The Best Of The Pointer Sisters 1978-1981

THE BEST OF THE POINTER SISTERS 1978 - 1981

Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Music, New York, N.Y.
copyright 1993 BMG Music

1. FIRE - 3:25
(Springsteen) Recorded 1978, Bruce Springsteen, ASCAP

2. THE LOVE TOO GOOD TO LAST - 3:32
(Bacharach/Bayer Sager/Allen) 1980 Irving Music, Inc./Valley Music Co./Begonia Melodies Inc., ASCAP

3. SWEET LOVER MAN - 3:30
(Ragovoy/Roberts) 1981 Chappell & Co., Inc., ASCAP

4. SLOW HAND - 3.51
(Clark/Bettis) 1981 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Sweet Harmony Music, Inc., ASCAP

5. WHAT A SURPRISE - 3:48
(Pointer/Pointer/Lawrence) 1981 EMI-Blackwood Music Inc./Leggo Four Publishing/Anita Pointer Publishing, BMI

6. SHOULD I DO IT - 3:49
(Martine) 1981 Unichappell Music Inc./Watch Hill Music, BMI

7. SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER - 4:36
(Ballard) 1981 EMI-April Music Inc./Russell Ballard Ltd., ASCAP

8. HE'S SO SHY - 3:35
(Snow/Weil) 1980 EMI-Blackwood Music/ATV Music Corp./Mann and Weil Songs, Inc., BMI

9. COULD I BE DREAMIN' - 3:27
(Pointer/Lawrence/Henderson) 1980 Over The Rainbow Music Co./Kerith Music Co., ASCAP/EMI-Blackwood Music/Tira Music Co., BMI

10. HAPPINESS - 3:57
(A. Toussaint) 1978 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc. BMI

The Pointer Sisters - Ruth, Anita, June and Bonnie - began their musical career singing in the choir of the West Oakland Church of God, where both their parents were ministers. Elton and Saran Elizabeth Pointer imposed a rather strict upbringing on their children, attempting to shelter them from "the bad lives people had led in the blues and jazz world," as Ruth noted in biographical data for Planet Records in 1978.

Even so, it was not long before the idea of singing professionally entered the girls' minds. Originally a trio comprising the three eldest sisters, the Pointer Sisters earned money in clerical jobs while searching for work in the field and the right "connection" to get their musical career off the ground. The "connection" turned up in David Rubinson, a producer who befriended the sisters and got them session work backing up such notables as Dave Mason, Taj Mahal and the Elvin Bishop Group.

These dates proved successful, and helped them to land their initial record contract in the early 70s with Atlantic. The label classified the girls as straight R&B singers, and the two singles they cut in that style completely missed the mark. Rubinson's enthusiasm for the sisters remained undiminished, however, and he wasted no time in changing labels.

In 1973, he got them signed to ABC/Blue Thumb Records, a move that would see them enter the charts for the first time. Youngest sister June was now included in the troupe, and a sensational debut at the famed Troubadour in Los Angeles led to a slew of appearances on major TV shows, including "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." Their first album, The Pointer Sisters, hit the chars in mid-1973, earning them a gold record with such songs as "Yes, We Can Can" and "Wang Dang Doodle". Their second release, "That's A Plenty," continued the momentum. It was also certified gold and included "Fairy Tale", a country song written by the sisters that earned them a 1974 Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, and a songwriting nomination as well.

As the Pointer Sisters began to enjoy commercial success, releasing two more albums on ABC/Blue Thumb, a feeling of stagnancy and unhappiness began emerging from within their ranks. The constant touring and ABC's hands-on management led to an abrupt completion of their recording contract with the release of two further albums in the mid-70s, and a brief dissolution of the group.

In 1978, sisters Ruth, June and Anita teamed up once again, signing with Richard Perry's Planet Records. Their next two albums, Energy and Special Things, both went gold, and "Fire" and "He's So Shy," both of which are included on this compilation, became the trio's first two gold singles. Another single, "Happiness", gave them another major hit.

Priority, their third album for Planet, proved to be a disappointment, but the girls quickly rebounded with the release of Black And White in 1981. The album and the single, "Slow Hand," which reached the number two position on the pop charts, making it their most successful single to date, both went gold. Equally impressive was the Pointer Sisters' being named Billboard magazine's R&B Group of the Year that year.

Perry switched his Planet distribution to RCA Records, and in 1982, the Pointer Sisters released the best-selling So Excited. But it was the Breakout album, released a year later, that made them a pop phenomenon and earned them their first platinum album. It yielded the hit singles "I Need You," "Automatic" and "Jump (For My Love)," with the latter two earning the girls Grammy Awards for Best Vocal Arrangement and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.

In 1985, the trio jumped to RCA Records and earned platinum once again with Contact, which spawned two more hit singles. They would release two more albums - Hot Together and Serious Slammin', neither of which was a commercial success - before leaving the label.

Included in this compilation are the gold and Grammy Award winning singles issued during those important years between 1978 and 1981, that helped to ensure the Pointer Sisters their place in R&B and popular music - songs delivered with a slow hand, and infused with fire.

~~Mike Beeferman

Produced by Richard Perry
Compilation Produced by Paul Williams
Digitally remastered by Glen Kolotkin at BMG Recording Studios, New York, January 1993 except Audio Restoration and Remastering of "FIRE" by Bill Lacey
Transferred to digital tape from the original analog masters by Doug McKean
Repertoire Selection and Sequencing: Paul Williams
Project Coordination: Frankie Pezzella
Art Coordination: Jacqueline Murphy