First Choice (group)

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First Choice (band)
)

First Choice
Salsoul
MembersRochelle Fleming
Annette Guest
Wardell Piper
Joyce Jones
Ursula Herring
Debbie Martin

First Choice is an American

Warner Bros. and Salsoul
.

Career

First Choice began singing in high school as the Debonettes.[1][2] The group consisted of lead singer Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest, Wardell Piper and Malanie McSears. They performed in clubs after school in and around Philadelphia. They were introduced to record man Norman Harris by radio DJ Georgie Woods.[2] Harris produced their first single "This Is the House Where Love Died".[2] The single failed to chart nationally but was played in Philadelphia and dance club across the U.S.[1] Their next release was "Armed and Extremely Dangerous".[2] The single quickly became an R&B top 11 hit in early 1973 and making the UK top 20.[2]

Wardell Piper quit the group to go solo before their first album was released, and is not pictured on the sleeve although she did sing on the album. She was replaced by singer Joyce Jones.

UK Singles Chart,[3] "Newsy Neighbors" and "The Player" which became their biggest R&B hit peaking at number 7.[2]

The band switched labels in 1976 to

Warner Brothers Records.[1] Jones left the group and was replaced by Ursula Herring. At Warner's they recorded dance floor hits including "Gotta Get Away From You Baby", "Ain't He Bad" and the album title song, "So Let Us Entertain You". In 1977, the trio switched labels again this time recording for their producer Norman Harris' label, Gold Mind Records,[1] where they got their biggest dance single, the infectious "Doctor Love".[2] The single was from their album, Delusions, that AllMusic critic Ed Hogan regarded as the trio's best LP.[1] The next release came in March 1979 called Hold Your Horses.[1] Ursula Herring left and was replaced by Debbie Martin.[1]
The LP contained the dance hits "Love Thang", "Double Cross" and the title track "Hold Your Horses".

The trio officially disbanded in 1980 however, in 1983, Salsoul Records released "Let No Man Put Asunder" from their 1977 album, Delusions.[2] That single rose to number 13 on the Billboard dance chart and has become the group's signature song and still a current favorite on the house music scene.

Rochelle Fleming continued to record and perform internationally as a solo artist. Annette Guest became a successful songwriter writing for artists such as Stephanie Mills.

Official members Annette Guest and Ursula Herring, along with Andre Jackson, are currently performing again as The First Choice.

Legacy and re-union

Performing at the 2014 Salsoul reunion show

The group was influential to early

the Jungle Brothers, mostly from First Choice's 1977 track, "Let No Man Put Asunder".[4] That track was also covered by Mary J. Blige on her 1999 album, Mary
.

On August 6, 2014, First Choice performed a reunion concert at East River Bandshell, New York City, with original members Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest, Wardell Piper and Ursula Herring.

Middle Child
".

Members timeline

1971–73 1973–75 1975–79 1979–80
Rochelle Fleming Rochelle Fleming Rochelle Fleming Rochelle Fleming
Annette Guest Annette Guest Annette Guest Annette Guest
Wardell Piper Joyce Jones Ursula Herring Debbie Martin

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
US
[6] 		US
R&B
[6]
1973 Armed and Extremely Dangerous 184 55 Philly Groove
1974 The Player 143 36
1976 So Let Us Entertain You 204 53
Warner Bros.
/Philly Groove
1977 Delusions 103 — Gold Mind
1979 Hold Your Horses 135 58
1980 Breakaway — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
[6] 		US
R&B
[6]
US
Dan
[6]
 AUS
[7] 		CAN
[8]
NLD
[9]
UK
[3]
1972 "This Is the House (Where Love Died)" — — — — — — — Armed and Extremely Dangerous
1973 "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" 28 11 — — 55 — 16
"Smarty Pants" 56 25 — 99 — — 9
1974 "Newsy Neighbors" 97 35 — — — — —
"The Player (Part 1)" 70 7 — — 68 — 59[A] The Player
"Guilty" 103 19 — — — — —
1975 "Love Freeze" — 61 — — — — — —
1976 "First Choice Theme" / "Ain't He Bad" (medley) — — 7 — — — — So Let Us Entertain You
"Are You Ready for Me?" — — — — — —
"Gotta Get Away (From You Baby)" — 64 16 — — — —
"Let Him Go" — 97 — — — — —
1977 "Doctor Love" 41 23 8 — — 28 — Delusions
"Love Having You Around" — 68 — — — — —
1979 "Hold Your Horses" — 73 5 — — — — Hold Your Horses
"Double Cross" 104 60 — — — — —
"Love Thang" — — 52 — — — —
1980 "Breakaway" — — 80 — — — — Breakaway
1983 "Let No Man Put Asunder" — — 13 — — 47 — Delusions
1984 "Doctor Love" (Special Remix) — — 61 — — — — —
1997 "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" (1997 Remixes) — — — — — — 88
1999 "Doctor Love" (remixes) — — 22 — — — —
2001 "The Player" (remixes) — — 7 — — — —
2002 "Ain't He Bad" (remixes) — — — — — — 89
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Hogan, Ed. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-733-9
    .
  3. ^ a b "UK Charts > First Choice". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Mills, Matthew (September 30, 2016). "Desert Island Disco: Its Not Clever But It Is Big". BBC Music. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "The SALSOUL Reunion Concert, New York, August 6, 2014". Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e "US Charts > First Choice". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  7. ISBN 0-646-11917-6
    .
  8. ^ "CAN Charts > First Choice". RPM. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  9. MegaCharts
    . Retrieved August 8, 2014.

External links

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