| Rejoice | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 10, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1976 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Pop, disco, soul, R&B | |||
| Length | 38:48 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Maurice White | |||
| The Emotions chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rejoice is an album by American vocal group the Emotions, issued in June 1977 by Columbia Records. [1] The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart. Rejoice has also been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA. [2]
The album was produced by EWF leader Maurice White. When asked about his favorite non–Earth, Wind & Fire album, White replied: "The Emotions's Rejoice because it had a great vibe, a great ‘feel’. Yeah, I'm proud of that production." [3]
Rejoice also spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| The Village Voice | C+ [6] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul | [7] |
Ace Adams of the New York Daily News stated that the album "displays the growing talent of these rising stars." [8] People said: "This LP offers no messages, pretensions or sexual innuendos but simple romantic themes by four sisters, Wanda, Sheila, Pamela and Jeanette Hutchinson. Their tight harmonies and polished chords make them logical successors to the original Supremes. Producer Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire (with whom the girls have toured) provides lush arrangements and joins lead singer Wanda in a smoothly worked Key to My Heart." [9] Larry Rohter of The Washington Post wrote: "As much because of their material as the(ir) vocal style, the Emotions have been able to inject some life and excitement into a soul format that badly needed it." [10] Phyl Garland of Stereo Review proclaimed: "Though there is nothing here that is truly new in terms of musical format or content, "Rejoice" demonstrates what can be done within the limits of popular style when talent and imagination are applied." Garland described the girl group's performance as "thrice nice" and called Rejoice a "very good" album. [11] Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times commented: "Produced by Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, the album has material that is ideal for the female vocal trio's mostly light, upbeat style. The arrangements, too, are skillfully tailored. Not much adventure here, but solid craftsmanship. That ought to count for something these days." [12]
Craig Lytle of AllMusic found that "the radiance the Emotions impart is heartwarming and uplifting... Their gospel roots bring a welcome spiritual feel to this album, which is a superb effort." [5]
With the LP came the single "Don't Ask My Neighbors" which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. [13] The other single released called Best of My Love", reached No. 1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts. [14] [15] "Best of My Love" won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals, [16] and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Best of My Love" has also been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Best of My Love" | Maurice White, Al McKay | 3:40 |
| 2. | "A Feeling Is" | Sheila Hutchinson | 3:36 |
| 3. | "A Long Way to Go" | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil | 3:48 |
| 4. | "Key to My Heart" | Verdine White, Robert Wright | 5:21 |
| 5. | "Love's What's Happenin'" | Sheila Hutchinson | 3:18 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away" | Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Lani Groves | 4:41 |
| 7. | "Don't Ask My Neighbors" | Skip Scarborough | 4:26 |
| 8. | "Blessed" | Maurice White, Jerry Peters | 4:36 |
| 9. | "Rejoice" | Wanda Hutchinson, Keith Henderson, LaFayette Evans | 5:22 |
The Emotions
Musicians
| Chart (1977) | Peak [17] |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top LPs | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs | 1 |
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [17] | US R&B [17] | US Dan [17] | UK [18] | ||
| 1977 | "Best of My Love" | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 |
| "Don't Ask My Neighbors" | 44 | 7 | — | — | |
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin, and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide.
June Deniece Williams is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free", "Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". Williams has won four Grammys with twelve nominations altogether. She is also known for recording “Without Us”, the theme song of Family Ties.
The Emotions are an American soul/R&B vocal group from Chicago. The group started out in gospel music but transitioned into R&B and disco music. The Emotions were named by VH1 as one of the 18 most influential girl groups of all time.
All 'n All is the eighth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1977 by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. All 'n All has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA, Gold in Canada by Music Canada and Silver in the UK by the BPI.
Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
"After the Love Has Gone" is a single by Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The song reached No. 2 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 4 on the UK Pop Singles chart, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. "After the Love Has Gone" was certified gold in the US by the RIAA and silver in the UK by the BPI.
Faces is the tenth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released on October 14, 1980, on ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached number 10 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, number 2 on the Billboard Top Soul albums chart and number 10 on the UK Albums Chart. Faces was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
I Am is the ninth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in June 1979 by ARC/Columbia Records. The LP rose to number one on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart, and number three on the Billboard 200 chart. I Am has been certified Double Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA, Platinum in the UK by the BPI, and Platinum in Canada by Music Canada.
Feel My Soul is the debut album by singer Jennifer Holliday, released in October 1983 on Geffen Records. The album reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 31 on the Top Albums chart. Feel My Soul was Grammy nominated within the category of Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female.
"Best of My Love" is a song by American band the Emotions from their fourth studio album Rejoice (1977). It was composed by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire, and produced by White and Clarence McDonald.
Touch the World is the fourteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1987 on Columbia Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Touch the World was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Sunbeam is the fifth studio album by the girl group the Emotions issued in April 1978 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 12 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. Sunbeam has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Flowers is a studio album by the American girl group The Emotions, released in 1976 by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top R&B albums chart. Flowers has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
"Thinking of You" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in January 1988 on Columbia Records as the third single from their fourteenth studio album, Touch the World (1987). It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and number three on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.
Electric Universe is the thirteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1983 on Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 8 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Electric Universe also reached No. 17 on the Swedish Pop Albums chart, No. 18 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart, No. 20 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 22 on both the Dutch Pop Albums and Swiss Pop Albums charts.
Song Bird is the second studio album by American singer Deniece Williams. It was produced by Maurice White and released on October 28, 1977, by Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.
My Melody is the fifth studio album by American singer Deniece Williams, released in March 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. My Melody was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Come into Our World is a studio album by the girl group the Emotions issued in October 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 35 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 36 on the UK Blues & Soul British Soul Albums chart. Come into Our World was produced by Maurice White, who went on to be Grammy nominated in the category of Producer of the Year Non-Classical.
Sunshine is an album by American girl group the Emotions, released in November 1977 by Stax Records. The album reached No. 39 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
"Don't Ask My Neighbors" is a song recorded by R&B group the Emotions released as a single in 1977 by Columbia Records. The single reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.
