Through five albums and twelve U.S. R&B charted singles (including the 1977 Grammy-winning global anthem, Best Of My Love) released between 1976-1981, The Emotions achieved a level of recognition and success that ensured their place as first tier purveyors of harmonic soul music. The Chicago-based sisters (Wanda, Jeanette and Sheila) developed their distinctive sound as members of the family gospel group, The Hutchinson Sunbeams (with father Joe); after signing with Stax Records' imprint Volt Records, the trio enjoyed their first Top 10 R&B and Top 40 pop hit with So I Can Love You in 1969.
In 1976, The Emotions began working with Earth, Wind & Fire supergroup founder Maurice White as he developed his Kalimba Productions and the creative pairing bore immediate fruit with the release of FLOWERS, the soulful trio's first US Top 5 R&B and Top 50 pop best-selling album. Beyond the charts, sales and radio airplay, The Emotions' soulful singing resonated with the expanded audience they reached in live performances on tours with EW&F, The Commodores, and The Brothers Johnson among others.
With informative liner notes by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan, mastering by Nick Robbins and artwork by Roger Williams, this superb musically-satisfying 54-track, 3-CD SoulMusic Records' box set showcases The Emotions' golden years and includes all of their recordings for Columbia Records (1976-1978) and for ARC (American Recording Company), the CBS-distributed label (under the aegis of Maurice White) between 1979-1981. Of note, as songwriters, member of The Emotions and their collaborators also contributed to each of the five albums included here.
Disc 1 comprises the afore-mentioned FLOWERS album, produced by Maurice White with the late Charles Stepney (known for his work with The Dells, Ramsey Lewis and EW&F) which includes the infectious dance floor favourite I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love; and the aptly-named Maurice White-produced REJOICE LP which - via the chart-topping international hit Best Of My Love and the soul music classic ballad Don't Ask My Neighbors - propelled The Emotions to global fame.
Disc 2 consists of SUNBEAM, a creatively-expansive album that includes Smile (co-written by Maurice White and EW&F guitarist/composer Al McKay, the team also responsible for Best Of My Love) and Walking The Line (co-penned by Skip Scarborough); and COME INTO OUR WORLD, whose standouts include the US R&B Top 30 single, What's The Name Of Your Love?
Disc 3 contains NEW AFFAIR, the group's final LP for ARC/Columbia, with primary production by Wanda and musical partner/husband Wayne Vaughn and arranger/songwriter Bill Meyers, with an emphasis on dance-oriented tracks in light of the phenomenal 1979 success of Boogie Wonderland, the EW&F smash that featured The Emotions, two versions of which are among the eight bonus tracks that complete the third disc of this stellar box set.
