Friday Flashback :: The Jones Girls' "Nights Over Egypt"
There isn't a whole bunch that needs to be said about this 1982 classic from Valerie, Shirley, and Brenda Jones, collectively known as, what else, the Jones Girls.
The Jones Girls started singing in Detroit, MI, and before long they were cutting their teeth doing backup and session work for Diana Ross, and some other Detroit-based acts. Additionally, their mother, Mary Frances Jones was quite a gospel star in her own right. With such a start, it was little wonder that the girls were destined for some commercial success.
Packaged as part of their debut Philadelphia International Records (at the time, home of MFSB, Teddy Pendergrass, among others) release Get As Much Love As You Can, this was one of the best-known hits for these three ladies, and sounds contemporary even now. The song had success in its notes, as it was written by R&B legend Dexter Wansel (who co-wrote The Stylistics' hit "Hurry Up This Way Again" and "Keep On Dancin'" by the Jackson 5) and Cynthia Biggs (who also wrote Patti LaBelle's #1 hit "If Only You Knew").
"Nights Over Egypt" has been a cross-genre hit for over 20 years now, getting airplay in those ubiquitous night-time "quiet storm" radio shows, midday "easy listening" and even club/dance play. It's been redone countless times, most successfully by Incognito, and the dance/club/House duo Masters At Work.
Oddly, the song enjoyed only modest success when released, rising to be a Top 25 hit. I suspect, however, that it's among the top ten in classic songs among R&B fans today, while being one of those songs that one above a certain age will instantly recognize.
Today's Friday Flashback for January 11th, 2008, The Jones' Girls "Nights Over Egypt."
The Jones Girls :: "Nights Over Egypt"
Album: Get As Much Love As You Can
Released: 1982
Billboard peak: #23, Black Singles.
Play the Track: Nights Over Egypt (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
The Jones Girls started singing in Detroit, MI, and before long they were cutting their teeth doing backup and session work for Diana Ross, and some other Detroit-based acts. Additionally, their mother, Mary Frances Jones was quite a gospel star in her own right. With such a start, it was little wonder that the girls were destined for some commercial success.
Packaged as part of their debut Philadelphia International Records (at the time, home of MFSB, Teddy Pendergrass, among others) release Get As Much Love As You Can, this was one of the best-known hits for these three ladies, and sounds contemporary even now. The song had success in its notes, as it was written by R&B legend Dexter Wansel (who co-wrote The Stylistics' hit "Hurry Up This Way Again" and "Keep On Dancin'" by the Jackson 5) and Cynthia Biggs (who also wrote Patti LaBelle's #1 hit "If Only You Knew").
"Nights Over Egypt" has been a cross-genre hit for over 20 years now, getting airplay in those ubiquitous night-time "quiet storm" radio shows, midday "easy listening" and even club/dance play. It's been redone countless times, most successfully by Incognito, and the dance/club/House duo Masters At Work.
Oddly, the song enjoyed only modest success when released, rising to be a Top 25 hit. I suspect, however, that it's among the top ten in classic songs among R&B fans today, while being one of those songs that one above a certain age will instantly recognize.
Today's Friday Flashback for January 11th, 2008, The Jones' Girls "Nights Over Egypt."
The Jones Girls :: "Nights Over Egypt"Album: Get As Much Love As You Can
Released: 1982
Billboard peak: #23, Black Singles.
Play the Track: Nights Over Egypt (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
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