Rejoice (The Emotions album)

Rejoice is an album by American vocal group The Emotions issued in June 1977 by Columbia Records.[1] The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart. Rejoice has also been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.[2]

Rejoice
Studio album by
The Emotions
ReleasedJune 10, 1977
Recorded1976
Studio
GenrePop, Disco, soul, R&B
Length38:48
LabelColumbia
ProducerMaurice White
The Emotions chronology
Flowers
(1976)		 Rejoice
(1977)		 Sunshine
(1977)

Overview

The album was produced by EWF leader Maurice White. When asked in a 2007 interview which album he produced, besides those that he did for Earth, Wind & Fire, that's his favorite, White replied: "The Emotions's 'Rejoice' because it had a great vibe, a great ‘feel’. Yeah, I'm proud of that production."[3]

Rejoice also spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
Village Voice(C+)[6]
People(favourable)[7]
Washington Post(favourable)[8]
Los Angeles Times(favourable)[9]
New York Daily News(favourable)[10]
Stereo Review(favourable)[11]

Ace Adams of the New York Daily News stated "This record displays the growing talent of these rising stars.[10] People said "This LP offers no messages, pretensions or sexual innuendos but simple romantic themes by four sisters, Wanda, Sheila, Pamela and Jeanette Hutchinson. Their tight harmonies and polished chords make them logical successors to the original Supremes. Producer Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire (with whom the girls have toured) provides lush arrangements and joins lead singer Wanda in a smoothly worked Key to My Heart."[7] Larry Rohter of the Washington Post wrote "As much because of their material as the(ir) vocal style, the Emotions have been able to inject some life and excitement into a soul format that badly needed it."[8]

Phyl Garland of Stereo Review proclaimed "Though there is nothing here that is truly new in terms of musical format or content, "Rejoice" demonstrates what can be done within the limits of popular style when talent and imagination are applied." Garland described the girl group's performance as "thrice nice" and called Rejoice a "very good" album.[11] With a 4 out of 5 stars rating Craig Lytle of Allmusic found that "The radiance the Emotions impart is heartwarming and uplifting. Their gospel roots bring a welcome spiritual feel to this album, which is a superb effort."[5] Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times commented "Produced by Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, the album has material that is ideal for the female vocal trio's mostly light, upbeat style. The arrangements, too, are skillfully tailored. Not much adventure here, but solid craftsmanship. That ought to count for something these days."[9]

Singles

With the LP came the single "Don't Ask My Neighbors" which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[12] Another song called Best of My Love" reached No. 1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Songs charts.[13][14] "Best of My Love" won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals,[15] and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. Best of My Love has also been certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Best of My Love"Maurice White, Al McKay3:39
2."A Feeling Is"Sheila Hutchinson3:36
3."A Long Way to Go"Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil3:48
4."Key to My Heart"Verdine White, Robert Wright5:21
5."Love's What's Happenin'"Sheila Hutchinson3:18
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away"Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Lani Groves4:41
7."Don't Ask My Neighbors"Skip Scarborough4:26
8."Blessed"Maurice White, Jerry Peters4:36
9."Rejoice"Wanda Hutchinson, Keith Henderson, LaFayette Evans5:22

Personnel

The Emotions

  • Wanda Hutchinson – vocals
  • Sheila Hutchinson – vocals
  • Pamela Hutchinson – vocals
  • Jeanette Hutchinson – vocals

Musicians

Charts
Chart (1977) Peak
[16]
U.S. Billboard Top LPs 7
U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs 1
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions
US
[16]		 US
R&B
[16]		 US
Dan
[16]		 UK
[17]
1977 "Best of My Love" 1 1 11 4
"Don't Ask My Neighbors" 44 7 — —

See also

References
  1. The Emotions: Rejoice. Columbia Records. June 10, 1977.
  2. "The Emotions: Rejoice". riaa.com. RIAA.
  3. "MAURICE WHITE: STILL BURNING BRIGHT". bluesandsoul.com.
  4. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 1977 Archive". billboard.com.
  5. Lytle, Craig. Rejoice > review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  6. Christgau, Robert. "The Emotions: Rejoice". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
  7. "Picks and Pans Review: Rejoice". people.com. August 15, 1977.
  8. Rohter, Larry (July 24, 1977). "Emotions at the Top of the Charts". washingtonpost.com.
  9. Hilburn, Robert (October 2, 1977). "Pop Music". newspapers.com. Los Angeles Times. p. 510.
  10. Adams, Ace (July 22, 1977). "The Emotions: Rejoice". newspapers.com. New York Daily News. p. 56.
  11. Garland, Phyl (December 1977). "The Emotions: Rejoice" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 39 no. 6. Stereo Review. p. 102.
  12. "The Emotions: Don't Ask My Neighbors (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  13. "The Emotions: Best of My Love (Hot 100)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  14. "The Emotions: Best of My Love (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  15. "The Emotions". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  16. "US Charts > The Emotions". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  17. "The Emotions". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company.
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