barry and Glodean married in October 1974 and for a time were one of the best-known couples in showbiz. The pair separated in 1988 but never divorced and remained good friends for the remainder of White's life.
“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” has gone on to become Barry’s biggest career hit and was the second single from the album. The song was White's fourth top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, reaching #2; it spent a week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The early disco classic made it to number two on the disco/dance charts. In the UK Singles Chart, it fared even better, spending two weeks at the top in December 1974. It was also #1 in Italy, #2 in South Africa, #3 in Brazil, #4 in France and #5 in Canada and reached the Top 20 in another dozen countries around the world.
"You're The First, The Last, My Everything" (1974)
White's friend Peter Radcliffe started writing this as a Country song called "You're My First, You're My Last, My In-Between," but he couldn't get it recorded for 21 years. White recorded this as a Disco song, keeping most of the structure and two-thirds the title, but he rewrote the lyrics.
The album was a big winner at the 1974 NAACP Awards, which were presented in January 1975. White won Album of the Year ("Can't Get Enough), Male Vocalist of the Year and Producer of the Year. He attended the awards ceremony with his (then) wife Glodean.
The following review appeared in the July 20, 1974 issue of Billboard Magazine in the Top Single Picks section: "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe" "Short talking intro leads into strongest vocal Barry has come up with in some time. Most uptempo thing he's done in a while, which includes his usual strong production work and distinctive beat which should be perfect for discos. Could cross easily into pop."
Trivia: “Too Hot To Handle” is the debut album from Heatwave, an international funk/disco band formed in 1975. Its most popular lineup featured Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder (vocals) of Dayton, Ohio, Englishman Rod Temperton (keyboards), Swiss Mario Mantese (bass), Czechoslovak Ernest "Bilbo" Berger (drums), Jamaican Eric Johns (guitar) and Briton Roy Carter (guitar).
Initially “Boogie Nights” was released in France in 1975, where it became a hit in the dance clubs but did not catch on in other parts of the world. Soon after, in 1976, they released two singles in the UK; “Ain’t No Half Steppin” and “Super Soul sister” both songs failed to chart. Finally another push was given to “Boogie Nights,” this time on an international level, this time around the song because a huge hit making it into the Top 10 in more than half a dozen countries around the world. In the US the song reached #2 and was certified Platinum for more than 1 million copies sold.
“Always and Forever” did not chart as high as “Boogie Nights,” though it was a worldwide hit and has gone on to become a smooth groove classic. The song has been used in weddings and proms throughout the world and remains a favorite Valentine’s Day song.
The album showed much potential for the group as the album employs nothing but quality tracks.
The legendary Rod Temperton (keyboards and synthesizer) composed all the songs on the album. Temperton went on to international fame as a songwriter and vocal arranger. He wrote several songs for Michael Jackson including “Rock With You,” “Off The Wall,” “Burn This Disco Out,” “Thriller,” “Baby Be Mine” and “The Lady In My Life.” Temperton also wrote hits for artists such as Manhattan Transfer, Donna Summer, Brothers Johnson, George Benson and Quincy Jones. Temperton also wrote three songs for Karen Carpenter’s solo album in 1979-80 for which he also composed the vocal arrangements.
Trivia: KC and the Sunshine Band forever shaped the perception people have of the 70s as the era of disco-pop with hits such as “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Get Down Tonight.” It seems as if they came out of nowhere and became an overnight sensation, but the reality is before their string of hits in 1975, KC and the Sunshine Band released their first album (in 1974) which did not chart and contained four singles all of which charted low. Finally with their second album they hit and they hit big.
“Get Down Tonight” was KC and the Sunshine Band’s first of five #1 hit singles. In an interview with Richard Finch, he explained that "Get Down Tonight" was inspired by the Gilbert O'Sullivan song called "Get Down," which is sometimes known as "Bad Dog, Baby." Finch explains: "O’Sullivan wrote that song about his dog. That record was really hot back then. And I was like, 'Okay, this guy has a great idea.' He's talking about 'get down.' But I didn't find out until later, he was talking about his dog. And I was like, 'Well, that's really square.' How hip is that?"
"Get Down Tonight" (1975)
The song features a distinctive introduction, in which a recorded guitar solo is rendered at double speed over a normal-speed guitar line in the background. After observing someone else slowing down a tape machine, Richard Finch had the idea of using this technique to create the guitar riff, as a way of adding something to the song "that really keeps the buzz, that really keeps the excitement going all the way through without being too artificial sounding." Finch states that he was "always doing weird science" in those days, referring to his various experiments with sound.
“KC and the Sunshine Band” was a rare album in that back in the 70s most artists usually only released 2 or 3 singles from an album and then moved to the next album. There were a total of five songs released as singles with the fifth being “Boogie Shoes.” Originally the song was not intended to be released as a single, but after it’s inclusion in the 1977 blockbuster film “Saturday Night Fever,” the song garnered quite a bit of attention and more than two years after it’s parent album’s release the song was put out as a single. The song was a success charting in the lower part of the Top 40 in The US, UK and New Zealand.
"Ain't Nothing Wrong" opens Side Two of the album and displays KCs determination to showcase more than just disco music. "Ain't Nothing Wrong" is a fine predecessor to his 1979 ballad hit "Please Don't Go." "What Makes You Happy" brings the funk out and sounds borderline between Ohio Players and The O'Jays.
Trivia: Cheryl Lynn started her career in music was in 1976 as a backup vocalist in the national touring company of the musical “The Wiz.” But her real start was in early 1976, shortly before her role in “The Wiz,” when she appeared on an episode of the Gong Show (which was not aired until many months later in 1976). She was scored a perfect 30 and tied with a Juggling Clown. In an audience applause tiebreaker it was the juggler that won the show but it is Cheryl Lynn that moved on to national and international success when record producers shopped her for a record contract. With in months she had a Top 10 hit with the classic disco track “Got To Be Real.”
Lynn’s self-titled debut album contains the two disco hits “Got To Be Real” and “Star Love” but is mostly an album filled with soulful ballads, which is the direction Lynn would take with the remainder of her career. Indicative of this direction is how she started as she did a soulful rendition of Joe Cocker’s ballad “You Are So Beautiful To Me” on the Gong Show.”
Despite the fact that Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" received massive amounts of airplay both on radio and in dance clubs the song only reached #12 on the US charts (although it did stay at #12 for three weeks). The song has gone on to become a dance music classic and was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005. To this day the song still continues to get a decent amount of play in clubs, radio, streaming sites and youtube.
Ray Parker (of "Ghostbusters fame) played the guitar on "Got To Be Real" and several other tracks on the album. Parker also co-wrote the disco track "Give My Love To you" a song which could have easily been a hit for Cheryl. Cheryl wrote the vocal melody and lyrics for "Got To Be Real," while David Paich and soon to become well known songwriter David Foster composed the music. David Foster had his own hot with "Love Theme from St Elmo's Fire" in 1985 as well as winning 16 Grammy Awards for his work as a producer and songwriter.
The album includes a soulful and rhythmic jazz influenced rendition of the Carole Bayer Sager and Melissa Manchester penned "Come In From The Rain." Several recording artists have recorded the song including Captain & Tennille, Shirley Bassey, Diana Ross, Rosemary Clooney, Carole Bayer Sager and others.
"Got To Be Real" (1978)
With it's cosmic lyrics and Cheryl out of the world powerful lead vocals "Star Love" became another disco classic the minute it was released. Though the song was not a huge hit on the charts (only #62 on the US Billboard singles chart) it did get a ton of airplay in dance clubs and on dance oriented radio stations. Upon it's release it looked as if the song was going to follow "Got To Be Real" into the Top 15. Radio programmers were keyed up for another big hit.
IN reviewing "Star Love" billboard magazine wrote the following in their February 3, 1979 issue: "Lynn follows her infectious hit "Got To Be Real" with an equally sizzling track. Repetitive synthesizer, strong horns and good vocals make this cut stand out."
Lynn’s album was co-produced by song and father David and Marty Paich. David is best known for being a member of the popular pop-rock band Toto who had hits such as “Hold The Line,” “Africa” and “Rosanna” all of which were written by Paich.
Release Date: February 10, 1976 Produced by Michael Masser, Hal Davis, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Berry Gordy, Don Costa, Lawrecne Brown, Gil Askey Genre: Soul, Disco, Pop
Label: Motown
Singles: “I Thought It Took A Little Time (But I Fell In Love Today)” #32 (UK), #47 (US), #53 (Canada), #4 (US Adult Contemporary), #6 (US R&B), “Love Hangover” #1 (US, Ireland), #3 (Canada, France), #10 (UK), #16 (Italy), #18 (Netherlands), #23 (Holland), #28 New Zealand), #69 (Australia), #1 (USR&B, US Dance), #19 (US Adult Contemporary), “One Love In My Lifetime” #24 (Canada), #25 (US), #10 (US R&B), #31 (US Adult Contemporary) Singles Certifications: “Love Hangover” Gold (US)
Other Charting Tracks: N/A Best Tracks: “Love Hangover,” “One Love In My Lifetime,” “Smile,” “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)”
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Trivia: “Diana Ross” the album was Ross' biggest-selling album since 1973's "Touch Me in the Morning", and the first of Ross' albums since her debut to yield more than four hit singles. It reached #5 on the US Billboard 200 album chart, #4 on the US Billboard R&B Album Chart and the Top 5 in the UK, where it was awarded a Gold disc for sales in excess of 100,000 copies. It was her second eponymously named album. The first was released in 1970 and was later renamed “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” The 1976 album includes the track, “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)” which was released, four months before the release of “Diana Ross,” as a single from the soundtrack “Mahogany.”
The #1 hit single “Love Hangover” is one of Diana Ross’ biggest selling singles of her entire career. Ross received a Grammy Award nomination for "Love Hangover" (Best R&B Performance, Female Artist), and an Oscar nomination for Best Song for "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)". With "Love Hangover" Diana Ross was again stepping out of her comfort zone and leading the pack. Yes, there had been disco hits over the previous year but none as dark and deep as "Love Hangover," maybe with the exception of Donna summer's "Love To Love You Baby," which was released three months later. "Love Hangover" hit the charts and sizzled all the way to the top. Diana commented, "I remember Suzanne de Passe bringing me 'Love Hangover," she had to make me believe in the song because it wasn't exactly a song, it was all feeling." Despite Diana's reservations she took it to the studio and recorded it in one take. She ad-libbed most of it. She had recently finished filming the role of Billie Holiday for the film "Lady Sings The Blues" so she put a little Billie into the song in the part where she sings, "If there's a cure for this."
"Love Hangover" (1976)
The album's third single "One Love In My Lifetime" was a sizable hit reaching #25 on the US chart, as well as #24 in Canada and received a fair amount of airplay.
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson (Ashford & Simpson) wrote and produced the anthemic Gospel tinged "Ain't Nothing But A Maybe."
Diana closes the album with the Charlie Chaplin tune "Smile," which, as an instrumental, first appeared on the soundtrack for Chaplin's 1936 film "Modern Times." In 1954 John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and gave it the title "Smile." Nat King Cole took the song into the Top Ten in 1954. Diana Ross's schmaltzy jazz and blues tinged rendition echoes her work portraying Billie Holiday.
Release Date: 1975 Produced by Roger Greenaway, Meco Monardo Genre: Disco, R&B, Soul Label: Midland International Records Chart Positions: #177 (US), #49 (Sweden) Certifications: N/A
Singles: “Doctor’s Orders” #1 (Canada), #2 (Spain), #4 (Ireland, France), #5 (Italy), #6 (New Zealand) #7 (UK), #10 (Belgium), #11 (US), #16 (South Africa), #31 (Australia), #37 (Germany), #80 (Japan), A Hurricane Is Coming Tonite” #81 (US), #79 (Canada), “Will We Make It Tonight” (No chart data)
Carol Douglas was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948. She is the daughter of Minnie Newsome, a jazz performer who has been cited as the inspiration for the Cab Calloway classic "Minnie the Moocher." The late, great R&B singer, Sam Cooke, was Carol’s cousin.
“The Carol Douglas Album” was her debut album released in early 1975 shortly after the release of her smash hit “Doctor’s Orders.” The album was an impressive pre-disco effort which helped pave the way for many subsequent albums by dance-driven R&B acts.
Carol’s debut album hit the scene with much anticipation of becoming a big hit on the power of the single “Doctor’s Orders,” that did not happen as it only reached #177 in the US and #49 in Sweden. However the lack of commercial success for the album does not take away from the well-produced gem of pleasant listening.
The liner notes on the album list Ed O’Loughlin as the producer of the song (and the album). But it was actually Meco Menardo that produced the hit song (and it’s album). The story is a bit confusing as to the erroneous listing of production credit. Meco had developed a music production company called Disco Corporation of America (DCA), the company took off pretty quick. They produced several disco hits including the cross over hit “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor. With all the work DCA was doing it turns out that one of Meco's business associates failed to handle certain business obligations in proper fashion. This caused unnecessary problems with artists and others and although not serious resulted in Meco being barred from producing for one year. This became evident when Meco produced Carol Douglas' hit Doctor's Order's, but was not allowed to be given credit as producer. The only credit he received was for arranging "Baby, Don't Let This Good Love Die." Of course we remember Meco for his 1977 disco rendition of the Star Wars theme, which reached #1 around the world. Famed disco producer, arranger and conductor arranged three songs for the album. John Davis had a few minor disco hits in the late 70s including “Ain’t That Enough For You” and “Love Magic.”
The lead single “Doctor’s Orders” was Carol’s first and only legitimate hit. She had other singles reach the lower regions of the charts but none that were actually hits. Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway and Geoff Stephens wrote the song. Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway are best known for songwriting collaborations on classic hits such as "You've Got Your Troubles", the transatlantic million selling songs, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" Geoff Stephens is also a co-writer of the hit “There’s A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World).”
“Doctor’s Orders” was first recorded by a singer named Sunny, whom with her singing partner Sue, was hired to sing with the group Brotherhood of Man in 1969. Brotherhood of Man had a huge hit in 1970 with the song “United We Stand.” Sue and Sunny left the group in early 1973 and they pursued a career as a singing duo and respectively as solo artists. Sunny was the first person to record “Doctor’s Orders” as she had maintained a friendship with the song’s writer Roger Greenaway, who was also a member of Brotherhood of Man. Sunny’s version, was a bit faster and had a country twist to it. The song was a sizeable hit for her in the UK and Ireland, but it was not until seven months later that the song finally became a worldwide smash hit. It was Carol Douglas’ discofied version that sent the song up the charts all around the world. It charted in Canada (#1), US, UK, Japan, South Africa and almost everywhere else in the world. Not only was it a pop hit but Carol Douglas crossed over to other genres taking the song to #2 on the US Disco chart, #9 on the US Hot Soul Songs chart and #42 on the US Easy Listening chart.
"Doctor's Orders"
The second single from Carol Douglas “A Hurricane Is Coming Tonite” charted in the US and Canada but did not make it much higher than #80. The song was written by Allan Kenneth Bernstein and Ed O’Loughlin. Bernstein wrote the songs “This Girl Is a Woman Now” (a hit for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap) and “After The Lovin’” (Made popular by Engelburt Humperdinck. O’Loughlin was listed as the album’s producer but was actually a songwriter and arranger on the album.
The third single “Will We Make It Tonight” did not chart and was written by Mark Barkan (who wrote several hits for Petula Clark, Leslie Gore and Little Peggy Marsh) and Rajah Heyworth (who also co-wrote the song “A Friend In Need” with Mark Barkan for Carol Douglas).
Release Date: September 25, 1978 Produced by Jacques Morali Genre: Disco Label: Casablanca Chart Positions: #1 (Germany, Austria), #2 (Canada), #3 (US, Sweden, France), #5 (Norway), #6 (Netherlands, New Zealand), #24 (UK), #27 (Japan) Certifications: 3xPlatinum (Canada), Platinum (US), Gold (Germany)
Singles: “Hot Cop” (#2 US Disco), “YMCA” #1 (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, New Zealand, UK, France, Ireland, Canada, Australia), #2 (US, Norway), #3 (South Africa), #10 (Japan)
Cruisin' is the third studio album by the American disco group Village People, released on September 25, 1978. Features the hits "Hot Cop" and "Y.M.C.A." which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
After the success of Macho Man, the Jacques Morali-produced Village People unleashed their biggest ever hit upon an eager public with the September 1978 release of their third LP, Cruisin'. Having already become symbols of the outrageous hedonism of the disco movement, the band now thrust their high camp into the mainstream, and what was once intended to draw people to the clubs now brought an entire nation to the milieu.
YMCA (1978)
The first single release “Hot Cop” did not fare well on the charts but did reach #2 on Billboard’s Hot Disco Songs in the US. Victor Willis sang the lead vocal on the song as it served to be his theme song as he played the part of the “Cop” in the band. It received a good amount of dance club airplay but not enough sales to propel it onto the pop charts. Less than two months later Village People quickly released “YMCA,” the band’s defining moment. The song seemed to be everywhere as it reached #1 in at least a dozen countries around the world and the top ten in another half dozen or so. “YMCA” sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Catchy, hooky, and singalongable, the song tongue-in-cheek-ily espoused the many, and often surprising benefits of paying a visit to that now immortalized club/hostel. It even spawned a dance complete with calisthenic arm movements -- clubbers were doing it, kids were doing it, even their parents were doing it. The only question was, did anybody actually ever listen to the lyrics? You haven't lived until you've seen your grandmother going to the Y.M.C.A. The song was a global phenomenon.
Release Date: June 1975 Produced by Arif Mardin Label: Atlantic Chart Positions: #4 (US), #28 (UK), #21 (New Zealand) Certifications: Gold (US)
Singles: “Cut The Cake” #10 (US), #31 (UK), “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” #39 (US), “School Boy Crush” #33 (US)
Cut the Cake is the third album released by Average White Band, released in 1975. This album included the hit single "Cut the Cake", the title track, which reached #10 on the US singles chart. Average White Band (also AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track "Pick Up the Pieces" and the 1975 hit “Cut The Cake.
The follow-up album to the immensely successful AWB in 1974, recording was plagued by creative and artistic differences, with several members of the band walking out of the studio on three occasions. One point of conflict was the band's mourning for original drummer, Robbie McIntosh, who died of a heroin overdose in 1974. Producer Arif Mardin considered pulling the plug on the project due to this tension but ultimately persevered and oversaw its completion.
"Cut The Cake"
In the informative liner notes that he wrote for Rhino's early-'90s reissue of Cut the Cake, writer A. Scott Galloway explains that this excellent album was recorded under less-than-ideal circumstances. The Average White Band's original drummer, Robbie McIntosh, died of a heroin overdose in 1974, and the surviving members were still in mourning when they started working on their third album, Cut the Cake (which originally came out on LP in 1975). Steve Ferrone, a black drummer from London, England, was hired as a replacement -- ironically, he became the first black member of a Scottish soul/funk band that had a very African-American sound and a largely African-American following. Despite the fact that AWB's members still had McIntosh's death on their minds when they were writing and recording Cut the Cake, this isn't a depressing or consistently melancholy album; far from it. In fact, parts of the album are downright fun, especially up-tempo funk gems like "School Boy Crush," "Groovin' the Night Away" and the hit title song (which made it to number seven on Billboard's R&B singles chart). Cut the Cake is also the album that gave us the ballad "Cloudy" (one of the more melancholy tracks) and AWB's version of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven," a smooth soul classic that was originally recorded by Quincy Jones in 1973. The song wasn't a chart-buster -- it peaked at number 25 on Billboard's R&B singles chart -- but it did become a favorite amongst AWB fans and enjoyed a lot of exposure on quiet storm formats. AWB's members certainly don't sound like they're in mourning on Cut the Cake. If anything, they honor McIntosh's memory by showing their resilience and delivering one of their finest and most engaging albums.
Release Date: October 28, 1976 Produced by Hal Davis, Michael L. Smith, Michael Sutton, Harold Johnson, Joe Porter, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford, Michael Masser, Ronald Miller, William Goldstein Chart Positions: #11 (US), #21 Sweden, #25 Denmark Certifications: N/A Singles: “I Don’t Know Why I Love You,” “Don’t Leave Me This Way” #1 (US, South Africa), #4 (Canada, Netherlands, Sweden), #5 (Germany), #6 (Australia), #7 (Belgium), #11 (Spain), #13 (France, UK), #15 (Italy), #17 (New Zealand), #18 (Austria), “Anyway You Like It,” (no chart data), “If It’s The Last Thing I Do” #46 (US), #81 (Canada)
Any Way You Like It is the fourth album by Thelma Houston, released late October 1976 on Tamla Records. The album features energetic disco songs with fierce vocal performances by Houston on side 1, while side 2 focuses on ballads.
In 1976, Motown gave the go ahead on a second album for Thelma, assembling it from the various sessions she had undertaken since her first LP with producers including the teams of Hal Davis and Michael Sutton, and Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford. The album includes the major hit single, "Don't Leave Me This Way", Houston's remake of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes 1975 song, zoomed to No. 1 in the US charts. In the US, "If It's the Last Thing I Do", a track originally recorded in 1972, was chosen for the second single release on MoWest, while Europe had an edited version of the Stevie Wonder cover, "I Don't Know Why I Love You".
A re-recorded version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" was #19 on the dance charts in December 1994.
Arthur G. Wright, Michael L. Smith, Harold Johnson, Paul Riser, Clayton Ivey, Ted Stovall and Terry Woodford arranged the album.
“Don’t Leave Me This Way,” a song which first appeared on Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes 1975 album “Wake Up Everybody” was released as a single by them in 1977 shortly after Thelma Houston’s disco version hit the charts. The Blue Notes' original version of the song, featuring Teddy Pendergrass' lead vocal was not issued as a single in the United States at the time, the Blue Notes' recording reached #3 on the US Billboard Disco Chart in the wake of Thelma Houston's version. The song proved to be the group's biggest hit in the UK, #5 on the UK singles chart, when released there as a single in 1977. Motown covered “Don’t Leave Me This Way” in 1976. Originally assigned to Diana Ross, it was intended to be the follow-up to her hit "Love Hangover" but was reassigned and given to the upcoming Motown artist Thelma Houston instead. Studio musicians on the track included James Gadson on drums, Henry E. Davis (of the band L.T.D.) on bass, and John Barnes on keyboards.
Houston's version became a massive international hit, topping the soul singles and disco charts as well as reaching #1 on the US singles chart for one week in April 1977. The song peaked at #13 in the UK. Later in the year, it was featured on the soundtrack of the movie, Looking for Mr. Goodbar. In 1978, "Don't Leave Me This Way" won the award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Don't Leave Me This Way"
The album’s next single “Any Way You Like It” was co-written by Thelma Houston but failed to chart. Soon after the fourth single, “If It’s The Last Thing I Do,” a song that Thelma Houston first recorded in 1972 for Motown offshoot label Mowest. The song was never released but Houston gave it another try for her 1976 album and as a single was a moderate success reaching #46 in the US and #81 in Canada. The song also reached #12 on the US R&B chart. The song was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1957 for his album “Close To You” but was not included on the album. His version was finally released in 2002 as a bonus track on the expanded edition of the album.
One of the album’s more soulful and funky cuts the Stevie Wonder-penned “I Don’t Know Why I Love You” displays Houston’s Gospel vocal abilities. The song was the first single to be released from “Any Way You Like It,” but was only released throughout Europe. Wonder’s version simply titled “I Don’t Know Why” was recorded and released in 1968 on his album “for Once In My Life.” Wonder released it as a single and experienced minor success with the song reaching #39 in the US, #41 in Canada and #14 in the UK.
“Come To Me,” a shimmering ballad and album highlight was co-written by Jermaine Jackson.
Release Date: October 31, 1977 Produced by Girogio Moroder and Pete Bellotte Chart Positions: #26 (US), #24 UK, #9 Norway, #10 Spain, #27 Canada, #31 Japan, #44 Australia Certifications: Gold (US, UK, Canada)
Singles: “I Love You”(#37 US, #10 UK and Norway, #6 Netherlands, #16 Italy, #21 Spain, #27 Canada, #47 Australia)
“Fairy Tale High” (N/A)
“Once Upon A Time” (#14 Italy)
“Rumour Has It” (#53 US, #19 UK, #21 Denmark and Germany, #20 Netherlands, #64 Canada)
Once Upon a Time is Donna Summer’s sixth studio album and is the album released just before her pinnacle with “Bad Girls.” It was released on October 31, 1977, and peaked at #26 on the US Billboard 200, #13 US R&B chart and #24 on the UK Albums Chart. The entire album charted as one entry at #1 on the US Hot Dance/Disco chart. Once Upon a Time includes the singles "I Love You", "Fairy Tale High", "Once Upon a Time" and "Rumour Has It".
The concept album was Summer's first double album, telling a modern-day Cinderella-themed story through means of disco music. The album's story concept was conceived by Joyce Bogart, Susan Munao and Donna Summer based on an idea by Al Bogatz. The songs were written in collaboration between Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. The album was recorded at Musicland Studios, Munich. Arrangements were handled by Bob Esty while electronic arrangements were the work of Moroder. The artwork was designed by Stephen Lumel and Gribbitt! with photography by Francesco Scavullo.
Summer's previous two records were musical concept albums: 1976's Four Seasons of Love told the story of a love affair by relating it to the four seasons, while 1977's I Remember Yesterday presented a musical catalogue of musical styles and lyrical themes from the past, present and an imagined future “I Feel Love” was the imagined future). Once Upon A Time is another concept album—the first "disco opera" per Robert Christgau *—developed by Joyce Bogart, Susan Munao and Donna Summer as a modern-day Cinderella narrative.
Throughout the album and as described in the liner notes storyline, the songs tell the story of a young woman who lives in a fantasy world of make-believe in which she is seemingly trapped, but thanks to her belief in her dreams she embarks on an adventure that ends with the man she loves entering her life. The "rags to riches" story is brought into the modern day via the use of the electronic disco sound. * Robert Christgau is a music critic that has covered music for Esquire, Cream, Playboy, Billboard, Rolling Stone Magazine, NPR and other popular music and entertainment periodicals.
The excellent use of strings brings a lush quality to both the disco numbers ("Faster And Faster To Nowhere") and the ballads ("Happily Ever After"). With this album Summer, Moroder and Bellotte focused on writing full flshed out songs as opposed to minimal lyrics of the previous albums each song tells a complete story. That’s not to say the previous albums were not good – they were great it’s just with this album the songwriting, most precisely the lyrics improved tenfold.
"I Love You"
The first single release “I Love You” became Donna Summer’s third US top 40 hit reaching #37 on the US singles chart. The song was a big hit in Europe making it into the Top 10 in the UK, Norway and Netherlands. “I Love You” is a dreamy disco song that brings about a wonderfully optimistic feel as you listen to it. The second single “Fairy Tale High” came and went pretty quick. It received airplay in dance clubs across the US but did not make it on to the charts. “Once Upon A Time,” the album’s third single also did not chart but received extensive dance club play. The fiurth and final single “Rumour Has It” is a cult classic that became one of the album favorites and was one of the most played songs in the night clubs from the album. “Rumour Has It” charted at #53 in the US and made it into the Top 20 in the UK and Netherlands. Album highlight “Working The Midnight Shift” is a song that many fans feel was a missed opportunity for single release. The song received major club play, was a working-class anthem predating "She Works Hard For The Money,” “Midnight Shift” told the story of a waitress who worked the late shift but still made it out to see her friends before the clubs closed. The song sports a dark disco flavor that was very popular in the underground discos and in the later 70s worked it’s way into the mainstream discos.
Spirits Having Flown is the fifteenth album released by the Bee Gees. It was the group's first album after their collaboration on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles and all reached No. 1 in the US, giving the Bee Gees an unbroken run of six US chart-toppers and tying a record set by The Beatles. It was the first Bee Gees album to make the UK top 40 in ten years (not counting the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever), as well as being their first and only UK No. 1 album. It has sold 20 million copies worldwide.
“Spirits Having Flown” signified the pinnacle of the Bee Gees’ career. Many fans of their earlier pop-rock sound with hits such as “Run To Me, “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart,” “Lonely Days” and “Words” had long given up Bee Gees when they became the Kings of Disco in 1975 with the release of “Jive Talkin’.” But all was not lost as they adopted an even larger legion of new fans with the new sound. Disco brought more success than ever to the Bee Gees and they were bound to move full steam ahead with their newfound success.
At the start of 1978, Barry Gibb produced the album Shadow Dancing by brother Andy Gibb. By February, Barry wrote the title song for the film Grease performed by Frankie Valli; also in February, another Barry Gibb composition from 1977 "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" was recorded by Teri DeSario. The Bee Gees penned “If I Can’t Have You” was a #1 hit in May 1978 as well Samantha Sang reached US #3 with the Barry Gibb-Robin Gibb penned “Emotion.” By March, the Bee Gees has started to record “Spirits Having Flown.
Co-producer Albhy Galuten recalls Spirits Having Flown as being created primarily by Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson and himself putting in long days and nights at Criteria Studios. In the recording phase, Robin and Maurice now mainly played the role of backing and harmony vocalists, and even in that capacity Barry did many of the vocal dubs himself as he went over and over the recorded work. Robin contributed one lead vocal ("Living Together"), which was sung in falsetto with Barry providing alternating lead vocals in his normal register. This was Robin's least amount of lead vocals on any Bee Gees album with the exception of 1970's Cucumber Castle, for which he was not part of the group at that time. As with the last four Bee Gees albums, Maurice did not have any lead vocals.
The first single to be released from the album, "Too Much Heaven" is a song, which was the band's contribution to the "Music for UNICEF" fund. They performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on 9 January 1979. It was released as a single on October 24, 1978, 3 ½ months before the album was released. It hit No. 1 in both the United States and Canada. It also rose to the top three in the United Kingdom. In the US, it would become the fourth of six consecutive No. 1s, tying the record set by the Beatles for most consecutive No. 1 songs. This record was eventually surpassed in 1988 by American singer Whitney Houston when her single "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" became her seventh consecutive number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
The second single release “Tragedy” was an all-out disco tune that burned up the dance floors and zoomed to #1 in the US, UK, Canada and several other countries around the world.
"Tragedy" (1979)
The Gibb brothers wrote both “Tragedy” and "Too Much Heaven" (another American #1), in an afternoon off from making the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie in which they were starring. Then in the evening they wrote another American #1 single, "Shadow Dancing" for their brother Andy Gibb.
Stuck for a convincing thunderclap sound, Barry Gibb cupped his hands over a microphone and made an exploding noise with his mouth. Several of these sounds were then mixed together creating the large boom heard on this song. The 1979, NBC television program, The Bee Gees Special, showed how this sound effect was created.
The third single “Love You Inside Out” is a slow funk ballad that had just enough of an R&B sway to it to make it to #53 on the US soul charts. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in June 1979, interrupting Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff". This was their sixth consecutive #1 US hit and their 9th #1 hit overall. It was the ninth and final number-one hit for the Bee Gees in the US. In the UK, the single peaked at no.13 for two weeks.
The fourth single “Spirits (Having Flown) was released in Europe in December 1979 to promote the newly released compilation “Bee Gees Greatest.” The song is a Caribbean flavored R&B track sung by Barry in natural voice during the verses and joined by Robin and Maurice on the chorus which is sung in falsetto. The count-in (1,2,3,4) heard on the album version was omitted from the single version and on the album “Bee Gees Greatest.” Herbie Mann’s flute work is heard at the end of the song. The single peaked at UK #16, Ireland #14 and Netherlands #36.
A few interesting bits of trivia:
The horn section from Chicago (James Pankow, Walt Parazaider and Lee Loughnane) made a guest appearance on this album. At the time, they were next door working on the Chicago album Hot Streets. Thus the Bee Gees would return the favor as they appeared on Chicago's song "Little Miss Lovin'" and their keyboardist Blue Weaver appeared on "No Tell Lover". The Bee Gees also wrote and recorded the song "Desire" for the album but it was rejected and instead released as a solo single by their brother Andy. Andy released the “Desire” as a single in January 1980 and reached US #4 and Canada #10 with it.
Release Date: 1977 Produced by Freddie Perren Chart Positions: #68 (US) Certifications: N/A Singles: “Love Me” (US #14, US Adult Contemporary #5, UK #6, New Zealand and South Africa #3, Ireland #9, Canada #11, Australia #15, Netherlands #16, Belgium #30), “Hello Stranger” (US #15, US Adult Contemporary #1, US R&B #57, UK #26, New Zealand #12, Canada #13, Netherlands #20), “I Can’t Get You Outta My Mind” (US Adult Contemporary #19, UK #17)
Yvonne Elliman performed for four years in the first cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. She scored a number of hits in the 1970s and achieved a US #1 hit with "If I Can't Have You". After a long hiatus in the 1980s and 1990s, during which time she dedicated herself to her family, she made a comeback album as a singer-songwriter in 2004.
Hawaiian born Yvonne Elliman first made it big in 1971 as a cast member of the stage show “Jesus Christ Superstar.” A single from the cast album “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” was released and became a Top 30 US and Canada hit as well as charting throughout Europe. Over the next five years Yvonne released three albums that failed to chart. Finally in 1977 she released the album “Love Me” which charted only in the US but spawned two singles that charted throughout the North America, Europe and Zealandia.
Producer Freddie Perren worked primarily with Motown artists such as Michael Jackson, Jackson 5, Jermaine Jackson, The Miracles. By the mid seventies he branched out to other artists such as Tavares, The Sylvers, Minnie Riperton, Peaches and Herb, Gloria Gaynor and other.
There were three singles from the album the first was the title track which was a written by the Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb. The Bee Gees recording of “Love Me” appeared on their 1976 album “Children of the World.” The song was a huge hit for Yvonne and lead to several other hits in the next two years.
"Love Me"
The second single was “Hello Stranger” a remake of Barbara Lewis’ 1963 top 3 hit. Yvonne Elliman and producer Freddie Perren deliberately sought to capture the sound of the original. "Hello Stranger" was similar in chart action to her previous "Love Me" and reached #15 on the US charts; the song also charted R&B at #57 and was most successful on the Adult Contemporary chart where it was #1 for four weeks.
The third single, “I Can Get You Outta My Mind” went almost unnoticed but managed to make it to #19 on the US Adult Contemporary chart as well as making it to #17 on the UK chart. This was Elliman’s third consecutive top 30 hit in the UK. Many fans have always felt this song should have reached a higher position on the charts.
Other album highlights include “Good Sign” a reggae-calypso influenced tune written by Carole Bayer Sager, David Wolfert and Melissa Manchester. We all know Melissa Manchester from her string of hits from the 70s and 80s including “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” “Midnight Blue” and “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.” During this point in time Carole Bayer Sager was becoming a well sought after songwriter with songs being recorded by Leslie Gore, The Mindbenders, Jackie DeShannon, Frankie Valli, Melissa Manchester, Helen Reddy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Anne Murray, Leo Sayer, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, John Travolta and a treasure chest of others. “Good Sign” was used as the b-side to Yvonne Elliman’s worldwide #1 hit “If I Can’t Have You.”
