FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER.
FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER.
In the early seventies, Philadelphia had become the soul capital of America. Forget about Detroit or Memphis, Philly was where some of the greatest soul music was being produced. Philly was a hive of musical creativity, with the Philly Sound providing the soundtrack to much of the seventies. This soundtrack came courtesy of The Stylistics, The Delfonics and The Detroit Spinners all produced by Thom Bell, while at Philadelphia International Records, Gamble and Huff enjoyed success with The O’Jays, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and The Blue Note. Dig deeper, and other producers were producing some of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful music. This included guitarist and songwriter Norman Harris, who would go on to enjoy a hugely successful production career. Blue Magic, Major Harris, Loleatta Holloway, Double Exposure, Gloria Gaynor, Eddie Holman and First Choice.
First Choice would go on to become one of Philly’s most successful female soul groups. Their career began when Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest and Joyce Jones were just fifteen, and known as The Debronettes. They got their breakthrough after auditioning for Georgie Woods a DJ at Philadelphia’s WDAS radio station. Georgie was so impressed with The Debronettes, that he called Stan Watson, owner of Philly Groove Records. Stan liked the group, but not their name. Soon, The Debronettes became First Choice. To produce First Choice’s debut single, Stan Watson brought in Philly-based guitarist, songwriter, arranger and producer Norman Harris. This would prove to be something of a minor masterstroke.
The benefit of hiring Norman Harris, was Norman wasn’t just a guitarist and producer. He was a songwriter and arranger, plus one of the hottest rhythm section in soul, Baker, Harris, Young. With Ron Baker on bass, Norman on guitar and Earl Young on drums, these three legendary musicians gave Philly Soul it’s heartbeat. Then there was Norman’s songwriting skills, including his partnership with Alan Felder and often, Bunny Sigler. Where Norman went, Ron Baker and Earl Young, as did many of Philadelphia International Records’s house-band M.F.S.B, who’d work with First Choice.
For their first single, First Choice recorded This Is the House Where Love Died. It wasn’t initially a success, but when rereleased under license by Scepter/Wand gave First Choice a minor hit. First Choice’s second single Armed and Extremely Dangerous, written by Norman Harris and Alan Felder, gave First Choice their a hit single. It reached number twenty-eight in the US Billboard 100 and number eleven in the US R&B Charts in 1973. When their debut album Armed and Extremely Dangerous was released, it reached number 184 in the US Billboard 200 and number fifty-five in the US R&B Charts. With their debut album having given them a commercial success, Norman Harris started work on First Choice’s second album The Player.
After the success of Armed and Extremely Dangerous, it was important to build on the momentum of First Choice’s debut album. Norman Harris and Alan Felder set about writing songs for what became The Player. They wrote the title-track The Player and Guess What Mary Jones DId and with Bunny SIgler, penned You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth. Bunny Sigler also Hustler Bill with Jean Lang. Frank Johnson and Terry Woodward cowrote You’ve Been Doin’ Wrong For So Wrong, while Gerry Shury and Ron Roker wrote Guilty and Bob Reneu wrote All I Need Is Time. These tracks became The Player, which was recorded at Philly’s premier recording studio, Sigma Sound Studios.
Joining First Choice at Sigma Sound Studios, were many of Norman Harris’ friends who he played with in M.F.S.B. This included the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, guitarists Bobby “Electronic” Eli, Herbert Smith and Ron Louis Smith. They were joined by bassist Barry Gibson, and drummer Jerry Goldsmith. Larry Washington played bongos and congas and Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey played piano and organ. They were joined by vibes virtuoso Vince Montana Jr, alto-saxophonist Zach Zachary and Don Renaldo and His Horns and Strings. Norman Harris produced and arranged The Player, while Vince Montana Jr, and Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey arranged tracks. The Player, First Choice’s sophomore album, was released in 1974.
Two singles were released from The Player in 1974. The first of these was The Player (Part 1), which reached number seventy in the US Billboard 100 and number seven in the US R&B Charts. This gave First Choice their first top ten single in the US R&B Charts. Guilty then reached number 103 in the US Billboard 100 and number nineteen in the US R&B Charts. On the release of The Player, the album surpassed the success of Armed and Extremely Dangerous, reaching number 143 in the US Billboard 200 and number thirty-six in the US R&B Charts. It seemed that First Choice were on their way to becoming Philly Soul’s premier female group. However, what made The Player such a successful album? That’s what I’ll tell you, when I tell you about the music on The Player.
Opening The Player is the title-track, The Player, penned by Alan Felder and Norman Harris, who arranged and produced the track. Growling blazing horns, sweeping. swirling horns and a driving, dramatic Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section combine with percussion and funky guitars before punchy harmonies enter. Then enters Rochelle Fleming’s sassy, feisty vocal. Her vocal is a mixture of power and passion. Anne Guest and Joyce Jones’ harmonies prove the perfect foil for Rochelle’s vocal. They provide a backdrop that’s dramatic, punchy and deeply soulful. With strings dancing, Larry Washington’s bongos and congas and Bobby “Electronic” Eli’s guitar providing a funky backdrop, Earl Young’s drums provide power and drama. Likewise, the grizzled horns add to track’s sheer drama. Later, Vince Montana Jr, sprinkles vibes across the arrangement as Rochelle, accompanied by harmonies and Norman Harris’ jazz-tinged guitar. The result is a four-minute, musical epic, that’s dramatic and emotive, but also funky and deeply soulful.
Guilty was the second single released from The Player and was arranged by Vince Montana Jr. There’s no let up in the tempo, with Larry Washington’s bongos and congas joining a pounding Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, cascading strings and then Rochelle’s heartfelt, impassioned vocal. She joins Anne and Joyce, adding harmonies that are equally heartfelt and soulful. When her vocal returns, she makes the song swing, as strings dance above the arrangement. Punchy horns, melodic keyboards and a powerhouse of a rhythm section drive the track along at breakneck speed. As Zach Zachary lays down a blistering alto-saxophone solo, this proves to be the icing on what is a delicious, dance-floor friendly slice of Philly Soul.
Norman Harris, Alan Felder and Bunny Sigler forged a successful and potent songwriting partnership. Their contribution to The Player was You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth. From the get-go, there’s a moody, dramatic, funky backdrop. Key to this are Bobby “Electronic” Eli’s wah-wah guitar, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey’s keyboards, blazing horns and the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section. They unleash waves of funky music, complete with swathes of lush strings. Rochelle’s vocal is powerful, deliberate and tinged with emotion. Urgent, punchy harmonies accompany her, as her vocal grows in confidence and power. Similarly, the arrangement combines drama and power, with emotion, creating a moody, broody backdrop, that’s funky, soulful and thanks to Rochelle, full of sass and confidence.
You’ve Been Doin’ Wrong For So Long, which was arranged by Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey closed Side One of The Player. The tempo slows, but the drama remains, and the soulfulness increases. Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey’s wailing. atmospheric Hammond organ joins growling horns, slow, lush strings and a slow, thoughtful Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section. When Rochelle’s vocal enters, she’s at her soulful best, reminding me of Gladys Knight at her best. Her vocal is slow, filled with sadness, regret and resignation. She’s realized her man isn’t for changing, as she lays bare her soul. Heartfelt harmonies sympathize with her plight, while a Magnus Opus of an arrangement unfolds. A combination of lush strings, rasping horns and Earl Young’s drums reflect the drama, dilemma and heartache she’s going through. Although laden with sadness, regret and emotion, it’s a vocal masterclass from Rochelle Fleming, which shows how she could bring a song to life, breathing meaning into its lyrics.
Side Two of the Player opens with the Bunny Sigler and Jean Lang penned Hustler Bill, arranged by Norman Harris. Hustler Bill swaggers along the sidewalk, guns his car and then horns blaze, strings swirl and sweep while percussion and the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section add a tough, swaggering, funky arrangement, complete with Bobby “Electronic” Eli uber funky guitar licks. Rochelle’s vocal is the complete opposite. It’s tender and heartfelt, with a touch of vulnerability. Soon, her vocal changes, becoming strong, defiant and angry. A she points out Hustler Bill’s failings, the harmonies reinforce the error of his ways. Later, her vocal veers between the two styles, while the arrangement reflects and compliments her vocal. Her anger is matched by power and drama, her vulnerability and tenderness reflected by a much more subtle sound. It’s like an emotive roller-coaster, a kitchen sink drama where an exasperated woman, decides enough, and reads her partner the proverbial riot act. Let’s just hope for his sake, he changed his ways.
Vince Montana Jr, arranged All I Need Is Time, written by Bob Reneu, which has a much more understated sound. It allows First Choice to showcase their harmonic delights, and features one of Rochelle’s most soulful vocals. Quivering, shivering strings, Norman Harris’ thoughtful jazzy guitar and a slow Baker, Harris Young rhythm section give way to impassioned, emotive heartfelt harmonies. When Rochelle steps forward, she delivers a vocal that’s one of the most soulful she ever recorded. Harmonies sweep in, strings sweep and as if spurred on, the band somehow, raise their game. They provide a backdrop that’s wistful, melancholy and dramatic, one that’s fitting for what is, a vocal tour de force from Rochelle Fleming.
Guess What Mary Jones Did is the second Alan Felder and Norman Harris penned track. Norman arranged and produced a track that’s very different from the previous track. Here, Rochelle plays the part of the wronged woman, delivering her vocal with a mixture of anger, frustration and feistiness. Bobby “Electronic” Eli’s searing guitar, shivering strings, rasping horns and a thunderous Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section are joined by First Choice’s harmonies. Then when Rochelle’s vocal enters, it’s a mixture of anger, frustration and drama. Earl Young’s drums, cascading strings and growling horns reflect and reinforce this drama. Norman Harris’ production, the band’s performance and Rochelle Fleming’s angry, frustrated vocal make this a feisty fusion of funk and Philly Soul.
Closing The Player is an instrumental version of Guilty, arranged by Vince Montana Jr. The track bursts into life, with layers of the lushest strings dancing with joy. They join a pounding, Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, growling horns, Larry Washington’s bongos and congas before a brief burst of First Choice’s vocals enters. When they drop out, the cascading strings, blazing horns, percussion and the rhythm section take charge. Then another tantalizing taste of First Choice is introduced, only to disappear way too soon. From there, you’re teased, awaiting its return as this glorious, string and horn laden reveals its secrets. Strings dance, joining punchy horns that kick and Baker, Harris, Young demonstrate why they were the hottest rhythm section of the seventies. Later, Zach Zachary lays down a blistering alto-saxophone solo, that’s joined by First Choice’s tight, soulful harmonies as they bring The Player to an infectiously catchy close, fusing funk, Philly Soul, jazz and Latin music majestically.
First Choice’s sophomore album The Player saw them pick up where they left off on Armed and Extremely Dangerous. They were well on their way to becoming Philly’s finest female soul group. By now, the music industry were realizing that this Philly trio were going places and were keen to sign them. It’s no wonder. With Rochelle Fleming’s lead vocal plus Annette Guest and Joyce Jones’ harmonies, here was a group that had a huge future. Key to their success was Norman Harris. He produced The Player, cowrote three of the songs and brought in some of Philly’s greatest musicians, songwriters, arrangers and producers to work on The Player. Here was a musical machine, that would provide First Choice with material and accompany them. In Rochelle Fleming, First Choice had one of the most talented lead singers. She could breath life and meaning into lyrics. Whatever emotion was required, Rochelle could deliver this. Similarly, ballads or uptempo tracks, Rochelle was equally at home. Although Annette and Joyce were both talented singers, Rochelle could’ve easily enjoyed a solo career. Listen to two of the slower tracks, You’ve Been Doin’ Wrong For So Long and All I Need Is Time and you’ll hear a voice that rivals Gladys Knight for sheer soulfulness. Her delivery is exquisite, emotion personified. However, Rochelle stayed a member of the group she’d founded, First Choice.
Although First Choice enjoyed commercial success, they never enjoyed the critical acclaim and commercial success their music truly deserved. While many people are familiar with their three albums for Salsoul, their first three albums, including The Player show a quite different side to their music. Back in 1974, when they were at their soulful best, the future looked bright for First Choice. After Armed and Extremely Dangerous, First Choice were on the cusp of greatness. They were about to be crowned the first Lady’s of Philly. Their only rivals were The Three Degrees, another legendary Philly Soul group. Once The Player was released, First Choice were crowned Philly Soul’s Queens. Nearly forty years later, Philly Soul’s first female group, can still wear their crowns with pride, having released some timeless music, including albums like Armed and Extremely Dangerous and of course, The Player. Standout Tracks: The Player, Guilty, You’ve Been Doin’ Wrong For So Long and All I Need Is Time.
FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER.
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