Japan-only Three Degrees LPs?

[sfbeary]

hey fellow three degrees fans,

i just came home from shopping in san francisco's amoeba records, which has lately been disappointing in the disco department, but tonight i found A Toast of Love, a Japan-only Three Degrees album from 1976. i've never seen it before! it credits japanese session musicians, japanese photographers, a japanese co-arranger, and some japanese songwriters, as well as songwriting credits from billy joel ("stop in nevade") and r. constantinos (might that be a misspelled costandinos? for "from souvenirs to souvenirs") and others.

a google search yielded little info besides the fact that it was followed by a japan-only live album.

has anyone heard these lps? i don't have high expectations, but i'm curious if anyone here has an opinion of them.

happy holidays,
barry walters of http://www.radioio.com/radioiodisco.php

[Eman]

Hey SF Beary,
I have a few of the Three Degrees lps from Japan, but I haven't heard of the one you mentioned. I have a Japaneese version of "International" but it's tailor made to the Japaneese audience by including some live versions of their hits and a two lp set that's just titled "The Three Degrees"...one of the sides and I think it's side 4 is live in Japan....It's pretty good I might say and their Japaneese sounds authentic, although I don't speak the language many of my friends who do...say they sound like their natives of Japan.
Happy Holidays to you also. - Eman

[Westwood]

Well thank you, at last I now know what this Japanese pressing of International is. Not only is Take Good Care Of Yourself the same album as International, but the Japanese International is a completely different album.
I gotta say, the wikipedia pages on the Three Degrees is pathetic, and so it their official site :(((

[boogyjuice]

Gotta luv the Japanese goodies

[Westwood]

Rub it in will ya! ;)
It's hard enough to find these, don't make me cry now.
What's the first one, I can barely make out their name on the cover, but I guess it's A Taste Of Love?

[boogyjuice]

Rub it in will ya! ;)
It's hard enough to find these, don't make me cry now.

lol ... though i only have the Japanese "Toast of Love"-single

What's the first one, I can barely make out their name on the cover, but I guess it's A Taste Of Love?

Yez, that's the one. And i also dig the classy Japanese inside-photo of the gatefold-sleeve.

[Westwood]

Oh I've got another one: what is the Album Of Love? I'm about to purchase a copy, that I have no idea how I found on the net since I cannot find it anymore with a search with title and artist...
The listing has no details on the content, label or year.

[boogyjuice]

Released by the Strawberry Studios Label in 1981/1982

" By the early 1980s The Three Degrees had firmly established themselves as an ever popular live attraction and favourite television guests in the UK.
After their latest record label Ariola folded in 1980, the ladies found themselves without a contract but that did not discourage the ladies, Helen Scott, Sheila Ferguson and Valerie Holiday.
Sheila co-wrote "A Sonnet to Love" and naturally takes lead vocals chores on that track. Helen is given a rare and but very welcome opportunity to take a full lead on "I Only Have Eyes for You".
All three ladies share lead on "MacArthur Park" The latter track, together with the "Fame Medley" had recently been performed
by the group on their second television special for the BBC, "Take 3 Degrees", which had been screened a year earlier."

Track List

Side One

1 - A Sonnet to Love
2 - I Only Have Eyes for You
3 - MacArthur Park

Side Two

4 - Fame Medley :
- Fame Intro
- Dirty Old Man
- My Simple Heart
- Year of Decision
- Take Good Care of Yourself
- When Will I See You Again
- Fame Reprise
5 - Only Those in Love
6 - Dear God
7 - Hard to Say I'm Sorry

Three Degrees

- Sheila Ferguson - vocals
- Valerie Holiday - vocals
- Helen Scott - vocals

Credits

- Erwin Keiles - producer
- Jerry Williamson - engineer
- Grant MacAvoy - drums
- Vince Faye - bass guitar
- Richard Rome - piano
- Erwin Keiles - all guitars
- Pete Winfeild - synthersizers and special keyboards
- John Kongos - programming

Album of Love @ Wikipedia

[Westwood]

Thanks, I think I had seen that page some time ago, but didn't find it terribly helpful. Something is missing, it seems like the information was gathered from several sources and missing vital info like, success, label, where it was released etc. Ok I know, I want more :)

[boogyjuice]

Ok I know, I want more :)

LoL , & you're welcome.