Friday Flashback: The Jones Girls

While many people fell in love with The Jones Girls' bigger hit "You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else", I was quite fond of their cover of Cynthia Biggs and Dexter Wansel's "Nights Over Egypt" that featured Grover Washington, Jr. on oboe. Just the overall sound and arrangement, along with their smooth, silky vocals gave me a warm feeling inside as I listened to the 45 rpm over and over on my mother's stereo in our living room as a child.

Not only did this trio of sisters (Shirley, Valerie & Brenda) rock the music world with their own albums as part of the Philadelphia International Records roster, they also did backup for Linda Clifford, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, and Le Pamplemousse, as well as work with Diana Ross for three years. After being a flop on their previous label Curtom Records, The Jones Girls would gain valuable exposure by touring as backup singers for Ross. Demand for the trio eventually got them singed to P.I.R. and the release of four albums during their stay. Sadly, Valerie passed away in 2001 at the age of 45.

Friday Flashback: Joe Simon

Since my mother's birthday was a few days ago, I though I would make this week's Friday Flashback in her honor by posting her favorite tune by Joe Simon titled "Get Down, Get Down (Get On The Floor)". I remember fondly back in 1975 to see her walking in the front door with a bag of records and seeing that green and white 45 rpm with Spring Records on the label. I don't recall the rest of the tunes that were in that bag, but this one was way too easy to remember because of her love for this particular song that remained in heavy rotation in our house for quite some time.