Double Exposure ‎– Everyman (Has To Carry His Own Weight) (1976)

Sampled by many, most famously by M&S Presents The Girl Next Door back in 2000; a cracking dance tune in and of itself, but not the reason we're here today. Now, the original is by Double Exposure, a Philadelphia-based act (who were originally called 'United Image' back in the 1960s) that recorded on the iconic Salsoul label.

On December 11, 1975, at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, PA, Double Exposure began recording what would become one of the most successful albums ever to come out of the Philly music empire. Their 1976 album Ten Percent featured a pair of major club hits, with the title track's remix by Walter Gibbons being the first commercially available 12-inch single. and the other track Everyman (Has To Carry His Own Weight).
The group are currently, as of September 2008, recording new material, including an Eli/Dixon/Green composition called Soul Rece$$ion at Eli's 'Studio E' facility in Philadelphia. Some original Salsoul/Philly/TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)/MFSB (Gamble and Huff) session musicians appeared on Soul Rece$$ion, including Earl Young (drummer), Bobby Eli, Dennis Harris, T G Conway, Jimmy Williams & Rikki Hicks.

- FVHK5K

Sister Sledge - Got To Love Somebody Today (1980)

This track hails from Love Somebody Today, the follow-up album to the mighty 1979 album We Are Family and seems pretty much a forgotten child of the Nile Rogers/Bernard Edwards collaborations. It did get a release, but failed to reach the heights that the more famous sibling songs did (US Pop no.64, R&B no.6), but make no mistake, Got To Love Somebody Today is no poor relation to the sisters more famous tracks.
As an aside, Love Somebody Today was one of four albums to be written and produced by Edwards and Rodgers in 1980, the other three being Sheila and B. Devotion's King of the World which included its hit single Spacer, Chic's fourth studio album Real People and Diana Ross' multi-platinum selling Diana which includes Upside Down, I'm Coming Out and My Old Piano.
Thats some prodigious output for one year.

- FVHK5K

Stephanie Mills - You Can Get Over (1979)

While the previous two tracks we have posted this week were one-off from acts that were (sadly) never hard from again, I think its fair to say that today's artist has staying power.
Stephanie Mills has had a career spanning from 1975 covering many musical styles, including some TUFF disco tracks. You Can Get Over is a track from her classic 1979 album What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'. Written and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas ( of MFSB fame), the rack didn't make much of a dent in the charts, getting to no.55 on the US R&B chart and no.101 on the main Billboard chart, but that doesn't detract one iota from it being a great track.

And as an extra-special treat, heres the full 12" version; nine minutes of late-70's DiscoSoul loveliness. Enjoy.

- FVHK5K

Air Power - Be Yourself (1979)

Before writer/producer Donald Burnside formed First Love , he gave us the lone Air Power single on legendary LA-based disco label AVI (American Variety International) Records. Soaring disco strings, funky clavinet stabs and endless percussion breaks make this one an essential piece of the late period disco puzzle. Another gem from 1979.

- FVHK5K

Mary Clark ‎- Take Me I'm Yours (1980)

Not much seems to be known about either the artist or label; Mary Clark only released this track (and a great one it is) and it was the only release on the Le Shawn label, in 1980. According to some sources, less than 200 copies were pressed, so laying your hands on a copy would be hard, to say the least.
But in the digital age, nothing is impossible. The song has surfaced on the Internet via various platforms, so one of those 200 lucky owners went that extra mile and ripped this gem to Mp3. Whomever you are, we thank you, as  a bass line like this well as flights of brass and violins and the powerful and vibrant voice of Mary Clark deserve a wider audience.

-FVHK5K