The People's Choice (band)

The People's Choice was an American funk band formed in 1971 in Philadelphia by Frank Brunson and David Thompson. While they had several vocalists, their biggest hits were instrumentals.

People's Choice
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania United States
GenresSoul, funk
Years active19711985
LabelsTSOP, Casablanca, Mercury
Past members1971 - 1973
Frankie Brunson
David Thompson
Darnell Jordan
Johnnie Hightower
Stanley Thomas
Valerie Brown
Marc Reed

1974 - 1983

Frankie Brunson
Dave Thompson
Guy Fiske
Roger Andrews
1984 - 1985
Frank Brunson
Marc Reed
Clifton Gamble
David Thomson
Johnnie Hightower
Bill Rodgers

Career

Their debut single, "I Likes To Do It" on Phil-L.A. of Soul Records, got to #9 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart and #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. A short time later Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff saw People's Choice in concert, and told Brunson that they wished the group had recorded "I Likes To Do It" for Philadelphia International Records. Gamble & Huff signed the group up in 1974, and it was with them that they had another hit single with "Do It Any Way You Wanna.[1] It sold over one million copies in three months, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in November 1975.[2] This song was used in Fred Williamson's 1976 film Death Journey.[3]

Brunson died on November 24, 2007 after a long illness.[4]

Former members

  • Frank Brunson - keyboards, vocals (died on November 24, 2007, at age 78).[5]
  • David Thomson - drums
  • Guy Fiske - guitar
  • Roger Andrews - bass
  • Marc Reed - vocals [6]
  • Clifton Gamble - piano, synthesizer
  • Johnnie Hightower - guitar
  • Bill Rodgers - piano, synthesizer
  • Darnell Jordan - guitar
  • Stanley Thomas - bass, vocals
  • Valerie Brown - vocals

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
US
[7]
US
R&B

[7]
SWE
[8]
1975 Boogie Down U.S.A. 56 7 45 TSOP
1976 We Got the Rhythm 174 38
1978 Turn Me Loose Philadelphia International
1980 People's Choice Casablanca
1982 Still in Love with You TPC
1984 Strikin' Mercury
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

  • Golden Classics (1996, Collectables)
  • I Likes to Do It (2000, Jamie)
  • Any Way You Wanna - The People's Choice Anthology 1971-1981 (2017, BBR)

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions
US
[7]
US
R&B

[7]
US
Dan

[7]
BEL
[9]
CAN
[10]
NLD
[11]
UK
[12]
1971 "I Likes to Do It" 38 9
1972 "The Wootie-T-Woo"
"Magic"
1973 "Let Me Do My Thing" 45
1974 "Love Shop"
"Party Is a Groovy Thing" 45 14
1975 "Do It Any Way You Wanna" 11 1 3 6 34 2 36
"Nursery Rhymes (Part I)" 93 22
1976 "Here We Go Again" 52 13
"Movin' in All Directions" 52
1977 "Cold Blooded & Down-Right-Funky" 83
"If You Gonna Do It (Put Your Mind to It) (Part I)" 76
1978 "Jam, Jam, Jam (All Night Long)" 40
"Turn Me Loose"
"Rough-Ride"
1980 "My Feet Won't Move, But My Shoes Did the Boogie" 77
"You Ought to Be Dancin'" 8
1981 "Hey Everybody (Party Hearty)" 80
1982 "Still in Love with You"
1984 "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. Jackson, John A. (2004-09-23). A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul - John A. Jackson - Google Books. ISBN 9780195348804. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  2. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 362. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. "dvdboxoffice.com". dvdboxoffice.com. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  4. "Buffalo Music Hall of Fame News". Buffalomusic.org. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  5. "News Archives: The Buffalo News". Nl.newsbank.com. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  6. "People's Choice Biography - ARTISTdirect Music". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  7. "US Charts > The People's Choice". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  8. "SWE Charts > The People's Choice". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  9. "BEL Charts > The People's Choice". Top 30. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  10. "CAN Charts > The People's Choice". RPM. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  11. "NLD Charts > The People's Choice". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  12. "UK Charts > The People's Choice". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
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