Significant Achievements in the Detroit Sound Pt.1

The studio album that contains
all three number one hits

Did you know that The Supremes became the first female recording act in Billboard Magazine history to have three number one singles from the same studio album. The album was entitled “Where Did Our Love Go.” The singles that went to number one were “Where Did Our Love Go”, week-ending 22^nd August 1964 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, week-ending 31^st August 1964 (1 week) on the Canadian RPM Pop Singles Chart and week-ending 22^nd August 1964 (2 weeks) on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart. This was followed by “Baby Love” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 31^st October 1964 (4 weeks), Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 14^th November 1964 (2 weeks) and Cash Box R&B Singles Chart in 1964. The third release from the album entitled “Come See About Me” came later in the year by reaching the number one position on several single charts, such as the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 26^th December 1964 (1week), the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, week-ending 19^th December 1964 (2 non-consecutive weeks) and the Canadian RPM Pop Singles Chart week-ending (1 week).

The Supremes were indeed the first black female recording act from America to have more than one hit single placed at number one on overseas singles chart listings in both Canada and the UK. The song ”Baby Love” managed to top the UK Official Pop Singles Chart, week-ending 19^th November 1964 (2 weeks).

The Four Tops first Trans-Atlantic hit

In addition to the success that Motown Records had with The Supremes, the label was also responsible for the first male vocal recording act to have a number one on both sides of the Atlantic. The Four Tops with “Reach Out I’ll Be There” went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 15^th October 1966 (2 weeks), on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 15^th October 1966 (1 week), on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles Chart week-ending 29^th October 1966 (2 weeks) and finally number one on the UK Official Pop Singles Chart week-ending 29^th October 1966 (3 weeks). The track was the second Motown hit single to reach the number one position in the UK after The Supremes with “Baby Love.”

Motown Records managed to have two of their top selling recording acts during the 1960s dominate the number one position on the UK Official Pop Albums Chart for almost the entire month of February 1968. “Four Tops Greatest Hits” was at the top week-ending 10^th February 1968 (1 week) and was followed by The Supremes compilation album “Diana Ross and The Supremes Greatest Hits” week-ending 17^th February 1968 (3 weeks).

All the singles, studio albums and compilation albums listed featured the backing of the legendary Funk Brothers, the Motown Horn section, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra strings section and backing vocals from The Andantes.

                                             


                                           ©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015   

The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 5

                                                Featuring female solo artist

The gold album "My Melody

In the early 1980s Deniece Williams co-produced a brilliant and soulful solo album with the legendary Thom Bell (one of the key music architects of the Sound of Philadelphia ) entitled “My Melody”. The album finally received gold certification from the RIAA on 13^th October 2000, having been released on CBS Records in 1980. The album was a Top Twenty success and charted to number thirteen on the Billboard Hot Soul and R&B Albums Chart.

"Lonely Disco Dancer" performed by
 Dee Dee Bridgewater

During the same period Thom Bell was also producing the great Jazz diva Dee Dee Bridgewater with her self-titled solo album “Dee Dee Bridgewater” on Elektra Records (1980). The most  memorable track from the album is “Lonely Disco Dancer”, a dynamic mid-tempo dance recording with lush string arrangements conducted by the late Don Renaldo. It was a very popular track at both parties and discos in the UK during the early 1980s. The album was similar in style to Deniece William’s album “My Melody” .

"Easy Money" performed
Dee Dee Sharp Gamble

Another female artist who had success on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Number One Singles Chart was Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, with her last Philadelphia International Records album “Dee Dee” (1980) released both domestically in North America and internationally via CBS Records. The number one dance single was “Break and Entering/Easy Money” week-ending 28^th March 1981 (4 weeks). 

Both Dee Dee Bridgewater and Deniece Williams used the same studio musicians who worked with Thom Bell on many Philly classic hit recordings during the 1970s. 

                                   Researched and compiled by               
                                   Mr K Tomlin Music Historian                   
                                   ©RCM Music/Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015 

The Philadelphia Signature Soul Sound during the 1980s Pt 1

                                                Featuring female solo artist

By the 1980s, “The Sound of Philadelphia” was no longer the dominating musical force in the music industry, but it still managed to record outstanding tracks of high quality and impact. The sound was eventually overtaken by the “Minneapolis Signature Sound” according to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who were responsible for Janet Jackson major success and other artists.

The album containing the hit single.

During 1980s several Philadelphia based record producers managed to produce bona fide classic hits as early as 1982, starting with Deniece Williams hit single “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” which peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart week-ending 15^th May 1982 (2 weeks) .Both the single and the entire album "Niecy" was produced by the legendary Thom Bell ( one of the key music architect of Philadelphia Sound) and supported by many of the musicians who worked at the famous Sigma Sound Studios during the golden era of the “Philadelphia Soul Sound”. 

The gold certified album "I'm In Love Again"

The following single to make 

 it to the number-one position on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart was a song recorded by Patti LaBelle entitled “If Only You Knew”. The single was produced and co-written by Dexter Wansel with Cynthia Biggs and Kenny Gamble. The song was extracted from Patti LaBelle’s first gold album of her career. The album “I’m In Love Again” was the last Top 40 album on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart listing for Philadelphia International Records and the first for Patti LaBelle. The single “If Only You Knew” peaked at number-one week-ending 28^th January 1984 (4 weeks). Also Patti LaBelle was the first female solo artist on the world famous record label to have a gold album and a number-one single on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart. 

                                          Researched and compiled by                                                         
                                          Mr K Tomlin Music Historian                   
                                          ©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015

Significant Events in the music industry (Part 3)

                                       Some Key Facts About Bad Boy Records

The first studio album to 
top the chart for group

The female vocal group Danity Kane, signed to Bad Boy Records, became the first female group in Billboard history to debut all their albums at the top of the Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart in succession.

The group’s debut self- titled album reached the number-one spot week-ending 3^rd September 2006 (2 weeks). The album was certified platinum according RIAA for one million plus copies sold in America.

A single from the album entitled “Show Stopper” obtained gold certification by RIAA for one million plus copies sold.

 “Welcome To The Dollhouse” became the group's second consecutive album to debut at number-one on the

The second studio 
album to the Billboard
Top 200 Albums Chart

Billboard Top 200 Albums chart week-ending 5^th April 2008.

 The group achieved further success with their recording project with a platinum certified single called “Damaged” for two million plus copies sold in North America.

The following week ending 12^th April 2008 the group Day26, a male vocal group and also a recording act on Bad Boy Records debuted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart (1week) making it the third number one album from Making The Band winners.

Self title album "Day26" became
the third studio album released
by Bad Boy Records to top the
Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart
in the new Century.

                                          Researched and compiled by               
                                         Mr K Tomlin Music Historian                   
                                                        ©RCM Music/Signaturesoundsonline2013