Show stoppers
Encyclopedia
The Showstoppers was a four-piece African American
vocal
soul
group
formed in Philadelphia about 1967. They are best remembered for their 1967 hit
, "Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty", which was the debut release on three record labels: Showtime Records, Heritage Records
, and Beacon Records.
, who joined with fellow Germantown High School
students, brothers Earl Smith (born 1949 in Massachusetts) and Timmy Smith (born 1950 in Massachusetts). The Burke brothers had been in show business
since at least 1957 as part of a four-member group with two of their two younger brothers.
. After signing to local Philadelphia label
Showtime Records, The Showstoppers had a couple of local hit singles in Philadelphia. Their 1967 hit
"Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty" b/w "What Can a Man Do?" (STR 101), sold well in Pittsburgh, and New York City
, and sold about 40,000 copies in Philadelphia, and reached #118 on the Billboard charts on May 27, 1967. The session musician
s on the song
included Carl Chambers, who was later drummer
with Gladys Knight & the Pips
, and Joe Thomas, who went on to become the guitarist with The Impressions.
By early 1968 Antigua
n-born American businessman Milton Samuel, the head of Beacon Records, a small independent record label
started in January 1968 in the Afro-Caribbean
London suburb of Willesden
, who was later Antigua & Barbuda's Ambassador to the UK and the founder of the Bank of Antigua
, purchased the UK leasing rights for "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" for only £30. On February 16, 1968, "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" became the first release on Beacon Records, (giving it its only hit). In March 1968 Samuel and Mike Berry of Apple Records
had negotiated a deal for "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" to be released through a newly-created Milton Apple Music, but the inability to locate one of The Beatles
to approve the deal forced Samuel to make alternate arrangements. Initially distributed through the British Independent Record Distributors Network, "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" caught on with DJs
in the UK
, and spent 16 weeks in the charts, debuting at #57 on March 2, 1968, before entering the Top 40 at #38 on March 23, 1968. By the end of March, Samuel organized a British visit for the Showstoppers. The Showstoppers made the first of their three appearances on the British television program Top of the Pops
on April 18, 1968. According to one British source, "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" "was played to death and back to life at the Twisted Wheel
and Blue Note Club in Manchester", and peaked at #11 on May 4, 1968 in the UK Singles Chart
. Later in May 1968 "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" was released in Germany on Ariola Records
and France on Barclay Records
, and later released by Beacon in Scandinavia, the Benelux
countries, Austria, Italy, Japan and New Zealand.
Jerry J. Ross (born May 1, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
), the head of newly created Heritage Records
, heard about "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" from Hal Charm, his national promotions director, and decided to buy the master recordings of "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" by late April 1968, and also signed the Showstoppers to his label, became their manager, and organized MGM to distribute its re-release in the USA. Despite rights being acquired for national release by MGM, it failed to become a national hit, spending 5 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at #87 on June 22, 1968. It was ranked #20 on the Soul Brothers Top 20 on August 15, 1968.
"Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" was a disco
thèque hit (#33) in 1971.
Regarded as a Northern soul
classic, the song has been covered
by The Tremeloes
(1968); The Paper Dolls; Cliff Richard
on his album Cliff: Live at the Talk of the Town (1970); The J. Geils Band, who had a #2 AOR
U.S.
hit with it in 1973; and Phil Fearon
, who recorded a house music
version produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
in 1986 that reached #60 in the UK charts. "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" was covered in 1988 by British "supergroup" The Corporation
.
and recorded by Beacon Records in England. The Showstoppers' follow-up single, "Eeny Meeny" b/w "How Easy the Heart Forgets" (Heritage HE 802), was released in September 1968 in the USA, but it failed to chart there. On November 7, 1968 The Showstoppers appeared on Beat! Beat! Beat!, a West German
television show, where they lip synched "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" and their new release, "Eeny Meeny". After Milton Samuel negotiated a deal in October 1968 to distribute Beacon Records recordings through EMI
, on November 13, 1968 "Eeny Meeny", (MGM 1436), entered the UK charts, where it spent the next 7 weeks, peaking at #33.
, including "Shake Your Mini" (1968); and 1969's "Just A Little Bit Of Lovin'" b/w "School Prom" (Beacon BEA 130), however none achieved chart success.
Chart success in the UK and Europe "created demand not only for the record but for live appearances as well". As the Showstoppers had disbanded, Jerry Ross sent a different group on an entire tour of the UK and Europe as The Show Stoppers, which was a group later known as The Persuaders
, who would later score with "Thin Line Between Love and Hate
". Eventually the authentic Showstoppers traveled to Europe and were well-received.
On January 17, 1971 The Showstoppers performed at the Twisted Wheel Club
in Manchester, England. The Showstoppers made their third and final appearance on Top of the Pops
on February 28, 1971, singing the disco version of "Aint' Nothing But a House Party".
After their own tour of Europe, and in the absence of any other hit records, The Showstoppers disbanded finally about 1972.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
vocal
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in Philadelphia about 1967. They are best remembered for their 1967 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, "Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty", which was the debut release on three record labels: Showtime Records, Heritage Records
Heritage Records (USA)
Heritage Records was an American record label founded in the early 1960s by Jerry Ross Productions. It was distributed by MGM Records.It released a number of hits by groups such as The Cherry People, EUPHORIA ,and Bill Deal and the Rhondels....
, and Beacon Records.
History
The Showstoppers was formed about 1967 by brothers, Elec Edward "Alex" Burke (born 16 February 1948 in Philadelphia) and Vladimir H. "Laddie" Burke (born 31 July 1949 in Philadelphia), who were the two oldest of the five younger brothers of Atlantic Record's star Solomon BurkeSolomon Burke
Solomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
, who joined with fellow Germantown High School
Germantown High School (Philadelphia)
Germantown High School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.GHS, located in Germantown, is a part of the School District of Philadelphia....
students, brothers Earl Smith (born 1949 in Massachusetts) and Timmy Smith (born 1950 in Massachusetts). The Burke brothers had been in show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
since at least 1957 as part of a four-member group with two of their two younger brothers.
"Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" (1967)
After rehearsing under the guidance of Solomon Burke, they modeled themselves initially on The VibrationsThe Vibrations
The Vibrations were an African-American soul vocal group from Los Angeles, California, active from the mid-1950s to 1976. Most notable among the group's hit singles were "My Girl Sloopy" and "Love in Them Thar Hills"...
. After signing to local Philadelphia label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Showtime Records, The Showstoppers had a couple of local hit singles in Philadelphia. Their 1967 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
"Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty" b/w "What Can a Man Do?" (STR 101), sold well in Pittsburgh, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and sold about 40,000 copies in Philadelphia, and reached #118 on the Billboard charts on May 27, 1967. The session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s on the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
included Carl Chambers, who was later drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
with Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
, and Joe Thomas, who went on to become the guitarist with The Impressions.
By early 1968 Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
n-born American businessman Milton Samuel, the head of Beacon Records, a small independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
started in January 1968 in the Afro-Caribbean
British African-Caribbean community
The British African Caribbean communities are residents of the United Kingdom who are of West Indian background and whose ancestors were primarily indigenous to Africa...
London suburb of Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
, who was later Antigua & Barbuda's Ambassador to the UK and the founder of the Bank of Antigua
Bank of Antigua
Bank of Antigua was formed on the 10 February 1981 in St. John's, Antigua. It was owned by the Stanford Financial Group which has been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, along with Robert Allen Stanford, the Stanford Financial Group's owner, for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme...
, purchased the UK leasing rights for "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" for only £30. On February 16, 1968, "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" became the first release on Beacon Records, (giving it its only hit). In March 1968 Samuel and Mike Berry of Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
had negotiated a deal for "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" to be released through a newly-created Milton Apple Music, but the inability to locate one of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
to approve the deal forced Samuel to make alternate arrangements. Initially distributed through the British Independent Record Distributors Network, "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" caught on with DJs
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and spent 16 weeks in the charts, debuting at #57 on March 2, 1968, before entering the Top 40 at #38 on March 23, 1968. By the end of March, Samuel organized a British visit for the Showstoppers. The Showstoppers made the first of their three appearances on the British television program Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
on April 18, 1968. According to one British source, "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" "was played to death and back to life at the Twisted Wheel
Twisted Wheel Club
The Twisted Wheel was a nightclub in Manchester, England, open from 1963 to 1971. It was one of the first clubs to play the music that became known as Northern Soul....
and Blue Note Club in Manchester", and peaked at #11 on May 4, 1968 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Later in May 1968 "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" was released in Germany on Ariola Records
Ariola Records
Ariola Records is a German record label. As of the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of BMG which in turn has since become a part of the international media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment...
and France on Barclay Records
Barclay Records
Barclay Records is a French record label founded in the mid-1950s by Eddie Barclay under the alias, Edouard Ruault. Eddie Barclay also founded the Riviera label in the early-1950s....
, and later released by Beacon in Scandinavia, the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
countries, Austria, Italy, Japan and New Zealand.
Jerry J. Ross (born May 1, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
), the head of newly created Heritage Records
Heritage Records (USA)
Heritage Records was an American record label founded in the early 1960s by Jerry Ross Productions. It was distributed by MGM Records.It released a number of hits by groups such as The Cherry People, EUPHORIA ,and Bill Deal and the Rhondels....
, heard about "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" from Hal Charm, his national promotions director, and decided to buy the master recordings of "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" by late April 1968, and also signed the Showstoppers to his label, became their manager, and organized MGM to distribute its re-release in the USA. Despite rights being acquired for national release by MGM, it failed to become a national hit, spending 5 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at #87 on June 22, 1968. It was ranked #20 on the Soul Brothers Top 20 on August 15, 1968.
"Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" was a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
thèque hit (#33) in 1971.
Regarded as a Northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
classic, the song has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes
The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, Essex, and still active today.-Career:They formed as Brian Poole and the Tremoloes influenced by Buddy Holly and The Crickets...
(1968); The Paper Dolls; Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
on his album Cliff: Live at the Talk of the Town (1970); The J. Geils Band, who had a #2 AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hit with it in 1973; and Phil Fearon
Phil Fearon
Phil Fearon is a British record producer. He was the lead singer, songwriter and keyboardist for the 1980s band Galaxy.-Career:...
, who recorded a house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
version produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
in 1986 that reached #60 in the UK charts. "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" was covered in 1988 by British "supergroup" The Corporation
The Corporation (The Travelling Wrinklies)
The Corporation was an English all-star group that was made up of five men who were in popular hit-making English bands of the 1960s. They released a single in 1988, a remake of The Showstoppers' old hit "Ain't Nothing But A House Party" on the Corporation Records label...
.
"Eeny Meeny" (1968)
All of The Showstoppers subsequent singles were produced by Indian-British producer BidduBiddu
Biddu or Biddu Appaiah is an Indian-British music producer, composer, song-writer and singer who produced and composed many hit records worldwide during a career spanning five decades...
and recorded by Beacon Records in England. The Showstoppers' follow-up single, "Eeny Meeny" b/w "How Easy the Heart Forgets" (Heritage HE 802), was released in September 1968 in the USA, but it failed to chart there. On November 7, 1968 The Showstoppers appeared on Beat! Beat! Beat!, a West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
television show, where they lip synched "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" and their new release, "Eeny Meeny". After Milton Samuel negotiated a deal in October 1968 to distribute Beacon Records recordings through EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, on November 13, 1968 "Eeny Meeny", (MGM 1436), entered the UK charts, where it spent the next 7 weeks, peaking at #33.
Later releases (1968-1972)
The Showstoppers released several more singlesSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, including "Shake Your Mini" (1968); and 1969's "Just A Little Bit Of Lovin'" b/w "School Prom" (Beacon BEA 130), however none achieved chart success.
Chart success in the UK and Europe "created demand not only for the record but for live appearances as well". As the Showstoppers had disbanded, Jerry Ross sent a different group on an entire tour of the UK and Europe as The Show Stoppers, which was a group later known as The Persuaders
The Persuaders (band)
The Persuaders are a New York based R&B vocal group, with some fame in the 1970s, best known for their hit single, "Thin Line Between Love and Hate"...
, who would later score with "Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Thin Line Between Love and Hate
"Thin Line Between Love and Hate" is the title of a 1971 song by the New York City-based R&B vocal group The Persuaders. The song was written and produced by the Poindexter brothers, Robert and Richard, and was also co-written by Jackie Members....
". Eventually the authentic Showstoppers traveled to Europe and were well-received.
On January 17, 1971 The Showstoppers performed at the Twisted Wheel Club
Twisted Wheel Club
The Twisted Wheel was a nightclub in Manchester, England, open from 1963 to 1971. It was one of the first clubs to play the music that became known as Northern Soul....
in Manchester, England. The Showstoppers made their third and final appearance on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
on February 28, 1971, singing the disco version of "Aint' Nothing But a House Party".
After their own tour of Europe, and in the absence of any other hit records, The Showstoppers disbanded finally about 1972.
Group members
- Alex Burke (born 1948) - vocalist
- Laddie Burke (born 1949) - vocalist
- Earl Smith (born 1949) - lead vocalist
- Timmy Smith (born 1950) - vocalist
Singles (45 rpm)
Title (A Side/B Side) (Label Number) Year- "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" (written by Del SharhThe VibrationsThe Vibrations were an African-American soul vocal group from Los Angeles, California, active from the mid-1950s to 1976. Most notable among the group's hit singles were "My Girl Sloopy" and "Love in Them Thar Hills"...
(born Carlton James Fisher), and Joe Thomas) (2:35) Producer: Bruce Charles/
"What Can A Man Do??" (written by Joseph David Thomas, Jr., and Ricky Castell) (2:28) (Producer: Drew Stewart) (US: Party Time Records 1002) (US: Showtime STR101) (US: Guyden RecordsJamie RecordsJamie Records was a record label founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957 by Harold Lipsius.Their first 45rpm single, "It's Great To Fall In Love"/"Truly" by Marian Caruso , was issued in 1957. However, they really hit the big-time in 1958 with the release of Duane Eddy's "Rebel...
2131) (1967) - "Ain't Nothing But A House Party" (written by Del Sharh (born Carl Fisher), and Joe Thomas) (2:35) Producer: Bruce Charles/
"What Can A Man Do??" (2:28) Producer: Drew Stewart (US: Showtime STR101) (US: Heritage HE-800) (UK: Beacon Records 3-100) (Germany: Polydor NH 66813) (Germany: Ariola 14.026-AT) (1968) (UK Beacon BEA-100) (1970) (Germany: Metronome M 25299) (1971) (UK: Cream RecordsCream RecordsCream Records is a record label started by Alvin Bennett in 1968, after he sold Liberty Records to Transamerica Corporation. In 1977, it acquired Hi Records from Willie Mitchell...
CRM 5005) (1976) (US: Disco International DIS 1507-45); - "Eeny Meeny" (written by Jerry J. Ross, Raymond Bloodworth, and L. Russell BrownL. Russell BrownL. Russell Brown is an American lyricist and composer most noted for his song, co-written with Irwin Levine, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" for the 1970s pop music group Tony Orlando and Dawn. He also wrote The Partridge Family 1971 song, I Woke Up In Love This Morning.-External...
) (produced by Jerry Ross) (arranged by Joe RenzettiJoe Renzetti-Early life and education:Joseph Renzetti - Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaJoe Renzetti studied composing and orchestrating under Nicholas Flagello, NYC, Manhattan School of Music...
) (2:23) /
"How Easy Your Heart Forgets Me" (written by Mark BarkanMark BarkanMark Barkan is a songwriter and producer. He was also a musical director for the television show The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. This prolific songwriter has written numerous songs including Lesley Gore's Top 5 hit "She's a Fool," the often covered "Pretty Flamingo," which was a hit single for...
, and Don Marchand) (2:10) (US: Heritage HE 802) (UK: MGM 1436) (1968) Producer Jerry Ross; (US: MGM 2006-038) (April 1971) - "Shake Your Mini" (written by Del Sharh) Arranger: Leon Mitchell /
"Shake Your Mini" (organ instrumental by Ronnie Dee) (US: Showtime ST-111) (1968) - "Shake Your Mini" (written by Del Sharh) Arranger: Leon Mitchell /
"Heartbreaker" (written by John Fitch, Jr.) (UK: Beacon 3-106) (1968) - "Don't Leave Me Standing in the Rain" (written by ApiahBidduBiddu or Biddu Appaiah is an Indian-British music producer, composer, song-writer and singer who produced and composed many hit records worldwide during a career spanning five decades...
) (Produced by Biddu & Milton Samuel) /
"Do You Need My Love" (written by Apiah) (Produced by Biddu & Milton Samuel) (UK: Beacon Records BEA 110) (1969) Reissue (27 October 1972; - "Just A Little Bit Of Lovin'" (written by Elbert, Henry GloverHenry GloverHenry Glover was an American songwriter, arranger, record producer and trumpet player. In the music industry of the time, Glover was one of the more successful, and influential, black executives. He gained eminence in the late 1940s, primarily working for the independent King label...
, & Sonny ThompsonSonny ThompsonSonny Thompson was an American R&B bandleader and pianist, popular in the 1940s and 1950s.Born Alfonso Thompson in Centreville, Mississippi, he began recording in 1946, and in 1948 achieved two #1 R&B chart hits on the Miracle label – "Long Gone " and "Late Freight", both featuring saxophonist...
) (produced by Jerry Ross) /
"School Prom" (written by Tesse Gillis & Milton Smith) (credited to "The Showstoppers", but actually performed by The Fortune Tellers) (produced by Jerry Ross) (UK: Beacon BEA 130) (UK: Beacon 182) (1969). - "Reach in the Goody Bag" (written by Carl Fisher) /
"How Do You Feel" (UK: Beacon Records BEA 177) (1971) Producer: Milton Samuel and The Showstoppers; - "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" (produced by Biddu) (2:35) /
"Pick Up Your Smile" (written by Smith) (2:24) (Germany: Decca DL 25 483) (1971) Arranged by Gerry Shury. Licensed from Beacon Records. - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" (written by Del Sharh (born Carl Fisher), and Joe Thomas) (2:35) Producer: Bruce Charles /
"Gotta Get Close to My Love" (UK: Inferno Heat 120) (1979) Reissue leased from Party-Time Records, Philly. - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" (The Showstoppers) /
"Pop-Pop-Pop-Eye" (performed by The SherrysThe SherrysThe Sherrys were an American girl group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, active briefly in the 1960s.The group came together in 1961 around Philadelphia singer Little Joe Cook, former lead singer of The Thrillers; it featured two of his daughters and their cousin. Initially they acted as a backup...
) (written by David WhiteDavid White (musician)David White toured the country with his parents prior to attending school in their acrobatic/hand-balancing act called Barry and Brenda and Company....
& John MedoraJohn MedoraJohn Medora , also known as John or Johnny Madara, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, who teamed up with David White and Arthur Singer to write the 1957 hit song "At the Hop"....
) (JamieJamie RecordsJamie Records was a record label founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957 by Harold Lipsius.Their first 45rpm single, "It's Great To Fall In Love"/"Truly" by Marian Caruso , was issued in 1957. However, they really hit the big-time in 1958 with the release of Duane Eddy's "Rebel...
J 918) Reissue.
LPs
- Old 'N Golden - Various Artists [1967] (Jamie JLPS-3031) - "Ain't Nothing But A House Party" [original version] - Showstoppers;
- Famous 56 Music Power - Various Artists [1968] (Lost Nite LP-133) - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Showstoppers;
- Colossus Gold - Various Artists [1971] (Colossus Records CGS-5001) - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Show Stoppers;
- Out On The Floor Tonight _ Various Artists [1979] (INFERNO 001) - "Got To Get Closer To My Love" - The Showstoppers;
- Casino Classics - Chapter Two - Various Artists [1980] (Casino Classics CCLP1002) - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Showstoppers;
- Tainted Love by Gloria Jones plus 10 Northern Soul Classics - Various Artists [1982] (Inferno 12Heat6) - "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party";
- Soul Shots, Volume 1: Dance Party - Various Artists [1987] (Rhino RNLP/RNC 70037) - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Show Stoppers;
- Soul Shots: A Collection of Sixties Soul Classics - Volume 1 - Various Artists [1988] - (Rhino R2 75774) - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Show Stoppers;
- Ain't Nothin But A House Party: '60S Soul & Northern Classics - Various Artists [1994] - (Heritage) (Released on CD 2005) "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party", "What Can a Man Do", "Eeny Meeny", and "How Easy Your Heart Forgets Me".
- Beg Scream & Shout: The Big Ol' Box of '60s Soul - Various Artists [1997] - (Rhino Records) - "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" - Show Stoppers.
Compact Discs
- Northern Soul Fever, Volume One - Various Artists [1993] (UK: Goldmine Soul Supply GSCD27) - "What Can A Man Do" - The Showstoppers;
- The Jamie/Guyden Story - Various Artists [1995] (Bear Family (Germany) BCD 15874-BH) (2-CD set) - Disc 1: "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Show Stoppers (1967 version);
- The Best Sixties Party - Various Artists [2004] (Virgin, EMI VTDCD 645) - "Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty" - The Showstoppers;
- Let's Copp a Groove: Lost UK Soul 1968-1972 - Various Artists [2003] [RPM] - "Do You Need My Love" - Showstoppers;
- Best Of The 60's Mod - Various Artists [2004] (Castle Pulse) "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" - Showstoppers.
- Northern Soul Essential Floorfillers - Various Artists [2006] (Metro) - "Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty" - Showstoppers;
- Come On Soul! Vol. 2 - Various Artists [2007] (Legere) "Eeny Meeny" - The Showstoppers.
- Keeping The Faith: 40 Years Of Northern Soul - Memories & Souvenirs [2007] (Castle Music) (4-CD set) Disc 1: "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Showstoppers.
- Chart Toppers, Vol. 27 - Various Artists [2009] (Top Hits Group) - "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" - Show Stoppers
- Ultimate 60s: 60 Classic Tracks of the Decade - Various Artists - [2010] (Music Club) "Ain't Nothing Like A House Party" - The Showstoppers;
Further reading
- Larkin, Colin, ed. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. Guinness, 1992.
- Larkin, Colin, ed. The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin (in association with Muze Inc.), 1998.