Cash Box,- Insight&Sound
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cash box,- insight&sound The `First Choice' In Anybody's Book: EdgarWinter:FrankensteintoBadfinger Rochelle Flemming, Annette Guest and Joyce Jones are the three young ladies Edgar Winter, white -blond hair framing a pale face, scratches his right knee and ex- from Philadelphia calling themselves, First Choice. And, when it comes to sultry pounds upon his recent commercial success. "'They Only Come Out At Night' was sounds, heartbeat tempos and dynamic performances, First Choice has to be con- flatly a commercial attempt, and it worked. It was different than anything I'd done sidered a number one performing trio. Lead singer Rochelle has a full lusty sound before. I started out heavily influenced by Cannonball Adderly and John Coltrane, and which is beautifully supported by Annette and Joyce. Their recording performances recorded 'Entrance,' which is still my favorite album. It was too weird for people and are works of art; all on Philly Groove Records. Georgie Woods (WDAS, Philadelphia), didn't sell. Next came White Trash (which featured Jerry LaCroix on vocals and Rick brought the group to the attention of producer Stan Watson, Philly Groove president Derringer on guitar) who were into Texas R&B funky stuff. I wanted to expand and and co -producer with Norman Harris. The gals worked the local clubs to get their they didn't, so I left." Although "Roadwork," released in 1972, was a fairly big seller thing together. They had one release on Scepter, "The House Where Love Died." for Edgar and the band, when Winter departed, he was in debt. But, it was with the smash single, "Armed And Extremely Dangerous" which served "The thing was," continues Edgar, his eyes darting from side to side, "I was turned as the springboard to national acclaim. This dynamite record was the combined effort on to different music that changed my music. Before, I always thought that the best of Stan Watson, co -producers Norman Harris and Al Felder (who wrote the tune). Stan music was the most complex and skillfully executed, but now I've gained a tremen- said that 'armed' was one of the most challenging mixing assignments he had ever en- dous respect for simple, commercial music." countered. After both Cash Box and Record World honored First Choice as Best New For "They Only Come Out At Night," which featured Edgar colorfully plastered on R&B Female Vocal Group, First Choice was again #7 in New Vocal Groups in Cash the cover in a made-up gay -rock parody, Winter seemingly eschewed his overt in- Box polls for Best R&B Artists of '73. Stan said, "Rochelle is a genuine talent and she fluences: there were no horns, no gospel riffs, no machine-gun congo beats. Instead, is the kind of gal that just sings her natural heart out," Rochelle was raised in the Bap- it was very much compatible with the fashionable guitar-dominated hard rock. tist Church where she made her singing debut in the Choir. First soprano, Annette, is From the LP, "Frankenstein," became a million seller. An instrumental, it wasn't in- a Scorpio and it's said that she digs Virgo men. She is shapely -slender and a charmer tended to even be recorded. It was merely a live song the group performed to all the way. Joyce takes care of the alto parts and is a real Leo. Dionne Warwicke is showcase Edgar's new-found interest in the synthesizer. "I first heard synthesizer on one of her favorites. The girls say that they do strive for merit and originality. Our 'Switched On Bach' and loved it ... We called the song 'Frankenstein' because of all music has a message about life. And, since, "Armed And Extremely Dangerous" they the cutting. We had created something from a lot of different parts and stuck life into have been doing that. "Smarty Pants" followed in the same message groove. Most it. Also, I'd always loved horror movies, occult and all those weird things - like definitely First Choice is a basic part of the Philadelphia sound. After all, Stan Watson spooky, weird music. It's monster music." was one of the individuals who had guided the Delfonics through a string of hits that "On 'Shock Treatment' (the next LP, released earlier this summer) I wanted to raise started with, "La La Means I Love You" in the late '60's. Stan, with some 20 years ex- the level of music. I want to expose people to new music and widen the variety of my perience in the business, was also a singer with the 5 Sabers and Dream Lovers. He is music. For instance, 'The Animal' has weird chords. The LP as a whole has more soul a man who truly loves the music scene. His dedication is apparent when one takes the ballads and black influences. I've been listening a lot to Stevie Wonder and Graham time to check out production credits with various labels. First Choice recognize the Central Station. There's more guitar and vocal interplay; it's a real synthesis of music." importance of having the right producer. The producer is actually an intangible Edgar's goal is to have a band in the truest sense of the term, with every one con- element that becomes an extension of an artist's creative talents. "The Player" is the tributing to the whole. "It wasn't really a band until Rick joined. (Guitarist Derringer title of their new Philly Groove release which has the early indication of being a mon- had been producing albums by both Johnny and Edgar Winter.) Ronnie (Montrose) ster smash. The message is there. The music is in the 'disco' grove and, again, it is a had more energy and flash on stage, but he really didn't contribute to the group. I Norman Harris and Allan Felder tune. "The Player.' is put together by Stan Watson think we were both unhappy, and he went and formed his own band (Montrose). The First Choice Winter & Derringer and Norman Harris with an extended disco version running 7:10 backed with an Rounding out the current lineup of the Edgar Winter Group are: Chuck Ruff, edited 2:48 segment for radio play. This could also be a new trend in record releases. drummer, who recorded an LP with Sawbuck on the Fillmore label, and Dan Hartman, bassist, who was the first to join Edgar after White Trash. "Dan is really amazing; he in the studio putting the vocals to their new LP. If "The Player" The trio has been busy writes songs like, 'this one is gonna be just like Badfinger ('Maybe Some Day You'll is a barometer of what's coming - look out! First Choice is gonna be sitting on top Call My Name'), or this one will be a Led Zeppelin number ('Queen of My Dreams'). before '74 closes out. "The Player" is already #48 bulleted in the Cash Box R&B Dan always has a lot of songs. We'll go into the studio and he'll have 100 songs. That's chart. It certainly is an indication that the public is ready and accepting what First about the only thing I didn't like about 'Shock Treatment'; there was a lack of balance Choice is all about. Rochelle said that she wants First Choice to be a 'super, super' in the songwriting - Dan wrote too much. Rick was working on his solo album ('All American Boy') and there was no time to collaborate on any songs together. Next, group. If it takes hard work, dedication and a 'for -real' attitude to become successful hopefully, there'll be less of Dan and more of Rick." and remain successful; than this trio of lovies is certainly a first choice to fulfill their As much as Winter's into the group feeling of his quartet, he's very much in favor of ambition. With gentlemen, such as, Stan Watson at the helm of Philly Groove, you can individuals expressing themselves in solo contexts. Later this year, if time permits, believe First Choice is in capable hands. And, in the scheme of things, Stan says that Edgar will record his own long-awaited second solo endeavor. "I'm attempting to create a new sound based on jazz and blues, to take people in an unexpected direc- he owes a great deal to Jamo Thomas. Any successful venture takes great team work tion. I've invented a new instrument that people have never heard before. I want to to keep it together. Philly Groove is on the move with a definite First Choice. play all the instruments myself, similar to what Stevie Wonder's done. I'd like to do weird things acoustically, too. On one cut on 'Shock Treatment' I miked my voice don drossell through a vacuum cleaner hose inside of a trash can covered with foil." As much as the amiable Winter values innovation in his music, he prides himself on his group's stage flash. "We've always been into innovative, visual things in our stage act. A couple of years ago we reintroduced fog and strobe lights that everyone had seemingly forgotten about six years ago. We tour with the largest mirror ball. I Home Of The Stars developed the mobile electric piano that is strapped about your neck. I got tired of sit- ting there being unable to move. I hear Billy Preston is using it now and is taking TOMMY JAMES "HAIR" credit for it. BROOKLYN BRIDGE DOVELLS "Once we were joking and Rick had this idea for an applause meter for the audience when we do a response thing - 'Let me hear you say yeah! And then one GARY U.S.