Ladies of Listening Pleasure

Happy Labor Day.  I love the irony of this holiday...a day that pays tribute to workers and work is a day that most of us don't work.  Since  you're probably enjoying some leisure time and doing a little grilling, I thought today's post should be something nice and leisurely that goes just fine with a barbeque. It's not possible to write in a single post, or even a thousand posts for that matter, about all of the artists that have made music that will always have a place in my heart and mind, but here are a few of my favorites from the 70's...when I was but a wee lass. These female R&B groups never hit the heights of groups like the Supremes (one of my all-time favorites) or Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, but they sure did make some wonderful music.

The Honey Cone

This Los Angeles-based group started in 1969 and was comprised of Edna Wright, lead singer (and sister of Darlene Love), Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark (formerly of the Ikettes).  This group had a
really cool energy--they were fun, sexy, a little edgy and sang lyrics that were quite catchy. But Honey Cone?  I used to think that someone had made a mistake and that they were actually supposed to be named Honeycomb.  The name came from Lamont Dozier of the famed Motown writing team Holland-Dozier-Holland.  Edna Wright and Carolyn Willis had previously worked together in Darlene Love's group the Blossoms, but when the trio came together as a group and were signed to HDH's new lable, Hot Wax, Dozier named them Honey Cone, after his favorite ice cream flavor.

Wanted, young man single and free

Experience in love preferred, but will accept a young trainee

Oh, I'm gonna put it in the want ads, I need a love that's true

Gonna put it in the want ads, my man and I are through...

Life is a play
We play different parts
But to be a star in love
You got to feel it in your heart...

Arriba!!!

First Choice
This group's sound reminded me of the Honey Cone, but more disco-ish. Both groups charted with hits around the same time--in the early to mid-70s.  Like the Honey Cone, First Choice was comprised of three women.  However, the group was initially called the Debonettes, and was made up of  high school students Rochelle Flemming, founder and lead singer; Annette Guest, second lead and a male, Wardell Piper. After the release of the group's first album, Piper exited and was replaced by Joyce Jones, who would leave a few years later and be replaced by Ursula Herring. Philadelphia-based First Choice had a string of hits including "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" (which became a hit during their senior year), "Dr. Love" and " Love Thang".  These songs garnered them considerable success, but it was their final and lowest charting song that has been their most enduring and influential, 1983's "Let No Man Put Asunder."  Influential, because it would become a foundational song in the emerging genre of House Music and go on to be sampled countess times, covered by various artists and remixed time and time again.

From the day I laid my eyes on Dan

I knew then, I had to win this man

So I got the hottest hot pants I could find

And I gave Dan somethin'

To really blow his mind

Nine months later 

Looks like the jokes on me

Dan's still on the corner

And I'm a mother-to-be...

I'm surprised to see your suitcase at the door

Remember the good times, don't you want some more?

It's not a perfect love, but I'll defend it

'Cause I believe that's what God intended

We got love too good to throw away

It's not over between you and me

It's not over don't want to be free...

The Emotions

I saved the best for last.  I can't think of another female group in any music genre that has better harmony or a tighter sound than The Emotions.  I have loved this group for as long as I can remember.  The Hutchinson sisters; Jeanette, Wanda and Sheila started singing at the tender ages of 3, 4, and 5 years old under the tutelage of their father, Joe.  In the 1950s and 60s, the girls could be heard singing at churches throughout their hometown of Chicago, and on various radio shows. Their voices could be heard on several commerials for a local Pontiac dealership and they even appeared on the "Jerry Van Dyke Show" in Terre Haute, Indiana.  In the early days, the girls would be known as the Three Ribbons and a Bow (some places list it as Beau), The Heavenly Sunbeams, The Hutch Stereos, The Sunbeams and The Hutchinson Sunbeams.

By the late 60s they were known as the Emotions, and had garnered considerable success as a regional act.  The group credits Pervis Staples and the Staples singers for their decision to enter a talent contest at Chicago's Regal Theater. They won the contest and were signed to the Stax/Volt label.  In 1969, the Emotions recorded their first album for Stax/Volt, "So I Can Love You," which produced their first moderate hit of the same name. "So I Can Love You" which was written by Sheila. This was major achievement for the girls, who were still in middle school. Two years later they released "Show Me How" which was produced by Issac Hayes and David Porter.  

The next few years would bring many changes for the Emotions--Jeanette took time off to start a family (Theresa Davis replaced Jeanette for a few years); they left Stax/Volt, and a pivotal suggestion from a family friend would ultimately shift their careers into high gear.  The friend suggested to Joe Hutchinson that his daughters meet with the incomparable producer/arranger Charles Stepney and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. This collaboration proved to be golden, as their first album, "Flowers," released on Columbia under Stepney's and White's creative guidance, was certified gold and included one of my favorites, "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love".  By this time, Jeanette had returned to the group.

The ensuing years would be a whirlwind of fun and success for the trio. Thankfully there was another sister waiting in the wings when Jeanette took time off for maternity leave.  This time baby sister Pamela stepped in.  The Emotions would chart several more times, delivering the blockbuster album "Rejoice," which was certified platinum and featured a mix of uptempo harmonies like the number one selling "The Best of My Love," and beautiful ballads like "Don't Ask My Neighborhood," and another one of my favorites, "A Feeling Is."  They toured the world, guested on television shows, recorded (and toured) with Earth, Wind & Fire, recorded a movie soundtrack and produced a successful autobiographical stage play, "Bigger Than Bubblegum" (written by Jeanette).  The ladies remain busy performing at "Ol Skool" shows and collaborating with other artists. The Emotions have received many well-deserved honors and tributes, including induction into the R&B Hall of Fame in 2004.

Uh huh, yeah

Uh huh, yeah

Come on back (Come on back)

I'm not ready to let you go

Come on back (Come on back) baby

I'm not ready to let you go

No (no, no, no)...

(This is one of those songs that I really didn't know the lyrics to, except for the chorus...so I just made up my own...I'll spare you those.)

Dinner's ready
And the wine is chilled
My baby's coming over
Well, I know just how I feel

Because I don't 
Wanna lose your love
Think how it feels baby
It's gettin' harder to conceal, yeah...

Dance, boogie wonderland

Dance, boogie wonderland

Midnight creeps so slowly into hearts of men

Who need more than they get

Daylight deals a bad man to a woman

Who had laid too many bets

The mirror stares you in the face and says

"Baby, uh, uh, it don't work"...

I hope you're enjoying your holiday and don't just get your eat on, get your groove on!