Artist: First Choice
Genre(s):
disco
Discography:
Breakaway
Year: 1980
Tracks: 9
Hold Your Horses
Year: 1978
Tracks: 6
Delusions
Year: 1977
Tracks: 9
Golden Classics (1975-1976)
Year: 1976
Tracks: 14
The '70s Philly disco music vocal radical First Choice's number one swelled breakthrough was the infectious "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" (with its urgent "calling all cars!" intro), a Top 20 R&B/Top 30 pop hit in 1973. New attending was brought to the female trio when Mary J. Blige did a faithful cover of their dance classical "Let No Man Put Asunder" in 1999. Lead vocalist Rochelle Fleming, Joyce Jones, and Chester, PA, native Annette Guest were originally known as the Debonettes and performed around Philadelphia. Radio DJ Georgie Woods introduced them to Philly soul Norman Harris, wHO produced the debut individual "This Is the House Where Loved Died," which received airplay in Philly and other markets just failed to chart nationally. Their next single, the Harris-produced "Armed and Extremely Dangerous," was their number one big strike, sledding to telephone number 11 R&B in early 1973 for Stan Watson's Philly Groove label, which was distributed by Bell Records. It was too a Top 20 U.K. make. The Armed and Extremely Dangerous album was released in fall 1973. For the mass of their records, First Choice was backed by the tight musical rhythm section of guitarist Harris, bassist Ron Baker, and drummer Earl Young wHO were part of MFSB, the house striation for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records. The next single, "The Player, Part 1," was their highest charting R&B single, hit number sevener R&B in summer 1974, though the chemical group enjoyed many high-charting hits on Billboard's discotheque charts. The Player LP was issued in fall 1974. Switching to Warner Bros., they charted with "Gotta Get Away (From You Baby)" in spring 1976 and "Let Him Go" in fall 1976, and they released an LP, So Let Us Entertain You. Around 1977, Joyce Jones left the group and was replaced by Ursula Herring. The following year, Norman Harris formed Gold Mind Records, which was distributed by dance label pioneer Salsoul Records and co-founded Baker-Harris-Young Productions with his bandmates. First Choice signed with Gold Mind and their beginning spillage for the label, the ultra-catchy "Doctor Love," went to act 23 R&B in summer 1977. Delusions followed in the fall of 1977. Generally regarded as the trio's charles Herbert Best LP, it featured lyrically rich saltation tunes as well as delicious ballads and gave Philadelphia native Fleming her charles Herbert Best showcase, displaying nonpareil of the well-nigh classifiable lead vocalists in soul/dance/pop music. Fleming's vocals are likewise nonpareil of the well-nigh sampled, heard on innumerable dance records from around the universe. Their succeeding Gold Mind LP, Hold Your Houses, was released in March 1979, with the rubric track decorous a disco music classical. That same year, Debbie Martin replaced Ursula Herring. Around 1983, Salsoul ceased operations to focus on the emerging home tV grocery by starting their First Choice Video division, and the following twelvemonth, the trio split. In 1987, Fleming reformed a rendering of First Choice with her cousin Laconya Fleming and Lawrence Cottel, world Health Organization recorded a undivided for Prelude Records, "Beloved Itch." In the '90s, Rochelle Fleming continued to disc in the U.S. and Europe.
