Search - Norma Jean Wright :: Norma Jean

The Herstory Of Norma Jean Wright

T. West | LaWrEnCe, KaNsAs | 01/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe someone is trying to sell this cd here on amazon for $214!! It's a classic, but come on now. Hopefully Wounded Bird Records will release this soon like they did all the recent Chic cd's and Sister Sledge cd's. Every cut seems tailor made for Norma and why not? She was and still is, the First Lady Of Chic. For those of you who are curious as to her other releases, I provide the following list:



1. 1977- Norma provides lead vocals on CHIC debut album, along with

Alfa Anderson. Norma gets the solo record deal she wanted and

leaves to work on her album. (She is replaced by

Luci Martin- Alfa and Luci become the "voice" of Chic

for the next album C'EST CHIC in 1978. Then the 2 ladies

are joined by Fonzi Thornton and the trio provide vocals

for the following subsequent albums: 1979's RISQUE, 1980's

REAL PEOPLE, 1981's TAKE IT OFF, 1982's TONGUE IN CHIC,

and 1983's BELIEVER. Chic took a break and regrouped in

1992 for the CHIC-ISM album- Fonzi Thornton returned along

with 2 new female singers- Sylver Logan Sharp and Jenn Thomas.

In 1996, Chic released their 9th album FREAK & MORE TREATS

and the vocalists were Sylver Logan Sharp, Jill Jones

(a former protege' of Prince, she sang backup for Prince,

Vanity 6 and Apollonia), and Christopher Max. Chic's 10th

album was a result of their Japan tour in '96- LIVE AT THE

BUDOKAN. Bernard Edwards died of pneumonia on the final

night of the concert tour, in his hotel room. This live

cd wasn't released until 1999. In 2001, Chic had a new song

in the movie RUSH HOUR 2, called LET'S BOUNCE. It was not

released as a single nor did it appear on the soundtrack,

but you can hear it in the final credits of the movie.

In 2005, Chic released a live 2-cd set called LIVE IN

AMSTERDAM: AT THE PARADISIO. In 2006, Chic gave the duo

called Shapeshifters some songs that were unreleased and

in the vaults- the duo liked the melody of one particular

song- which was one of many songs from an 80's unreleased

Chic Organization produced Johnny Mathis album, and they

reworked it and called it SENSITIVITY and released it as

a cd single under the title Shapeshifters Feat. Chic.)

Sorry about all that info, but someone out there will find

it interesting I'm sure.



2. 1978- NORMA JEAN is her debut solo album, produced by the

Chic Organization and had the following tracklisting:

1. Saturday aka- "(I JUST CAN'T WAIT TIL) SATURDAY"- 6:05

(This song was covered by Donna Allen in 1997,

as well as Taka Boom in 2000. I still prefer

Norma's version, although I still swear that the

chorus is sung by Kathy Sledge. It's possible

because Chic was working with Sister Sledge in

1978-1979 for their album, and songs were known

to be exchanged amoungst the groups. For example,

He's The Greatest Dancer was slated for the C'EST

CHIC album, but then given to Sister Sledge because

it sounds more suited for a girl group. The song

I Want Your Love was slated for the We Are Family

album, but instead recorded by Chic because it has

more of a sophisticated sound to fit their image I

suppose).

2. Having A Party- 4:30

3. I Believe In You- 5:11

4. Sorcerer- 4:59

5. So I Get Hurt- 4:49

6. This Is The Love- 3:05

7. I Like Love- 5:43

(This song was covered by Solitaire in 2004 as

"I Like Love (I Love Love)").

BONUS TRACKS

8. Hold Me Lonely Boy (The B-side of the 12" single

for High Society)- 3:37

9. High Society (12" version from 1979. This was supposed

to be on the follow-up album for Norma, but that never

materialized)- 6:06

10. Saturday Nite (The 7" 45 single version)- 3:25

11. Sorcerer (The 12" version)- 7:12

12. Having A Party (The extended mix)- 5:46



3. 1983- Norma released the 12" single LOVE ATTACK on the Mirage

label.



4. 1984- Norma released the 12" single SHOT IN THE DARK on

the Mirage label. The song was co-written by Raymond

Jones, who was the keyboardist on the Chic albums from

1979 to 1982.



5. 1985- Norma released the 12" single EVERY BIT OF THIS LOVE

on the Mirage label. The song was co-written by Annie

Lennox of the Eurythmics.



6. 1990- Norma teamed up with Raymond Jones and the duo called

themselves STATE OF ART and released the 12" Single "Hero".

Followed a year later with the full length cd- "COMMUNITY".

The song UNDERSTANDING features former Chic member

Luci Martin.



7. 1995- Norma produced an album by singer Lori Gold ("LORI

GOLD"), which is a Japan import. Lori has been

compared to sounding like Mary J.Blige. I don't know

if Norma sings on this album or if she wrote songs

for it.



8. 2000- Romina Johnson released a cover version of Chic's

MY FORBIDDEN LOVER, featuring the backup vocals of

Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin.



9. 2004- GTS released their cover of I WANT YOUR LOVE,

featuring the lead vocals of Norma Jean Wright

and Luci Martin. (From the GTS album "CRUISING").

Found this album but never could find the cd single

or 12" vinyl.



10. 2004- Norma released the 12" single YOU LIFT ME UP- Part 1"

on the Look At You Records label. Norma and

Raymond Jones wrote the song. A follow-up 12" single

was called YOU LIFT ME UP- Part II". All mixes by

Pound Boys.



11. 2006- GTS released their cover of LE FREAK, featuring

lead vocals by Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin.

(From the GTS album "Electheque"). I found my

10 track cd single of this on e*bay.





So, there you go. Anyone who may have been looking for info

on Norma Jean Wright can stop now. lol









"

Chapter Two

disco75 | State College, PA United States | 07/27/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While "Saturday," "I Like Love," and "High Society" are available on various compilations, they are only here in their extended versions. "Sorcerer" was a good single that deserves to be heard (and its Art Deco 12" sleeve is reproduced in the packaging!) This album is notable as a transition between Bernard Edwards' and Nile Rodgers' initial, simpler efforts on the first Chic lp and their sophisticated, exceptional next efforts, C'est Chic and We Are Family. The production, arrangements, songwriting and playing had progressed from where Edwards & Rodgers left off ("Everybody Dance"). 1979's "Lonely Boy" and "High Society" fit nicely with the original lp material. Norma Jean's album anticipated the stupendous Chic Org work to come, although it was not on a par with the next 8 projects. It is, however, a must for any serious Chic fan."

Norma's solo career

F. Farr | Indianapolis, Indiana United States | 07/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hi Chic fans.Definitely a fan of Nile Rodgers guitar strokes and those beautiful female voices that are truely THEIR VOICES (unlike this 90s and new millenimum crap).Anyways, to set the record straight, yes Norma wanted to do a solo project, but not out of selfishness. It was clearly motivated by Niles and Bernard (Edwards) that she had the talent to pursue a solo career. Unfortunately, due to extreme legalities, she could not be the lead singer AND pursue a solo career at the same time. It was very disheartening to her to leave Chic - it was also disheartening to the WHOLE GROUP!Nevertheless, just wanted to set the record straight - she is the first woman of Chic and will always be a beautiful gift to the Chic family!!!"