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Devotion (group)

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Devotion
Also known asThe Superbs, The Devotion, Devotion, Retta Young and the Devotions
OriginNew York, United States
GenresR&B, soul
Years active1960s–1970s
LabelsSymbol Records, J City, Colossus, Silver Dollar, Wanderik Records
Past membersRhonda Franklin
Retta Young
Phillis Harris
 ? Harris
Anita ?
Bertha Quince
Madge Quince

Devotion, originally The Superbs, were a female group from New York. Formed in the 1960s, they are remembered for their 1970 hit "Dawning of Love".

Background

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They were signed with Colossus Records and released exclusively on Paul Kyser's Silver Dollar label.[1][2]

Their singles "Dawning of Love" and "So Glad You're Home" (1970) were written by Kyser and co-produced by him and Tom Vetri.[3][2][4] "Dawning of Love" became a hit on the US R&B chart, getting to no. 49 in 1970.[5]

Career

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The Superbs

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An early line up of the group included former lead singer of The Teardrops, Rhonda Franklin, who joined the group some time around or prior to 1968. Franklin's group had recorded "Wait For Me" backed with "Birdies and Memories" which was on Gossip TKT-2121 in 1964.[6][7] With Paul Kyser in his first time as a horns and strings arranger, The Superbs recorded "Love's Unpredictable" with Phillis Harris on lead vocals. Kyser co-produced it with Stan R. Krause. The song, backed with "Happiest Girl in the World", was released on Catamount 2122 in 1968.[8][9] The next single credited to The Superbs was "The Dawning of Love" backed with "So Glad You're Home" on Symbol 8.[8][10]

The group was photographed for a promotional picture. By the time they were photographed Rhonda Frankin had left the group. Pictured were Phillis Harris, Arnita (surname unknown) and Harris' sister.[8]

Devotion

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"The Dawning of Love" was released a second time by Kyser in 1970 on Colossus C 126 and credited to Devotion.[10][11][8] It became a hit and went to no. 49 on the Billboard chart,[12][13] and no. 41 in the Cash Box chart.[14][15] According to Kyser in the Music Executive Paul L. Kyser of Trumpet records Sit Down Documentary by Champagne Filmmaker, Kyser and co. went to Cleveland, Ohio and everything was going well, and the girls were set to appear at the Apollo Theater. Unfortunately, the group's lead singer had a medical issue and went to hospital. After that he got a replacement line up. The Devotion line up became Retta Young, Bertha and Madge Quince.[8][16] They did a show in Baltimore, Maryland. They did a prom there with The Moments. This was where Kyser introduced Al Goodman of The Moments to Henrietta Young.[17] Interestingly, Young, Bertha Addison, and Madge Quince are credited with composing "Stuck To You Like A Magnet" which was registered for copyright in 1968.[18]

The first Devotions recording featuring Young was "The Saga of Will-E Jones" (1971), which was composed by Kyser and Vetri.[19] They were listed in the Campus Attractions section in the March 27 issue of Billboard as an act available for a college date.[20] Record World reported in the August 14, 1971 issue that Silver Dollar Records, having had local success with "Ain't it Good Enough" by New Sound Express Ltd. were getting ready to ship nationally the single by a dynamite female group, the Devotions. The single, "The Saga of Will-E Jones" was the first Jamie / Guyden release on the Silver Dollar label.[21]

In the March 17, 1973 issue of Record World, Dede Dabney in her Soul Truth column had "So Glad You're Home" as one of Dede's Ditties to Watch.[22]

  • Note: "The Saga of Will-E Jones" 1971 release and info by Kyser suggests that Retta Young did not sing on earlier recordings such as "The Dawning of Love." [citation needed]

Later years

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Retta Young went solo and had a hit with "Sending Out An S.O.S.". The record would eventually peak at No. 88 in the U.S. on the Billboard R&B charts and No. 28 in the U.K.[23]

Discography

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Singles (1968)
Act Release Catalogue Year Format Notes
The Superbs "Love's Unpredictable" / "Happiest Girl In The World" Catamount 2122 1968 7" single [8][9]
Singles (1970s to 2000s)
Act Title Release info Year Format Notes
The Superbs "The Dawning Of Love" / "So Glad You're Home" Symbol Records SYMBOL 8 1969 7" single [24]
The Devotions "So Glad You're Home" / "The Dawning Of Love" J City JC-325 1970
Devotion "Dawning of Love" / "So Glad You're Home" Polydor Records 2058 071 UK release
Devotion Colossus Records
The Devotions "The Saga Of Will-E Jones" / "Let's Join Our World Together" Silver Dollar SD-154 1971 [4]
Retta Young and the Devotions "So Glad You're Home" / "The Dawning of Love" Essential Media Group 2014 CD-R + Digital 45

[citation needed]

Albums
Title Release info Year Format Notes
Retta Young and the Devotions Wanderik Records 1977 LP
Retta Young and the Devotions 2011 MP3 album
Retta Young and the Devotions (digitally remastered) Essential Media Group 2013 CD-R

[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Billboard, June 19, 1971 – Page 51 Late News, Jamie/Guyden To Distribute Silver Dollar
  2. ^ a b Billboard, May 8, 1971 – Page 6 General News Record Firm Is Formed By Kyser
  3. ^ 45Cat – Devotion – Discography
  4. ^ a b 45Cat – The Devotions (New Jersey) – Discography
  5. ^ MusicVF.com – Songs written by Paul Kyser, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
  6. ^ Shazam – Wait For Me, The Teardrops
  7. ^ Popsike – The TEARDROPS – Wait For Me rare Philly SOUL '64 Gossip 45 Rhonda Franklin
  8. ^ a b c d e f Soul Source – I'm A New Member, By Guest Paul Kyser February 11, 2009 Guest Paul Kyser Posted February 11, 2009
  9. ^ a b Popsike – SUPERBS Love's Unpredictable Happiest Girl In The World CATAMOUNT 2122 45 MINT
  10. ^ a b Gripsweat – THE SUPERBS The Dawning Of Love SYMBOL NORTHERN SOUL USA 45
  11. ^ Billboard, October 24, 1970 – Page 51 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, 49 50 ............... 2
  12. ^ Billboard, October 31, 1970 – Page 42 Soul, Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY, For Week Ending 10/31/70
  13. ^ Billboard, November 7, 1970 – Page 31 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY, For Week Ending 11/7/70
  14. ^ Cash Box, October 24, 1970 – Page 38 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B Locations
  15. ^ Cash Box, October 31, 1970 – Page 37 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B Locations
  16. ^ Champagne Filmmaker channel – Music Executive PAUL L KYSER OF TRUMPET RECORDS SIT DOWN DOCUMENTARY 19:00
  17. ^ Champagne Filmmaker channel – Music Executive PAUL L KYSER OF TRUMPET RECORDS SIT DOWN DOCUMENTARY 20:00
  18. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 25, Part 5, Number I, Section I – January–June 1968 – Page 626 STUCK TO YOU LIKE A MAGNET
  19. ^ Discogs – The Devotions (2) – The Saga Of Will-E Jones / Let's Join Our World
  20. ^ Billboard, March 27, 1971 – Page 115' 'CAMPUS ATTRACTIONS, Popular Artists, Continued from page 110
  21. ^ Record World, August 14, 1971 – Page 68 New Terrain Rather Than Old Landmarks By LARRY COHEN
  22. ^ Record World, March 17, 1973 – Record World SOUL TRUTH By DEDE DABNEY
  23. ^ MusicVF.com – Sending Out an S.O.S. By: Retta Young
  24. ^ 45Cat – The Superbs (Devotion) – Discography
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