Carol Williams (disco musician)

Last updated

Carol Williams
Origin Montclair, New Jersey, United States
Genres Disco
Dance-pop
Occupation(s) Background singer, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1975–present
Labels Salsoul Records (1970s)
Vanguard (1980s)
New Image Records (late 1980s)

Carol Williams, born in Montclair, New Jersey, [1] United States, is a vocalist and songwriter [2] who achieved success with her disco songs in the 1970s. She was the first female artist signed to the disco label Salsoul Records.

Contents

Carol Williams was once a member of the post-disco/garage house studio project called Komiko. [1]

Career

Williams began her career working with producer Vincent Montana, Jr. and the Salsoul Orchestra. [1] Her most notable recording, "More", was very popular at a time when disco was just breaking into the mainstream. [1] The success of "More" led to the 'Lectric Lady album, released on Salsoul Records in 1976 and featured the singles "Come Back" and "Love Is You". The latter song was sampled in 1999 by Italian DJ Spiller in an instrumental track called "Groove Jet", [3] on the Mighty Miami EP, and in 2000 in the vocal version of the track, called "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" with vocals performed by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. [4] The track featuring Ellis-Bextor reached number one in the UK [3] and Australia, and sparked renewed demand for the original.

Not long after the release of her album, Williams parted Salsoul Records. [1] In 1978 she signed with Canadian label Roy B. Quality Records where she recorded a duet with singer producer Tony Valor "Love Has Come My Way". [1] Her second album Reflections of Carol Williams was issued in 1979 and featured the singles "Tell the World" and "Dance the Night Away".

1980s to present

She turned down Darryl Payne's song "Over Like a Fat Rat" and passed it to Fonda Rae because she wasn't fond of the concept of a song that is "about a rat," defending her position, "Anything I am singing has to make sense to me and tell a story." [2] Rae's version which turned into a minor club hit was appraised by Williams, "[and] she did a fantastic job. The way they arranged it—it was amazing." [2]

In 1982 she had a R&B hit "Can't Get Away (from Your Love)" on Vanguard label which did well on the Billboard dance chart peaking at number 38. [5] "You've Reached the Bottom Line" was also a dance chart hit in 1983, and peaked at number 59. [5]

Carol Williams is still performing spending up to ten hours a day in her Queens, New York City, recording studio. [6] She actively does shows on disco flashback concerts and travels with her live band. Her songs have appeared on various Salsoul and Unidisc compilations.

In 2016 she co-wrote, co-produced and sang "It’s Gonna Be Different" with her musician son De-Verne Williams Jr.

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions
US R&B
[5] 		US Dance
[5]
1975"Rattlesnake"―—
1976"Just Feel"―—
"More"98―
1977"Come Back / Love Is You"—29
1979"I Need You Baby / Love Constitution"――
"Dance the Night Away"―—
1980"One More Time"——
"Tell the World"——
1981"No One Can Do It (Like You)"——
1982"Can't Get Away (from Your Love)"―38
"Shake (It Easy)" (with the Billy Mersey Band)―65
1983"You've Reached the Bottom Line"―59
1986"What's the Deal / Have You for My Love"—―
1987"Queen of Hearts"—―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Ellis-Bextor</span> British singer (born 1979)

Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer and songwriter. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo and achieved success beginning in the early 2000s. Her music is a mixture of mainstream pop, disco, nu-disco, and 1980s electronic music influences.

<i>Read My Lips</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2001 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Read My Lips is the debut studio album by English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 27 August 2001 by Polydor Records. After the disbandment of the Britpop group Theaudience, in which Ellis-Bextor served as vocalist, she was signed to Polydor. Prior to the LP's completion, the singer collaborated with several musicians, including band Blur's bassist Alex James, Moby and New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander. The record was described as a collection of 1980s electronica and 1970s disco music.

Theaudience were an English rock band, formed in London in 1996. They released one album and saw three singles enter the UK Singles Chart. The band's singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor became a successful solo artist after the band's disbandment.

Robert Berkeley Davis is an English guitarist and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loleatta Holloway</span> American singer (1946–2011)

Loleatta Holloway was an American singer known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation". In December 2016, Billboard named her the 95th-most successful dance artist of all time. According to the Independent, Holloway is the most sampled female singer in popular music, used in house and dance tracks such as the 1989 Black Box single "Ride on Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Choice (group)</span> American girl group and vocal music trio

First Choice is an American girl group and vocal music trio from Philadelphia. Their R&B and disco hits included "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "Smarty Pants", "The Player ", "Guilty", "Love Thang", and "Doctor Love". They were signed to soul label Philly Groove and to disco label Gold Mind, and later to Warner Bros. and Salsoul.

True Steppers were a British UK garage production duo, consisting of Jonny Lisners and Andy Lysandrou.

Cristiano Spiller is an Italian electronic music DJ and record producer. He is best known for his 2000 single "Groovejet ", featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The song reached number-one in the UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. It sold over two million copies and was rumoured to be the first song to be played on an iPod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)</span> 2000 single by Spiller

"Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" is a song by Italian electronic music producer Spiller with lead vocals performed by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Various versions of the single were later featured on the German reissue and some UK editions of Ellis-Bextor's debut solo album, Read My Lips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Home (Cher song)</span> 1979 single by Cher

"Take Me Home" is a song recorded by American singer and actress Cher for her fifteenth studio album. The album, released in 1979, bore the same name as the single. "Take Me Home" is a disco song conceived after Cher was recommended to venture into said genre after the commercial failure of her previous albums. The lyrics center around the request of a woman to be taken home by her lover. It was released as the lead single from the Take Me Home album in January 1979 through Casablanca Records, pressed as a 12-inch single.

<i>Trip the Light Fantastic</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2007 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Trip the Light Fantastic is the third studio album by British singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 21 May 2007 by Fascination Records following the release of the lead single, "Catch You" and the second single, "Me and My Imagination". The album was available to stream via the internet on 18 May 2007, three days before the official release date. It debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Ellis-Bextor discography</span>

British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has released seven solo studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one remix album, one extended play, one video album, thirty-six singles and twenty-seven music videos. Ellis-Bextor debuted in 1997 as frontwoman of the indie music group theaudience, whose single "I Know Enough " reached the top 25 on the United Kingdom singles chart. They released a self-titled album—a follow-up was shelved by label Mercury Records although selected tracks circulate as bootlegs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me and My Imagination</span> 2007 single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Me and My Imagination" is a song by British recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her third studio album, Trip the Light Fantastic (2007). It was written by Ellis-Bextor, Hannah Robinson and co-written and produced by Matt Prime. It is a dance-pop, disco song and its lyrics advise an overeager suitor to play harder to get. Some critics noted that it recalls the songs from her first studio album, Read My Lips (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Giving Up on Love</span> 2010 single by Armin van Buuren vs. Sophie Ellis-Bextor

"Not Giving Up on Love" is a collaboration between Dutch DJ and record producer Armin van Buuren and English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 20 August 2010 as the second single from van Buuren's fourth studio album, Mirage, and the fourth single from Ellis-Bextor's fourth studio album, Make a Scene.

"Salsoul Nugget (If U Wanna)" is a song by British production duo M&S as part of their musical project The Girl Next Door. Released on London Records in March 2001, the song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number 21 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<i>Familia</i> (Sophie Ellis-Bextor album) 2016 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Familia is the sixth studio album by English singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The album was produced by Ed Harcourt, who also produced Ellis-Bextor's previous album, Wanderlust. It was released on 2 September 2016, by EBGB LLP and was critically acclaimed. It was preceded by disco-pop single "Come with Us", which was released on 19 July.

<i>The Song Diaries</i> 2019 compilation album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

The Song Diaries is a compilation album by English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 15 March 2019 by EBGB's. Made in collaboration with Ed Harcourt, the album consists primarily of orchestral versions of Ellis-Bextor's solo singles, including her collaboration with Italian DJ Spiller, "Groovejet ", and a song from her time as part of Theaudience, "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed". It was called an "orchestral greatest hits" by Clash. Ellis-Bextor toured the UK with a full orchestra and band in support of the album from June 2019.

<i>Songs from the Kitchen Disco</i> 2020 greatest hits album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Songs from the Kitchen Disco is the first greatest hits album by English singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released on 13 November 2020 by EGBG's, although it was previously announced for 23 October. It features singles from all her studio albums: Read My Lips (2001), Shoot from the Hip (2003), Trip the Light Fantastic (2007), Make a Scene (2011), Wanderlust (2014) and Familia (2016), as well as a number of cover versions of songs by other artists. Songs from the Kitchen Disco serves as the follow-up to her previous release, the 2019 orchestral compilation album The Song Diaries.

<i>Hana</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Hana is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released through Cooking Vinyl on 2 June 2023. The album is her third and final to be produced by Ed Harcourt, alongside Wanderlust (2014) and Familia (2016). Musically, Ellis-Bextor sought to create a fantastical world for the album, inspired by a trip to Japan shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kantor, Justin. "Carol Williams – Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Arena, James (2013). First Ladies of Disco: 32 Stars Discuss the Era and Their Singing Careers. Penguin. pp. 186–87. ISBN   978-1476603322.
  3. 1 2 Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles (illustrated ed.). Collins. p. 732. ISBN   9780007179312.
  4. ↑ "Spiller's 'Groovejet' – The Whole Story". Defected Records. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Carol Williams Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  6. ↑ Golomb, Robert (September 14, 2019). "Disco Great Carol Williams: Still Dancing The Night Away". The Published Reporter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.