First Choice (band)

First Choice
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Soul, R&B, Disco
Years active 1971–1984
Labels Philly Groove, Gold Mind
Members Rochelle Fleming
Annette Guest
Wardell Piper
Joyce Jones
Ursula Herring
Debbie Martin

First Choice was an American girl group vocal music trio from Philadelphia. The group produced the Soul/disco hits "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "Smarty Pants", "The Player", "Love Thang", "Let No Man Put Asunder" and "Doctor Love". They were signed to soul label Philly Groove Records and to disco label Salsoul Records.

Members

Rochelle Fleming was the founder and lead singer of the group. Annette Guest was second lead. She and Fleming stayed with the group throughout its run. Other members Joyce Jones, Ursula Herring and Debbie Martin were later additions. Wardell Piper was an original member yet never photographed with the group. After their first album, Wardell left for a solo career.

Legacy and re-union

The group was influential to early house and techno music, because of sampling by many artists, including Todd Terry[1] and The Jungle Brothers,[2][3] mostly from First Choice's 1977 track, "Let No Man Put Asunder". "Let No Man Put Asunder" 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. The concert featured many of the group's ex-label mates from Salsoul records.

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
[4]
US
R&B

[4]
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
US
[4]
US
R&B

[4]
US
Dan

[4]
AUS
[5]
CAN
[6]
NLD
[7]
UK
[8]
1972 "This Is The House (Where Love Died)"
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
"Guilty" 103 19
1975 "Love Freeze" 61
1976 "Gotta Get Away (From You Baby)" 64 16
"Let Him Go" 97
"First Choice Theme" / "Ain't He Bad" (medley) 7
"Are You Ready for Me?"
1977 "Doctor Love" 41 23 8 28
"Love Having You Around" 68
1979 "Hold Your Horses" 73
"Double Cross" 104 60
"Love Thang" 52
1980 "Breakaway" 80
1983 "Let No Man Put Asunder" 13 47
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. "Royal House - Can You Party (Todd Terry's B.Boy Remix) (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  2. "Jungle Brothers - I'll House You (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  3. "Todd Terry Presents Sax - This Will Be Mine (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "US Charts > First Choice". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
  5. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "CAN Charts > First Choice". RPM. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  7. "NLD Charts > First Choice". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  8. "UK Charts > First Choice". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-12-11.

External links

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