Forgotten One-Shot Divas

[markydefad]

I was going through my collection the other day, and noticed a bunch of terrific records by female artists who rarely get mentioned anymore. We often sing the praises of Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carn, Stephanie Mills, Melba Moore, Deniece Williams, Miss Ross, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Patti Austin, Randy Crawford, etc. on the board--but what about some of the following who had one or two hits and then disappeared from the recording industry?



I'd like to mention the following ladies for their recordings that hold treasured status in my collection:



FERN KINNEY - "Groove Me"

BRANDI WELLS - "Watch Out"/"What Goes Around Comes Around"

SHARON BROWN - "I Specialize In Love"

BRENDA JONES - "My Heart's Not In It"

LAURICE HUDSON - "Feel My Love"

JEANNETTE "LADY" DAY - "Come Let Me Love You"

TRACY WEBER - "Sure Shot"

DEBRA DEJEAN - "Are You Lovin' Somebody"/"Goosebumps"

MARCIA HINES - "Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees"

VERA - "Take Me To The Bridge"

GRACE KENNEDY - "I'm Starting Again"

MONICA NEAL - "Begging For More"

SCHERRIE PAYNE - "I'm Not In Love"

ELOISE WHITAKER - "Don't Turn Your Back On Love"

LISA BORAY - "Tonight"

ANGELA CLEMMONS - "Give Me Just A Little More Time"

RONI GRIFFITH - "The Best Part Of Breakin' Up"

MARGARET REYNOLDS - "Keep On Holding On"

NORMA LEWIS - "Maybe This Time"

GWEN JONAE - "Red Light Lover"

LEE PRENTISS - "Have I The Right?"

AMY BOLTON - ""What Does It Take"/"Get Up & Get It"



Anyone else remember these artists and their recordings? Anyone know what happened to them? Feel free to add your comments and/or add to the list.....

[Boodikka]

1) Tracy Weber.....sad story. Shortly after "Sure Shot" broke, she was shot and killed by someone who was aiming for her brother.

2) Roni Griffith.....became a Born-Again Christian, appears to have left the business shortly after.



I have my own What Happened To? list:

1) Bonnie Boyer - "Got To Give In To Love"

2) Bruni Pagan - "Fantasy"

3) Francie Smone - "Let Your Body Run"

4) Deborah Washington - "Ready Or Not"

5) Flower - "Midnight Dancing"

6) Pamela Stanley - "This Is Hot"

[nrgbeat]

Karen Silver "Set Me Free"

Geraldine Hunt "Can't Fake The Feeling"

Ramona Brooks "I Don't Want You Back"



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nrgbeat on 2002-03-26 21:23 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nrgbeat on 2002-03-26 21:44 ]</font>

[Bernie]

VERA - "Take Me To The Bridge" =========== Also did "Joey, Joey"



SCHERRIE PAYNE - "I'm Not In Love" =========== Had a Hi-NRG track "One Night Only"



MARGARET REYNOLDS - "Keep On Holding On" =========== Did a track on Moby called "Day After Day"



NORMA LEWIS - "Maybe This Time" =========== Went into Hi-NRG with tracks like "Give Me Back My Heart"



GWEN JONAE - "Red Light Lover" =========== Also had a nice track called "Destiny"



LEE PRENTISS - "Have I The Right?" ========== Also "Love This Way"



AMY BOLTON - ""What Does It Take"/"Get Up & Get It" ======== Also had a track called "Do Me A Favor" on Importe 12

[Bernie]

2) Bruni Pagan - "Fantasy" =========== Did vocals with Dave Valentine on "Loquita" and from what I recall was doing studio work.



5) Flower - "Midnight Dancing" =========== Last track that I have is "New York" from the mid-eighties



6) Pamela Stanley - "This Is Hot" =========== Last I recall she did a lackluster duet with Paul Parker on TSR and had a great track called "If Looks Could Kill." She has a sister who did some NRG tracks as well.

[nrgbeat]

[quote]

On 2002-03-26 21:28, Bernie wrote:

VERA - "Take Me To The Bridge" =========== Also did "Joey, Joey"



I believe Vera had a song called "Love Comes Easy".

[maarten]

TRACY WEBER - "Sure Shot"



Boodikka - this is one of my favorite tracks of all time and your news saddens me. What a shame indeed.



MARCIA HINES - "Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees"



She was a (London) musical star, originally hailing from Australia? She did a few Andrew Lloyd Webbers, and I think they came out on CD. I think she also did a gospel album. And I am pretty sure that she either has a daughter who became a famous singer, or is the daughter of a famous singer. I guess what I am saying is: there is more to her than this one-hit. But the facts... hmmm...



GRACE KENNEDY - "I'm Starting Again"



Wasn't she the singer in Mothers Finest?



SCHERRIE PAYNE - "I'm Not In Love".



In 1996 she released "Coulda woulda shoulda" under her married name Sherree Ford Payne. The CD single contains 5 remixes by David Morales (Def Mix). It also mentions an album version, so I presume there was an album. Or was this a remake of one of her older songs?





LISA BORAY - "Tonight"



Hurray - a Dutch artist. She had quite a few disco or disco/pop hits in Holland.



I would like to ad the ladies who lent their voices to great disco projects/bands, but were never heard of or successful as solo artists. Singers like Diva Gray, Ricci Benson, Gwen Dickey, Alycia Myers (some minor success), what's-her-name from SOS Band, etc. etc.

[JussiK]

SCHERRIE PAYNE's curriculum also contains a so-so pre-I'm Not In Love disco recording FLY from the ost of a french movie MOI LA FLEURE BLEUE. The ost has a ballad delivered by Jodie Foster, too...

[dhwm]

Melody Stewart - "Action Satisfaction" & Janice McClain - "Smack Dab In The Middle"

[Fantomas]

Is Lynn Roman-Stop, I don't need no Sympathy, a one-shot Diva?

[sammyperez]

As far as Brandi Wells - Watch Out, you can listen to that song on my mix which is featured on this weeks Dance Groove Radio Show. In this mix I also feature a couple more for your list:



Linda Taylor - You and me just started

Vicky 'D' - This beat is mine



Also would like to mention:



Karen Young - Hot shot

Barbara Harris - I found a new man

Sylvia - Pillow Talk



to name a few off the top of my head.



Check out the show,



Sam "ALL JAM"

[Boodikka]

Karen Young.....dead

Sylvia.....went on to form Sugar Hill records

[NickNack]

Margo Thunder - "Don't You Have Any Love In Your Heart". Also did an lp as part of the group 9.9

[Robbie]

Scherrye Payne was a member of the Supremes in the mid-70's, I believe. Around the time they recorded "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" (1976).



How about these??



Roberta Kelly: "Love Power", 1976. Produced by Giorgio Moroder/Pete Bellotte. Labelmate of Donna Summer on Oasis, also recorded in Munich.



Margaret Singana: "Where Is The Love", 1976.

Originally recorded by Betty Wright in 1975, this song was written by Wright as well as Finch/Casey, who were the nucleus of K.C. and the Sunshine Band. Another Casablanca artist.



Jeannie Reynolds: "The Fruit Song", 1976.

Slow disco; is this really a disco song to begin with?? Appeared on Casablanca's 1976 LP "Get Down And Boogie", and was also a Casablanca artist.



Amazing how Casablanca had a wide variety of artists who never saw the light of day practically in the midst of a Donna Summer, Kiss, Village People, Parliament, and Alec Constnadinos.

[markydefad]

Yeah, I realize Scherrie Payne was a latter-day Supreme and was also one of the replacement Supremes Miss Ross rounded-up for her ill-advised Return To Love Tour.



Some more names come to mind that had a BIG song and never did much thereafter:



BARBARA LAW - "Take All Of Me"

SUZI LANE - "Harmony/Ooh La La"

LORRAINE JOHNSON - "Feed The Flame/I'm Learning To Dance All Over Again"

ULLANDA McCULLOUGH - "Want Ads"

RUTH WATERS - "Never Gonna Be The Same"

NORMA JEAN (WRIGHT) - "High Society/Saturday"

PENNY McLEAN - "Lady Bump"

TAMIKO JONES - "Can't Live Without Your Love/Let It Flow"

ALMA FAYE - "It's Over Now"

CYNTHIA MANLEY - "Back In My Arms Again" /Boystown Gang: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough/Remember Me"

RORY BLOCK - "You're The One"



Also, since I'm not at home, I can't remember the titles of the Rozalin Woods & Ren Woods club hits. Anyone?

[NickNack]

On 2002-03-28 13:39, markydefad wrote:

Also, since I'm not at home, I can't remember the titles of the Rozalin Woods & Ren Woods club hits. Anyone?

Rozalin Woods - Whatcha' Gonna Do About It/Flashback/Go Shake Yourself



Another Artist: Sandy Mercer - "You Are My Love"





_________________

Life Is a Dance

Nicky

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-03-28 15:05 ]</font>

[The Lord of Flatbush]

On 2002-03-27 09:50, sammyperez wrote:

As far as Brandi Wells - Watch Out, you can listen to that song on my mix which is featured on this weeks Dance Groove Radio Show. In this mix I also feature a couple more for your list:



Linda Taylor - You and me just started

Vicky 'D' - This beat is mine



Also would like to mention:



Karen Young - Hot shot

Barbara Harris - I found a new man

Sylvia - Pillow Talk



to name a few off the top of my head.



Check out the show,



Sam "ALL JAM"

Sylvia also made "Automatic Lover" as her first, uptempo disco song. If anyone remember that song, holler back. Vicki "D" on Sam Records, This beat is mine was such a great song. Linda Taylor - You and me just started was an import single before Prelude Records signed her. Karen Young - Hot Shot was her #1 hit, unfortunate that others didn't follow her {RIP}. Barbara Harris - In September of 1965 a record was released on the DynaVoice label that was to become an international, all-time classic. "A LOVERS CONCERTO" by "THE TOYS" entered the charts and in just ten short weeks surpassed luminaries the likes of "THE BEATLES, THE SUPREMES, ELVIS PRESLEY, THE ROLLING STONES, THE FOUR TOPS, STEVIE WONDER" etc.. The song reached NUMBER ONE and stayed there for six weeks, becoming a million seller. The voice singing lead, was that of Ms. Barbara Harris.

[The Lord of Flatbush]

On 2002-03-28 13:39, markydefad wrote:

Yeah, I realize Scherrie Payne was a latter-day Supreme and was also one of the replacement Supremes Miss Ross rounded-up for her ill-advised Return To Love Tour.



Some more names come to mind that had a BIG song and never did much thereafter:



BARBARA LAW - "Take All Of Me"

SUZI LANE - "Harmony/Ooh La La"

LORRAINE JOHNSON - "Feed The Flame/I'm Learning To Dance All Over Again"

ULLANDA McCULLOUGH - "Want Ads"

RUTH WATERS - "Never Gonna Be The Same"

NORMA JEAN (WRIGHT) - "High Society/Saturday"

PENNY McLEAN - "Lady Bump"

TAMIKO JONES - "Can't Live Without Your Love/Let It Flow"

ALMA FAYE - "It's Over Now"

CYNTHIA MANLEY - "Back In My Arms Again" /Boystown Gang: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough/Remember Me"

RORY BLOCK - "You're The One"



Also, since I'm not at home, I can't remember the titles of the Rozalin Woods & Ren Woods club hits. Anyone?

Lorraine Johnson did background work on Saturday Night Band's project {Boogie with Me} and Alma Faye had a hit "Don't Fall In Love" on the other side of the 12" Single "It's Over."



_________________

The Lord of Flatbush

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: The Lord of Flatbush on 2002-03-28 20:56 ]</font>

[sirius]

Penny McLean: She released 3 Albums...

1)LADY BUMP(1975)

2)PENNY(1977)

3)MIDNIGHT EXPLOSION

By the way she sang with Silver Convention.

Nowadays she´s on the esoterical trip and

writes books about Guardian Angels. She is

very succesful in the esoteric scene in

Europe.



ROBERTA KELLY released also several Albums

1)TROUBLE MAKER(1976)

2)ZODIACS(1977)

3)GETTIN´THE SPIRIT(1978)

Then in 80ies she released an Album in Italo

Disco-Style, but not very succesful.

But I wouldn´t say that both are One-Shot-

Divas.

What about JEREE PALMER, BONNIE OLIVER, EMILY

WOODS, ROZALIN WOODS, CYNTHIA WOODARD ?

Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[Boodikka]

My fellow Brooklynite The Lord Of Flatbush is good with the trivia; the Goddess salutes you.

Here's a bit more: Sylvia, of "Pillow Talk" fame and founder of Sugar Hill Records ("It's Good To Be The Queen") is the same Sylvia from Mickey and Sylvia of "Love Is Strange" fame.

[markydefad]

Hey Guys & Gals,



Thanks for all the input. Of course, some of the artists we've mentioned recorded more than one record, but usually they only had one or two that most people remember.



I wouldn't consider Roberta Kelly or Pattie Brooks in this league. Both had a handful of Big Club songs and several LP's.



What about?:



ANN JOY: "Love Now, Hurt Later" ( very good cover of the Giorgio & Chris tune)



LINDA G. THOMPSON: "Flight To Fantasy" (a kicking Hi-NRG record that I remember from Trocadero) and YES, I KNOW that Linda, along with Penny McLean & another chick, was a part of Silver Convention.



_________________

Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-04-01 15:08 ]</font>

[BrunoRepublic]

On 2002-03-28 20:46, The Lord of Flatbush wrote:



Sylvia also made "Automatic Lover" as her first, uptempo disco song. If anyone remember that song, holler back.

I've got the 12". I bought it hoping it would be a less-cheesy version of the flawed-but-brilliant Dee D. Jackson track. But it's infinitely worse. If you were to ask me what I thought was the worst disco track ever, this would get my vote!

[maarten]

I just thought of another one, and it is a really nice one, too:



Delia Renee - You're gonna want me back

[sirius]

The chicks of SILVER CONVENTION:

The first three were unkown...but officially

there was RAMONA WULF(LP/"Natural Woman"/76),

LINDA G.THOMPSON & PENNY McLEAN.

Then Linda left and instead of her there

was RHONDA HEATH.

About Linda: I remember several 7"es like

"Ooh What A Night", "Come Softly", "Put A

Little Love In Your Heart".

About Rhonda: There was a 7" called "It

hurts so good"(very nice track from 79).

About Silver Convention:

1)"SILVER CONVENTION"(with "Fly Robin Fly"

and "Save Me"/1975)

2)"GET UP AND BOOGIE"(1975)

3)"MADHOUSE"(1976/my favorite of them!)

4)"VOODOO NIGHTS"(LP/1977)

5)"LOVE IN A SLEEPER"(1978/LP)

Then there are strange issues on 7" like:

1)SILVER STARS(Medley of their hits)

2)THE BOYS FROM LIVERPOOL(terrible Beatles-

medley!)

3)CAFE AU LAIT(the last single of Silver

Convention/1979)

Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[Disco77]

How about Noel - Dancing is Dangerous? I know that she was somehow connected with Sparks but she quickly (and maybe deservedly) disappeared.



Is Alma Faye the same person as Alma Faye Brooks of 'Stop I don't Need No Sympathy' semi-fame?



Taka Boom was who's sister? And what was her hit?



Who was the singer behind Sex O'Clock USA?