Mid 70s (74-76) R&Bish Disco Song

[markydefad]

It's a male & female vocal (sorta Ashford & Simpson--but not them), around 124 bpms...

chorus goes:

"Who am I
no one without you
try to leave
I've got to stop you
couldn't last one day without you
don't leave me
don't leave me"

catchy Motownish bass line. Loves this tune. I've done AMG searches on all the possible titles in the chorus, but no matches. So I turn to you guys.

[markydefad]

OK, Keefe says it's by The Quickest Way Out. AMG has nothing on this group...

except one song "I Don't Want To Lose (Your Love)" on a Philly Groove compilation.

Is this the record I want? :o

[markydefad]

OK, now I did a Google search and came up with a record by them titled "Who Am I". So this must be it. But, I checked that title in the Billboard R&B book and the Disco book and came up with bumpkiss.

Records By Mail says it has a 12" on WB records. So this terrific record never charted in the top 100 R&B on Billboard??? :o

Anyone know?

[NickNack]

OMG. I had never heard of this group until I bought Volume 2 of the Disco Collector series. (Part of that Funky Collector series from Universal.) The song on here is "Beginner's Luck". Not the lyrics you wrote but what caught my attention was the 'Philly' production. You can hear 'The Harris Machine' all over this along with those sweet strings.

The other thing is on this song they come off as a male group, not male/female duet. But --- it is so damn good. Now you've got me looking too, Marky. :D

[markydefad]

Nicky, there's another song by them too.

"Thank You Baby For Loving Me" --just male vocals; sounds kinda like The Trammps, very excellent also. :D

So you never heard of em, either???? :-?

How could they have been so good and not remembered? :o Well, I guess as Miss Linda Clifford memorably said "some time it just be... dat way" :lol:

[keefelc]

Wouldn't you know it? We have Robbie Leslie to thank for introducing us to "Who Am I"!

[sfbeary]

the quickest way out changed their name to flashlight and released an album on the philly groove label distributed by salsoul that contains the songs you mentioned. there's also a 12" from the lp.

i think that album is still available on cd - it's pretty great!

[markydefad]

Thanks sfbeary. I do see a listing for Flashlight at AMG:

Artist Flashlight
Album Title Flashlight
Date of Release 1978 (release)
Genre Rock
Styles Funk, Club/Dance

1. Beginner's Luck (Dean/Glover)
2. Don't Feel Nothing ('Til You Hear from Me) (Dean/Glover)
3. I Can Be (Everything You Want Me to Be) (Dean)
4. Who Am I? (Dean/Glover)
5. Every Little Beat of My Heart (Hines)
6. Beware, She's Pulling My Strings (Hines)
7. Thank You Baby (Hines)

I'll be on the lookout for this. I'm surprised it's from 1978--I woulda guessed 1976. :D

[sfbeary]

the album was released in '78 when disco fever was at its peak and anything new or old that went boom boom boom boom was pressed to vinyl, but "thank you baby for loving me" and "who am i" first appeared on warner bros. in '76 i believe. i have the "thank you baby" 7" (no 12"), and i think the same version found its way onto the lp.

[NickNack]

"Beginner's Luck" is also dated 1976 on the CD. Barry, thanks for the info. I really like "Beginner's Luck" and couldn't figure out why I didn't know anything about this group. A shame because to me they sound just as competent as anyone that was in the Philly stable.

[NickNack]

AND NOW I CAN PUT MY FOOT SQUARE UP MY OWN ASS! Knowing I don't remember half the stuff I've got on the shelves I went to take a look. Guess what I found... :roll:

Flashlight (self-titled lp), 1978, Philly Groove Records, PG 8000. Manufactured and Distributed by Salsoul Records, 240 Madison Avenue, NYC 10015.

SIDE A
1. Beginner's Luck * 5:28
2. Don't Feel Nothing ('Til You Hear From Me) # 5:22
3. I Can Be (Everything You Want Me To Be) * 5:46

SIDE B
1. Who Am I? * 5:20
2. Every Little Beat Of My Heart # 4:37
3. Beware, She's Pulling My Strings # 5:07
4. Thank You Baby # 5:38

# "A Tom Moulton Mix"
* Mixed by Stan "The Man" Watson and Jay Mark

12" SINGLE
Side A: I Can Be (Everything You Want Me To Be) 5:46
Side B: Beware, She's Pulling My Strings 5:07

I marked my choices for club play on the back of the album jacket: Beginner's Luck, I Can Be..., Who Am I, Beware..., and Thank You Baby

Well, at least I did play the damn thing when I had it. And I'll be playing it again tomorrow!! :D

[markydefad]

Wow!!! Even Tom Moulton involvement!!! I knew this was class material when I heard it. Wonder why it did nothing on the charts. :o Maybe sounded too dated (1976) for the 1978 re-release?

Sounds wonderful in 2004!!!!!!! :D :D :D

I scoured Amoeba for signs of a Flashlight LP, cd or even a 45 and came up with BUPKISS!!! (I'm gonna spell it correctly this time :oops: )

Might I suggest this as a "restoration project" for the esteemed restorer Graham???

[NickNack]

All I can say is the album is sweet. The two ballads are classic Philly style... Delfonics, Blue Magic... without the extreme falsetto. The dance pieces are straight out of the Harris/Eli handbook. Great stuff. :D

[markydefad]

So Nicky, there was a female member of the group, right?

[DISCODISK]

MARKY there was one on amazon but sold out but you can still hear tracks :P

Flashlight

a newer version of this c.d is a couple of years old and a u.k release i just checked the label owners web site and hes out of stock so it could be close to or deleted its a twofer so try searching this way

flashlight/sound experience
OR
flashlight flashlight/sound experience dont fight the feeling

c.d sounds like 54 contains flashlight 'beware shes pulling my strings & QWO thank you baby for lovin me

and c.d deeper in the philly groove contains one or two QWO tracks

[NickNack]

So Nicky, there was a female member of the group, right?

Yes, you can hear her clearly on two of the tracks.

[keefelc]

MARKY there was one on amazon but sold out but you can still hear tracks :P

Oops! I bought it yesterday.

[NickNack]

One site says this CD was scheduled to be reissued back in February, 2004. Hope they come through with it.