| Author | Message | ||
  PhillyGroove (james_thurman) 1-Arriviste Username: james_thurman Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
I heard a track called "Do What You Want to Do" by a group called Five Flights Up. The October 19, 1970 WLS survey says it was on the Bell label. Anyone on the board remember them or have any details? Thanks | ||
kevin quinn (kevin_quinn) 2-Debutant Username: kevin_quinn Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 141.151.87.133 |
I always loved that song. The group had a Friends Of Distinction/5th Dimension type of sound for my ears. I think they were from CA. The song got some AM airply and charted in the fall of '70. I remember hearing it on WFIL in Philly and I went out and bought it. The flip side is called "Black Cat." | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 228 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.157.113.232 |
"Do What You Wannd Do" was issued on T-A 202, the label was distributed by Bell. The group had two subsequent singles 207 After The Feeling Is Gone / Where Are You Going Girl 212 Like Monday Follows Sunday / California Girl There's also a single on Oak 113 The Day Before Yesterday / There's Nothing Wrong but I'm not certain it's the same group. They were Californian but who exactly made up the group I don't know. I don't have details handy but if I remember rightly the producer for Five Flights Up (was it John Flores ?) also worked with the Friends of Distinction. If you want to post the writer / production credits for the single it may jog my memory. DAvie | ||
kevin quinn (kevin_quinn) 2-Debutant Username: kevin_quinn Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 141.151.87.133 |
DAvie: The writer is J.B. Bingham. Arranged by Ernie Freeman. Produced by John Florez, as you mentioned. | ||
Robb_K (robb_k) 6-Zenith Username: robb_k Post Number: 556 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 82.217.153.9 |
Ernie Freeman worked out of L.A. | ||
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon Post Number: 229 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.157.113.232 |
J B Bingham had a few solo singles in the early to mid seventies (on United Artists and Warner Bros) - it's quite possible he's a member of the group as he was based on the West Coast. Davie | ||
PhillyGroove (james_thurman) 1-Arriviste Username: james_thurman Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.138 |
Thanks all. Believe it or not, I tracked down John Florez who was kind enough to reply to my e-mail. You are right that he produced The Friends of Distinction, The Fifth Dimension, and The Hues Corporation. The lead singer of Five Flights Up, James Bingham penned their songs. The group produced an album titled for their single, "After the Feeling Is Gone." Evidently, their pre-release single's charting disappointed the brass at Columbia, and the album was shelved. If I learn more from Mr. Florez about the whereabouts of James Bingham, I'll post it. For now, I am under the impression that the group went the way, sadly, of their own title, "After the Feeling is Gone ..." BTW, I didn't own the single, "Do What You Want To Do," but I just snagged a copy of the TA release on eBay. Glad it brought back a few memories for others beside me. PhillyGroove | ||
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 5-Doyen Username: kevgo Post Number: 194 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.33.205.135 |
John Florez produced the first three albums for the Friends of Distinction - "Grazin'", "Highly Distinct" and "Real Friends" as well as the hit singles "Grazin In The Grass", "Let Yourself Go"/"Going In Circles" and "Love Or Let Me Be Lonely". When the Fifth Dimension's hit streak went cold after "If I Could Reach You" left the Top Ten, Bell Records brought John Florez in to produce the group's "Soul & Inspiration" album. The album contained the single "No Love In The Room" - the tune sounded like it was right from the Friends of Distinction's book of songs. Radio aired the song and it was a promising hit but the single fell through the cracks - mainly because Bell's transfer of power from label founder Larry Uttal to the then-newly-arrived-from-CBS Records Clive Davis, who changed the name of the label to Arisa & became more focused on promoting Barry Manilow & Melissa Manchester (even though he offered to renew the Fifth Dimension's contract, the group left Bell/Arista and went to ABC Records). Kevin Goins - KevGo |
