THE THREE DEGREES-THE DEGREES.
THE THREE DEGREES-THE DEGREES.
Previously, I’ve written about The Three Degrees before, an article about their fourth album International, which was their second and final album on Philadelphia International Records. They only recorded two albums on Philadelphia International Records, but these two albums were the ones that launched their careers, turning them into a hugely popular and commercially successful international act. During this period, the line-up of The Three Degrees was the classic lineup of Sheila Ferguson, Valerie Holiday and Fayette Pinkney. This was the lineup of the group between 1967 and 1976. After that, Fayette Pinkney, one of the original members of the group left in 1976. So, The Three Degrees and International, feature what many people consider the classic lineup of the group and some of the best music they ever recorded.
The Three Degrees signed to Philadelphia International Records after their contract with their previous record label Roulette had expired. Whilst on Roulette, the group had released two albums Maybe in 1970 and So Much Love in 1972. Neither albums were hugely successful, with Maybe reaching 139 in the US Billboard 200 and sixteen in the US R&B Charts, So Much Love failed to even enter the US Billboard 200 and only reached number fifty-six in the US R&B Charts. Their most successful single so far was Maybe, released in 1970, which reached number four in the US R&B Charts and number twenty-nine in the US Billboard 100. However, once they signed to Philadelphia International Records and with Gamble and Huff now guiding their careers, all this would soon change. For the next three years, and two albums, their world would change immeasurably.
Having signed for Philadelphia International Records in 1972, The Three Degrees first album for their new label was released in 1973. On its release, it reached number twenty-eight in the US Billboard 200 and thirty-three in the US R&B Charts. In the UK the album fared even better, reaching number twelve. Four singles were released from the album, with the Gamble and Huff penned When Will I See You Again being the most successful, reaching number two in the US Billboard 100 and number four in the US R&B Charts. Meanwhile, it reached number one in the UK.
The other three singles released from the album didn’t do quite as well. Dirty Ol’ Man reached number fifty-eight in the US R&B Charts, but reached number one in the Netherlands. Year of Decision reached number seventy-three in the US R&B Charts, and number thirteen in the UK. The final single released from the album I Didn’t Know, reached number eighteen in the US R&B Charts.
At this time, The Three Degrees had provided the vocals for two hit singles with Philadelphia International Records’ house-band M.F.S.B. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) reached number one in the in the US Billboard 100 and US R&B Charts. In the UK it only reached number twenty-two, Their second collaboration with M.F.S.B. Love Is the Message, reached eighty-five in the US Billboard 100 and forty-two in the US R&B Charts. So two years after signing for Philadelphia International Records, The Three Degrees had both a number one and number two single in the US, and a hugely successful album The Three Degrees. Their career had been transformed, helping make them one of the most successful groups Philadelphia International Records. It’s that album The Three Degrees, that I’ll now tell you about.
The Three Degrees opens with Dirty Ol’ Man, a Gamble and Huff track, which reached number one in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the single didn’t do so well elsewhere, reaching just number fifty-eight in the US R&B Charts. When the track opens the tempo is quick, and the arrangement has a full sound. Swirling, lush strings, a punchy rhythm section and chiming guitars at the heart of the sound while Sheila sings about a married man who has problems keeping his hands to himself. Her voice is loud and scathing, as she sings the lyrics, accompanied by Valerie and Fayette whose backing vocals are equally powerful, but later become softer and more subtle. Throughout the track the tempo is quick, with no let up in what’s a catchy, bright and sweeping arrangement. Part of the track’s success is down to the way the sweeping, swirling strings, chiming guitars and quick, punchy rhythm section combine. Add to that excellent vocals and it’s a winning combination, the perfect track to open the album.
When Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me opens, there are two major differences from the opening track. The tempo is slower and the vocal is much gentler, quite subtle. Meanwhile, the slower arrangement sees the rhythm section, bursts of horns and chiming guitars combine before the a lovely gentle vocal enters. Throughout the track, drums punctuate the track with sharp, bursts of drama. Matching the sadness of the lyrics, about a woman being mistreated by her partner, are the sweeping strings that enter. They provide a contrast to the drama, and capture the mood perfectly. Flourishes of strings and dramatic bursts of drums highlight the broken promises in the lyrics, and are the perfect accompaniment for the sadness and sense of betrayal in the vocal. Credit is due for Lenny Pakula’s arrangement, and Gamble and Huff’s production. Together with The Three Degrees, they bring to life quite brilliantly Bruce Hawes and J.B. Jefferson’s lyrics.
A Woman Needs A Good Man begins slowly with grand, dramatic sweeping strings, bursts of rasping horns, a stab of a wailing Hammond organ accompanying The Three Degrees harmonies. After that, the rhythm section enter, adding brief bursts of drama to accompany the vocal, which is slow and thoughtful. Then, the tempo speeds up, with the vocal becoming laden with emotion and drama, while a funk influence briefly shown through. This recurs, with bursts of horns getting in on the act, while the vocal is much louder, full of passion and feeling. However, many women nowadays will disapprove of the line “she needs good man, she needs a strong man.” Although the track features some deeply emotional vocals, and the arrangement by Norman Harris is good, I’m not sure about the constant speeding up and slowing of the tempo. Personally, the song might suit being sung in a slower style throughout. That’s just a personal opinion, and many people may disagree with it.
The most successful song on the album was When Will I See You Again. It reached number two in the US and number one in the UK, becoming one of the group’s most successful and popular singles. Even today, it’s often played on the radio, and still sounds as good as it did nearly forty years ago. This was the third Gamble and Huff penned track, all of which were released as a single. A combination of organ, the lushest of strings and rhythm section combine before the breathy vocals enter. When they do, chiming guitars join, accompany one of the best vocals on the album. It’s emotive, questioning and full of passion. Bursts of horns accompany those lush strings, with the rhythm section and organ at the heart of the arrangement, accompanying Sheila’s soaring vocal. Meanwhile, Valerie and Fayette’s backing vocals are softer, sweeping behind Sheila’s lead vocal. By the end of the track, you realize that this was just one of these tracks where everything combined perfectly. The right group and right singer sang some fantastic vocals, and were accompanied by a hugely talented group of musicians M.F.S.B. Add to that, Bobby Martin’s beautiful arrangement and Gamble and Huff’s production, and you’ve a track that demonstrates just what made The Sound of Philadelphia so special and hugely popular.
I Didn’t Know is an uptempo and uplifting love song with another excellent arrangement, this time by Richard Rome. Bursts of rasping horns, sweeping, swirling strings, a punchy rhythm section organ and guitars complete the lineup on this faster dance-floor oriented track. It features a joyous and passionate vocal from Sheila and some of the best backing vocals on the album. They’re almost Supreme-esque in nature, as they sweep in and out of the track. From the opening bars of the track, it’s immediately apparent this is a special track. You’re not disappointed. The longer it progresses, the better it gets, with the arrangement and vocal uniting as one to create a fantastic track. Why it didn’t do much better than a number eighteen peak in the US R&B Charts is beyond me? An absolute stomper.
On this album there are three tracks penned by Bruce Hawes and J.B. Jefferson. I Like Being A Woman is the second of these. Again it’s a faster tempo, with a lovely bright upbeat sound that greets the listener. A combination of piano, rasping horns, punchy rhythm section and strings that accompany the vocal, which is powerful and joyous. The lyrics are about being in love and the joy of being a woman. Meanwhile, grand strings, accompany the rhythm section, chiming guitars and piano, with occasional contributions from an organ and horns. Later in the track, Sheila half-speaks the vocal against a sweeping, punchy and drama filled arrangement. This is effective, although many independent women may take umbrage with some of the lyrics, especially the comments about women’s liberation. Having said that, both the arrangement and vocals combine well, creating a joyous sounding, and sometimes, punchy and drama laden track, which features some excellent vocals.
If and When is the third of the Bruce Hawes and J.B. Jefferson penned tracks on the album. It’s a very different sounding track, with a hugely dramatic opening with rolls of drums, flourishes of piano and dramatic strings combining before Sheila’s slow and thoughtful vocal enters, as she sings about a relationship about to end. Behind her Valerie and Fayette’s backing vocals soar emotively, while the earlier drama continues. Strings sweep and shimmer, while the rhythm section provides dramatic stabs and flourishes as guitars chime and the piano plays. When taken with the vocals it’s hugely powerful, deeply moving and drama laden. A brilliant vocal combining masterfully with another of Lenny Pakula’s arrangements to produce another emotive and excellent track from The Three Degrees.
The Three Degrees closes with the third and final Gamble and Huff track on the album Year of Decision, and one of the best tracks on the album. Whereas the previous track was full of emotion and sadness, this track is uplifting and joyous. Straight away, an uptempo, quicker arrangement combines with some incredibly joyous vocals. Keyboards, rhythm section, rasping horns and chiming guitars combine before The Three Degrees joyous vocals combine powerfully, as they soar united. It’s a really catchy hook-laden track that sweeps along beautifully, with lush strings joining the arrangement. This to me, is just the finishing touch to this arrangement by Norman Harris. Everything about it works perfectly, a combination of sounds that come together to produce a timeless classic, that deserved to do far better than number seventy-four in the US R&B Charts. Thankfully, it reached number thirteen in the UK, where it was a much bigger hit.
This is the second of two albums The Three Degrees albums for Philadelphia International Records that I’ve reviewed recently. My first was their second album on Philadelphia International Records, International which was an excellent album, and my favorite of the two albums. The Three Degrees is also a very good album, featuring some wonderful music. Of the eight tracks, the Gamble and Huff penned tracks Dirty Ol’ Man, When Will I See You Again and Year of Decision are my favorite tracks, Credit must go to When Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me and I Didn’t Know which features an excellent arrangement by Richard Rome. Like many of the albums on Philadelphia International, there is no filler on the album, just eight great tracks. From the first to last track, The Three Degrees sing each song with a mixture emotion, joy and passion. Whatever emotion is required, they provide it. They were ably assisted by some hugely talented musicians in M.F.S.B. with whom they had two hit singles Love Is The Message and TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia). The album was produced by two of the most important men in seventies soul music Gamble and Huff, who enlisted the help of arrangers like Norman Harris, Bobby Martin, Richard Rome and Lenny Pakula. They arranged the eight songs on the album, with Gamble and Huff adding their magic in the production process. All these people helped to make The Three Degrees huge stars worldwide. During the time they spent on Philadelphia International they produced their best music, music which recently, has been remastered and rereleased on BBR Records. Both International and The Three Degrees are now available after a near thirty year absence. Each album features bonus tracks, with both of The Three Degrees collaborations with M.F.S.B. on the album. So not only do you get this album, but you get Love Is the Message and TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia). Should you want to reacquaint yourself with The Three Degrees music, or hear it for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity. If you don’t when will you see this album again? Standout Tracks: Dirty Ol’ Man, When Will I See You Again, I Didn’t Know and Year of Decision
THE THREE DEGREES-THE DEGREES.
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