Search - Three Degrees :: Live in London

Surprisingly Soulful Live Album from The Group Known to be S

blue | NY | 05/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is their first live album, released in 1975, but probably recorded right after their popularity skyrocketed with a hit of "When Will I See You Again" in UK, which was in 1974.

Among their three live albums, others are "Live in Japan" and "Live in UK", this is the most soulful, raw and vibrant one, stirred up by the very enthusiastic audience. And other than the audience's contribution, the soulfulness of this performance was enhanced by the selection of their repertoire, though some of them are obviously not Soul, and explosive lead vocals of Valerie Holiday.

Without doubt, their manager, Richard Barett's intention and dream were, from the begining, to make them a polished cross over act, like the Supremes, who could perform at night clubs for affluent White guests like Copa. However, since ironically "Maybe", a soulful remake of Chantels' hit, featured the very Black sounding Valerie, became their first national hit, soulful tunes led by Val had dominated their Roulette recordings(the info of this CD's liner note is incorrect, it is Val's all the way on "Maybe"). Also probably because the Black Awareness was still strong and showing it was kinda hip in the first half of '70s, their repertoire and performing style were earthier and wilder at the time of this recording.



*TSOP

It was the perfect tune for their show opening, and the lead vocal was done by Sheila, only after you hear Faye's "Yeah" and Val's "Oooyeah."



*Free Ride & *Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

The very soulful cover of Rock hits, the Edgar Winter Group's and Elton John's, led by powerful Val.



*Year of Decision

The second single form their Philadelphia International debut album, led by Val, but toward the end, Faye took over.



*Living for the City / For the Love of Money

This very traditional "Soul-Show-esque" performance of Stevie Wonder's and O'jays' socially aware songs definitely make this album's color more Black. Lead vocals were mainly done by Val, but on "Living for the City", Faye showed her vocal's soulfulness can match Val's.



*When Will I See you Again

Led by Super Sheila. The audience's reaction was just really fantastic.



*Dirty Ol' Man

Led by Sheila and Val. As Sheila said "Don't touch the merchandise", I wonder if she refered to Richard, hehehe.



*Everybody's Going to the Moon

From the film "French Connection" that they appeared in the night club scene, led by Sheila, Faye & Val, in that order, and this is the least Soulful, showbiz type song on this set(I do not mean I don't like it). I guess this side of them was very important for their career of that time since most of their works had been at night clubs prior to "WWISYA."



*Harlem

Again, they brought a very "Blackness" song to this show, which was penned by Bill "Ain't No Sunshine" Withers. Led by no other than the girl with a big voice, Val.



*Love Train

Again the cover of their label mate, O'jays' hit, for the closing of the show, and again led by Val.





Sheila saying "Believe me, this was the Three Degrees' year" on the intro of "WWISYA", I assume this recording was done near the end of 1974. In 1975, they released their second studio album from Philadelphia International and "Live in Japan", which was recorded during their Japan tour promoting the second album, and by that time, their musical direction had some changes because of the massive international success of "WWISYA" which sounded very pop. Since the lead vocal of that, Sheila became more recognaizable for the public than others and her voice and vocal style were more smooth than Val's, I think she was considered to be the one with more appeal to the mass. Therefore she started to take more leads on their recordings, and they also dropped too Black sounding songs, which was probably Richard's direction. However, on their shows, Sheila, Val and Faye(and later Helen) were always equal, sharing the leads, they seemed to have a very democratic structure inside unlike some other famous Black female groups, well, except the fact of being managed by the very controlling person. And still now, it seems that their current members, Val, Helen & Cynthia, have a very democratic relationship, means no Diana, and probably that is one of the reasons of their longevity.



This live album definitely shows what the Three Degrees really were at that time, what they were capable of, and the very soulful side of them hidden behind their popular glamorous pop & disco Diva personas.

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