The three degrees

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The Three Degrees (1974)

The Three Degrees is a female soul trio . In the 1970s, the group shaped the Philly sound and had their greatest success with the single When Will I See You Again .

Career

Founding members included Linda Turner, Shirley Porter, and Fayette Pinkney . They were discovered in Philadelphia in 1963 by producer Richard Barrett , who wrote their first single, Gee Baby (I'm Sorry) . In 1963 Linda Turner and Shirley Porter left the group and were replaced by Janet Jones and Helen Scott. In 1966 Helen Scott resigned; Sheila Ferguson moved up for them. In 1967, Janet Jones left the group and was replaced by Valerie Holiday. In 1970 they had their first US hit with Maybe . The following song I Do Take You reached number 7 on the R&B charts.

The group was intended as a competitive formation to The Supremes of the US music label Motown Records from Detroit , Michigan . In 1971 the group had a guest appearance in the movie The French Connection with Gene Hackman . In the same year they appeared in the program of Engelbert Humperdinck's tour .

Her great career began in 1973 when she signed a contract with the Philadelphia International Records (PIR) label under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff . The first hit single was Dirty Ol 'Man . Together with the MFSB orchestra , they recorded the hit TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) as background singers , which in 1974 stayed at number 1 on the R&B charts for two weeks. At the same time, the song Year of Decision placed in the charts. In the summer of 1974, the single When Will I See You Again was released , which went platinum . In 1976 Fayette Pickney left the group and Helen Scott returned. From 1978 onwards, the band made it into the R&B charts in the United States and into the top 20 of the UK charts with Giving Up, Giving In die zurück written and produced by Giorgio Moroder . In Great Britain, the trio then made it back into the top 10 with titles such as "Woman In Love". In Germany, after turning away from the classic Philly sound and making several changes after 1975, the group did not make a big hit in either the charts or the major TV shows Role. The only exception was the collaboration with Thomas Anders in the 1990s .

Prince Charles , an avowed fan of the Three Degrees, invited the three women to appear in Buckingham Palace on the occasion of his 30th birthday in 1978 .

Until the early 1980s, the group released more albums until Sheila Ferguson left in 1986, for which Victoria Wallace moved up. In the 1990s, Helen Scott and Valerie Holiday recorded other albums with Cynthia Garrison. The Three Degrees still perform in this line-up today.

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US R&B R&B
1970 Maybe - - - - US139 (7 weeks)
US 		R&B18 (13 weeks)
R&B
1974 The three degrees DE31 (20 weeks)
DE 		- - UK11
gold
gold

(22 weeks)UK 		US28 (15 weeks)
US 		R&B33 (7 weeks)
R&B
1975 So much in love - - - - - R&B56 (3 weeks)
R&B
International / Take Good Care of Yourself (UK) - - - UK6th
gold
gold

(16 weeks)UK 		US99 (8 weeks)
US 		R&B31 (4 weeks)
R&B
1976 The Three Degrees Live - - - - US199 (1 week)
US 		R&B34 (5 weeks)
R&B
recorded at the Bailey’s in London
1979 New Dimensions - - - UK34
silver
silver

(13 weeks)UK 		US169 (8 weeks)
US 		-
Three D - - - UK61 (7 weeks)
UK 		- -
1989 … And Holding - - - - - R&B76 (4 weeks)
R&B

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More albums

  • 1975: Live in Japan (Japan only)
  • 1976: A Toast of Love (Japan only)
  • 1977: Standing Up for Love
  • 1981: Album of Love
  • 1985: Live in the UK
  • 1993: Out of the Past, into the Future
  • 1998: Christmas with the Three Degrees

Compilations

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US R&B R&B
1979 A Collection of Their 20 Greatest Hits - - - UK8th
gold
gold

(18 weeks)UK 		- -
1980 gold - - - UK9
gold
gold

(15 weeks)UK 		- -

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More compilations

  • 1974: The Three Degrees & MFSB Show (with MFSB )
  • 1975: The Best of the Trammps Featuring: MFSB & The Three Degrees ( The Trammps feat.MFSB & The Three Degrees)
  • 1976: The Three Degrees
  • 1978: The Three Degrees
  • 1979: The Beginnin '
  • 1979: Golden Hour of the Three Degrees
  • 1981: hits! Hits! Hits!
  • 1981: The Three Degrees
  • 1982: Their Greatest Hits
  • 1990: The Best Of ...
  • 1992: Woman in Love
  • 1992: The Complete Swan Recordings (1965 and 1966, incl. 2 unreleased songs)
  • 1993: The Very Best of the Three Degrees
  • 1993: Let's Get It On
  • 1995: The Three Degrees and Friends (with various artists)
  • 1995: The Roulette Years
  • 1996: The Best Of
  • 1996: The Best of the Three Degrees: When Will I See You Again
  • 1997: Gee Baby I'm Sorry - The Best of the Swan Years
  • 1997: The Best Of
  • 1998: The Greatest Hit Remixes
  • 1999: All the Hits Plus More
  • 2000: Very Best Of
  • 2000: The Best of the 3 Degrees
  • 2009: The Best of the Three Degrees

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US R&B R&B Dance Dance
1965 Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)
Standing Up for Love 		- - - - US80 (5 weeks)
US 		- -
1966 Look in My Eyes
Gee Baby I'm Sorry - The Best of the Swan Years 		- - - - US97 (1 week)
US 		- -
1970 Maybe
Maybe 		- - - - US29 (12 weeks)
US 		R&B4 (13 weeks)
R&B 		-
I Do Take You
So Much Love 		- - - - US48 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B7 (11 weeks)
R&B 		-
1971 You're the One
Maybe 		- - - - US77 (6 weeks)
US 		R&B19 (7 weeks)
R&B 		-
There's so Much Love All Around Me
So Much Love 		- - - - US98 (2 weeks)
US 		R&B33 (5 weeks)
R&B 		-
1972 Trade Winds
So Much Love 		- - - - - R&B46 (2 weeks)
R&B 		-
1973 Dirty Ol 'Man
The Three Degrees 		DE34 (9 weeks)
DE 		- - - - R&B58 (9 weeks)
R&B 		-
Chart entry in DE only in March 1974
1974 TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)
Love Is the Message 		DE5 (29 weeks)
DE 		AT17 (4 weeks)
AT 		CH3 (14 weeks)
CH 		UK22 (9 weeks)
UK 		US1 (18 weeks)
US 		R&B1 (17 weeks)
R&B 		-
MFSB feat. the three degrees
Year of Decision
The Three Degrees 		DE27 (3 weeks)
DE 		- - UK13 (10 weeks)
UK 		- R&B74 (6 weeks)
R&B 		-
Love Is the Message
Love Is the Message 		- - - - US85 (4 weeks)
US 		R&B42 (7 weeks)
R&B 		-
MFSB feat. the three degrees
When Will I See You Again
The Three Degrees 		DE27 (9 weeks)
DE 		- - UK1
gold
gold

(16 weeks)UK 		US2
platinum
platinum

(18 weeks)US 		R&B4 (20 weeks)
R&B 		-
Get Your Love Back
International 		DE26 (2 weeks)
DE 		- - UK24 (4 weeks)
UK 		- - -
1975 I Didn't Know
The Three Degrees 		- - - - - R&B18 (12 weeks)
R&B 		-
Take Good Care of Yourself
International 		- - - UK9
silver
silver

(9 weeks)UK 		- R&B64 (7 weeks)
R&B 		-
Long Lost Lover
International 		- - - UK40 (4 weeks)
UK 		- - -
1976 Toast of Love
Gold 		- - - UK36 (4 weeks)
UK 		- - -
1978 Giving Up, Giving In
New Dimensions 		- - - UK12 (10 weeks)
UK 		- R&B39 (12 weeks)
R&B 		Dance12 (13 weeks)
Dance
1979 Woman in Love
New Dimensions 		- - - UK3
gold
gold

(11 weeks)UK 		- R&B27 (10 weeks)
R&B 		-
The Runner
New Dimensions 		- - - UK10
silver
silver

(10 weeks)UK 		- - Dance56 (11 weeks)
Dance
Golden Lady
The Golden Lady (Soundtrack) 		- - - UK56 (3 weeks)
UK 		- - -
Jump the Gun
Three D. 		- - - UK48 (5 weeks)
UK 		- - Dance30 (18 weeks)
Dance
My Simple Heart
Three D 		- - - UK9
silver
silver

(11 weeks)UK 		- - -
1980 Set Me Free
Three D 		- - - - - - Dance12 (27 weeks)
Dance
1984 Liar - - - UK97 (1 week)
UK 		- - -
1985 The Heaven I Need
The Best Of ... 		- - - UK42 (5 weeks)
UK 		- - -
1993 When Will I See You Again
When Will I See You Again 		DE37 (11 weeks)
DE 		- - - - - -
Thomas Anders feat. the three degrees
1998 Last Christmas '98
 - - - UK54 (2 weeks)
UK 		- - -
Alien Voices feat. Three degrees

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More singles

  • 1965: I'm Gonna Need You
  • 1965: Close Your Eyes
  • 1966: Tales Are True
  • 1966: Love of My Life
  • 1966: Are You Satis-fied
  • 1968: Contact
  • 1969: Down in the Boondocks
  • 1969: The Feeling of Love
  • 1969: What I See
  • 1970: Melting Pot
  • 1971: Ebb Tide
  • 1972: Trade Winds
  • 1972: I Wanna Be Your Baby
  • 1972: I Won't Let You Go
  • 1975: Sugar un Sunday
  • 1975: I Didn't Know (Promo)
  • 1975: Diamonds (Promo)
  • 1976: Free Ride
  • 1976: What I Did for Love
  • 1977: Standing Up for Love
  • 1977: We're All Alone
  • 1979: Magic in the Air
  • 1979: Without You
  • 1980: Starlight
  • 1986: This Is the House
  • 1989: Lock It Up (Chained to My Radio Mix)
  • 1989: A Tender Lie
  • 1989: Make It Easy on Yourself (Promo)
  • 1994: Hurry, Hurry

Awards for music sales

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region Silver record icon.svg silver Gold record icon.svg gold Platinum record icon.svg platinum Sales swell
Awards for music sales
(country / region, awards, sales, sources)
United States (RIAA) United States (RIAA) 0! S.- 0! G- Platinum record icon.svg platinum1 1,000,000 riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI) United Kingdom (BPI) Silver record icon.svg 4 × silver4th Gold record icon.svg 6 × gold6th 0! P- 2,210,000 bpi.co.uk
All in all Silver record icon.svg 4 × silver4th Gold record icon.svg 6 × gold6th Platinum record icon.svg platinum1

Artist awards

RSH gold

  • 1994: in the category "Comeback of the year"

swell

  1. ↑ a b c Chart sources: Singles Albums UK US
  2. ^ The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
  3. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
  4. ^ Joel Whitburn: Hot R&B Songs. Billboard 1942-2010. 6th edition. Record Research Inc., Menomonee Falls 2010, pp. 654f.
  5. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7 .
  6. ↑ RSH Gold Award 1994

Web links