Silk - 1979 - Midnight Dancer

Silk 

1979

Midnight Dancer

01. Midnight Dancer 5:00

02. Your Good Lovin’ 4:38

03. Secrets 1:00

04. I Can’t Stop (Turning You On) 4:00

05. Love’s Gonna Get You (In The End) 6:00

06. Debbie’s Disco Theme 8:51

07. Get On Up 5:12

08. Keep Dancin’ 5:33

Debra Henry (vocals)

Melvin Watson (bass guitar)

Dwight Smith (clavinet)

Alvin Brown (brass)

Tyrone Durham (drums)

Clement Burnette (lead guitar)

Charles Mann (saxophone)

Formed in Richmond Virginia, 1971 under the name The Brother Love. The original members of the group derived from four historical bands of the Richmond area. The band soon became the new buzz of the city, sparking the interest of Nick Colleran and Eric Johnson, owners/producers of Alpha Audio Recording Studios in Richmond Virginia. In 1973, Epic Records signed the group meanwhile renamed to Ujima and released the first single, 'I’M GETTIN HIP' (To Your Ways & Actions) written by keyboardist, Dwight Smith, putting them on the Billboard and Cash Box R & B charts. Soon followed in January 1974 with 'She’s Gone', written by Daryl Hall and John Oates, and the B-side, “Somebody Tell That Girl That I'm Gone'. Later that same year, Ujima added vocalist, Debra Henry, who made way for more recording options, as well as the demanding sound of female vocals of the mid 70’s.

This new added element soon brought on the recording of 'A Shoulder To Lean On' written by Phil Hurtt and Anthony Bell, released by Epic Records April 15, 1975. The 'B' side 'I’m Not Ready', written by guitarist, David Brown became an airplay and club hit known as northern soul, in the late 90’s ¬present, making this Ujima record a hot commodity, selling as high as $600.00 U.S. dollars for the single, in today’s market. In early 1975 the group recorded two more singles, 'Still Hooked On You' written by guitarist David Brown, and 'Keep On Rolling' written by keyboardist Dwight Smith and guitarist Clement Burnette, released late 1975. Later that same year, members Chauncey Burnette drums and David Brown guitar, left the band, which brought on board two new members, Tyrone Durham on drums and Anthony Ingram on guitar. The year 1976 came with new writers/producers, Joseph B. Jefferson and Charles B Simmons, (of The Spinners fame), a new sound, and subsequently changing their name to Anglo Saxon-Brown. Later that year the band recorded an LP, titled 'Songs For Evolution' released on Atlantic Records, also hitting the Billboard R & B charts. In late 1978 the group changed their name once more to 'Silk', sometimes confused with vocal trio Silk (Marlena Jeter, Maxi Anderson and Gwen Machu), a top background vocal session trio from Los Angeles who recorded an RCA album 'Smooth As Silk' (1977). Still with Joseph B. Jefferson and Charles B. Simmons, Silk recorded in 1979 an LP titled 'Midnight Dancer', that was released on Philadelphia International Records. This album too, yielded two minor hits 'I Can't Stop Turning You On' also charting on Billboard and Club hit ‘Midnight Dancer’. Midnight Dancer is a stunning soul album from The Sound Of Philadelphia produced by Charles Simmons and Joseph B. Jefferson – and one that often gets overlooked!

Today, most all of the recordings from Ujima, Anglo Saxon-Brown, and Silk, can be found as rare northern soul collector’s items.