Enchantment (band)

Last updated

Enchantment
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres Soul, R&B
Years active1967–present
LabelsRoadshow Records
United Artists Records
RCA Records
Columbia Records
MembersEmanuel "EJ" Johnson
Walter Jones
Mickey Clanton
Joe "Jobie" Thomas
Dave Banks
Past membersBobby Green
Carl Cotton
Lacey Robinson

Enchantment is a soul/R&B band formed in Detroit, Michigan by Emanuel "EJ" Johnson, Joe "Jobie" Thomas, Bobby Green, Edgar "Mickey" Clanton, and David Banks. They are best known for their mid-1970s hits "Gloria", "Sunshine" and "It's You That I Need". [1]

Contents

History

Beginnings

Enchantment was formed in the late 1960s at Detroit's Pershing High School, [1] with the visually impaired Emanuel "EJ" Johnson as their lead singer. [2] In 1971, Enchantment came to the attention of Dick Scott, a former Motown executive who headed his own artist development company, Artists International. [1] In 1973, they formed an alliance with Michael Stokes, producer of Creative Source's hit "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)".

Success

By 1976, Stokes had negotiated a recording deal through his association with Fred Frank, then head of Roadshow Records, who was also guiding the careers of B.T. Express and Brass Construction. After their disco-oriented song "Come On And Ride", the band changed their focus to writing ballads. Their self-titled debut album, Enchantment , contained two singles in that vein which charted well on the Billboard R&B chart – "Gloria" at number five and "Sunshine" at number three. [1]

Their second album, Once Upon a Dream , far surpassed its predecessor by charting at No. 8 on the R&B albums chart and at No. 46 on the Pop albums charts. It featured the crossover ballad "It's You That I Need", which topped the R&B charts. [1] Overall, their attempts to diversify their sound by appealing to the disco audience failed, but their song "If You're Ready (Here It Comes)" reached No. 14 on the R&B charts. [3] In 1978, Roadshow ended its distribution agreement with United Artists and formed an alliance with RCA Records. In 1979, Enchantment released their third album, Journey to the Land Of... Enchantment , which was their final recording with Roadshow Records. [2]

Decline

By 1980, Roadshow had folded as a label and Enchantment signed with RCA Records, where they recorded their fourth album, Soft Lights, Sweet Music , with top R&B producer Don Davis. Both singles released charted at No. 47 in the 1981 charts. In 1982, they signed with Columbia Records and released two more albums: Enchanted Lady (1982) and Utopia (1984). By the end of the 1980s, the rise of funk and rap put a virtual end to ballad groups. All three albums barely dented the charts. [2]

Recent work

In 2003, Enchantment released "God Bless America", in honor of troops fighting in Iraq. Proceeds from the single benefited the United Way. Jobie Thomas later left the group and has formed his own group known as Enchantment featuring Jobie Thomas. [2]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitlePeak chart positionsRecord label
US
[4]
US
R&B

[4]
1977 Enchantment 10411Roadshow/United Artists
1978 Once Upon a Dream 468
1979 Journey to the Land Of... Enchantment 14525Roadshow
1980 Soft Lights, Sweet Music 20265 RCA
1982 Enchanted Lady Columbia
1983 Utopia
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[3]
US
R&B

[3]
US
Dan

[3]
CAN
[5]
1975"Call on Me" Deliver Us from Evil
1976"Come on and Ride"6737Enchantment
"Gloria"25544
1977"Sunshine"453
1978"It's You That I Need"331Once Upon a Dream
"If You're Ready (Here It Comes)"14
1979"Anyway You Want It"10938Journey to the Land Of... Enchantment
"Where Do We Go from Here"29
"Forever More"
1980"Settin' It Out"47Soft Lights, Sweet Music
1981"Moment of Weakness"47
1982"I Know Your Hot Spot"45Enchanted Lady
"I Can't Forget You"
"Enchanted Lady"
1983"Here's Your Chance"Utopia
1984"Don't Fight the Feeling"64
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Gaynor</span> American singer (born 1943)

Gloria Fowles, known professionally as Gloria Gaynor, is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits "I Will Survive" (1978), "Let Me Know " (1979), "I Am What I Am" (1983), and her version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1974).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicki Sue Robinson</span> American singer (1954–2000)

Vicki Sue Robinson was an American singer, closely associated with the disco era of late 1970s pop music; she is most famous for her 1976 hit, "Turn the Beat Around".

A Taste of Honey is an American recording act, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1972 by associates Janice-Marie Johnson and Perry Kibble. In 1978, they had one of the best known chart-toppers of the disco era, "Boogie Oogie Oogie". After their popularity waned during the 1980s, Johnson went on to record as a solo artist and released the album One Taste of Honey. In 2004, Janice–Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne reunited to perform on the PBS specials Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion and My Music: Funky Soul Superstars. In 2022, A Taste of Honey featuring Janice-Marie kicked off the celebration of 50 years of impact in the music and entertainment industries. A Taste of Honey now consists of Janice-Marie Johnson and other accomplished musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Wright</span> American singer (1953–2020)

Bessie Regina Norris, better known by her stage name Betty Wright, was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and background vocalist. Beginning her professional career in the late 1960s as a teenager, Wright rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight Is the Night". Wright was also prominent in her use of whistle register.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing</span> 1968 single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album: You're All I Need, the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.

Five Star were a British pop group, formed in 1983 and comprising siblings Stedman, Lorraine, Denise, Doris, and Delroy Pearson. From 1985 to 1988, Five Star had four top-20 albums and 15 top-40 singles in the UK, including the top-10 hits "System Addict" (1986), "Can't Wait Another Minute" (1986), "Find the Time" (1986), "Rain or Shine" (1986), "Stay Out of My Life" (1987) and "The Slightest Touch" (1987). They won the 1987 Brit Award for Best British Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van McCoy</span> American musician, producer and songwriter (1940–1979)

Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and singer. He is known for his 1975 internationally successful hit "The Hustle". He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his credit, and produced songs by such recording artists as Brenda & the Tabulations, David Ruffin, The Stylistics, The Presidents, Faith, Hope & Charity, New Censation, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Peaches & Herb, Lesley Gore, and Stacy Lattisaw.

B.T. Express was an American funk/disco group that had a number of successful songs during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn "Champagne" King</span> American singer, songwriter, and producer (born 1960)

Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is best known for her hit disco single "Shame", which was released in 1977 during the height of disco's popularity. King had other hits from the early through the mid–1980s including; "I'm in Love" (1981), "Love Come Down" (1982) and "Your Personal Touch" (1985).

<i>Winner Takes All</i> (album) 1979 studio album by the Isley Brothers

Winner Takes All is a studio album by the Isley Brothers, released on T-Neck Records on August 21, 1979. It was their first and only double album. The album included the number-one R&B hit, "I Wanna Be With You" and the top 20 UK disco hit, "It's a Disco Night ".

<i>The Heat Is On</i> (album) 1975 studio album by the Isley Brothers

The Heat Is On is the thirteenth studio album by American soul and funk group The Isley Brothers, released June 7, 1975, on T-Neck Records and Epic Records. Written and produced entirely by the group, the album was recorded in 1975 at Kendum Recorders in Burbank, California. The Heat Is On features musical elements of rock, and is divided between uptempo funk songs and soul ballads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timmy Thomas</span> American R&B singer (1944–2022)

Timothy Earle Thomas was an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latimore (musician)</span> Musical artist

Benjamin William Lattimore, known professionally as Latimore, is an American blues and R&B singer, songwriter and pianist. In 2017, Latimore was inducted in to the Blues Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GQ (band)</span> American band

GQ was an American musical group formed in The Bronx, New York, primarily noted for its success in funk, R&B, soul music and disco. The core membership of the group commenced playing professionally, under different group names, as of 1968.

"Funny How Time Slips Away" is a song written by Willie Nelson and first recorded by country singer Billy Walker. Walker's version was issued as a single by Columbia Records in June 1961 and peaked at number 23 on the Hot C&W Sides chart. The song has been featured in several live action films and television shows, such as in the first episode of the second season of AMC’s Better Call Saul and in the 2020 Netflix drama The Devil All the Time.

<i>Enchantment</i> (Enchantment album) 1977 studio album by Enchantment

Enchantment is the debut album recorded by Detroit, Michigan-based R&B group Enchantment, released in 1977 on the Roadshow /United Artists label. The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2012 by Big Break Records.

<i>Once Upon a Dream</i> (Enchantment album) 1978 studio album by Enchantment

Once Upon a Dream is the second album by Detroit, Michigan-based group Enchantment. The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2012 by Big Break Records.

<i>Journey to the Land Of... Enchantment</i> 1979 studio album by Enchantment

Journey to the Land Of... Enchantment is an album by Detroit, Michigan-based R&B group Enchantment. Released in 1979, the album peaked at number twenty-five on the R&B albums chart. This was their last album for Roadshow Records before moving on to RCA Records the following year.

<i>Hot Coko</i> 1999 studio album by Coko

Hot Coko is the debut solo studio album by American R&B singer Coko. It was released by RCA Records on August 10, 1999.Hot Coko served as the singer's debut effort following the release of her band SWV's third album Release Some Tension (1997), which led towards the group's first disbandment in 1998. Guest appearances on the album are made by rapper Eve and singer Tyrese. Hot Coko features production from the likes of Damon Thomas, Rodney Jerkins, Marc Anthony, Missy Elliott, Timbaland and Brian Alexander Morgan, whom Coko worked with while a member of SWV earlier in the decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria (Enchantment song)</span> 1976 single by Enchantment

"Gloria" is a song performed by American R&B group Enchantment, issued as the second single from the group's eponymous debut album. It was written by lead singer Emanuel Johnson with frequent collaborator Michael Stokes; and was produced by Stokes. The song was the group's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #25 in 1977.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lytle, Craig. "Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rizik, Chris (May 4, 2007). "Enchantment - Soul Music Biography". Soul Tracks. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Enchantment Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "US Charts > Enchantment". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  5. "CAN Charts > Enchantment". RPM . Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.