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Details
Format: CD
Label: Black Tulip
Year: 2003
Media Condition: New
Sleeve/Cover Condition: New
TRACKS:
1 Court Of Love
2 The Beginning Of The End
3 It's A Groovy World
4 Toshisumasu
5 Which One Should I Choose
6 Memories
7 Dawn Of A New Day
8 Harper Valley PTA
9 Tables Turned
10 This Guy's In Love With You
11 Working My Way Back In Funky Thing
12 A Hard Day's Night
13 It's All Over
14 Got To Get You
15 Little Green Apples
16 People Got To Be Free
PERSONNEL:
Vocals - Al Johnson, Greg Cook, Harold Worthington, Michel Ward, Tom Fauntleroy
In 1966 a group of students at Washington D.C.'s Howard University formed the group Al & the Vikings. Consisting of singer/songwriter Al Johnson, Tom Fauntleroy, Marvin Brown, Bob Hayes, and George Roland, the group changed its name during its first year to the Unique Five and later to the Unifics.
Known for their smooth harmonies and their dapper attire (including their trademark white gloves), the Unifics soon gathered a large following in the D.C. area and began to attract attention elsewhere.
The group signed with manager Guy Draper, who landed the act a contract with Kapp Records (MCA/Universal) and became their producer and a principal writer. During this time, their songs were arranged by Donny Hathaway, discovered by Draper at Howard University.
Soon after signing with Kapp, the Unifics hit national pay dirt with their single, "Court of Love," which reached #1 on Record World and scored on both the Soul and Pop charts in Billboard and Cash Box Magazines in 1968. The Top 40 hit featured a mock-courtroom setting.
Often called "the act that no group wanted to follow," the UNIFICS "raised the bar" to the satisfaction of standing-room-only audiences at the Apollo Theater, Uptown Theater, Howard Theater and to the delight of fans across the nation. Draper created their trademark stage presence which featured white gloves and strobe lights. Drummer Jerome Brailey added his signature touch on "Court of Love" and also toured with the group.
The Unifics continued to chart into the early 1970s with such cuts as "It's a Groovy World," "Toshisumasu" and their last major hit, "The Beginning of My End," all penned by Draper. Their final single was "Dawn of a New Day (In My Life)" on Jerry Butler's Fountain label.
The act split in 1972, with Johnson going on to become an important songwriter and producer for the next 30 years (often working with Fauntleroy). Johnson had a briefly successful solo career in the 1980s and worked with Norman Connors, Jean Carn, The Whispers, Sharon Redd, Gayle Adams and Special Delivery.
Label: Black Tulip
Year: 2003
Media Condition: New
Sleeve/Cover Condition: New
TRACKS:
1 Court Of Love
2 The Beginning Of The End
3 It's A Groovy World
4 Toshisumasu
5 Which One Should I Choose
6 Memories
7 Dawn Of A New Day
8 Harper Valley PTA
9 Tables Turned
10 This Guy's In Love With You
11 Working My Way Back In Funky Thing
12 A Hard Day's Night
13 It's All Over
14 Got To Get You
15 Little Green Apples
16 People Got To Be Free
PERSONNEL:
Vocals - Al Johnson, Greg Cook, Harold Worthington, Michel Ward, Tom Fauntleroy
In 1966 a group of students at Washington D.C.'s Howard University formed the group Al & the Vikings. Consisting of singer/songwriter Al Johnson, Tom Fauntleroy, Marvin Brown, Bob Hayes, and George Roland, the group changed its name during its first year to the Unique Five and later to the Unifics.
Known for their smooth harmonies and their dapper attire (including their trademark white gloves), the Unifics soon gathered a large following in the D.C. area and began to attract attention elsewhere.
The group signed with manager Guy Draper, who landed the act a contract with Kapp Records (MCA/Universal) and became their producer and a principal writer. During this time, their songs were arranged by Donny Hathaway, discovered by Draper at Howard University.
Soon after signing with Kapp, the Unifics hit national pay dirt with their single, "Court of Love," which reached #1 on Record World and scored on both the Soul and Pop charts in Billboard and Cash Box Magazines in 1968. The Top 40 hit featured a mock-courtroom setting.
Often called "the act that no group wanted to follow," the UNIFICS "raised the bar" to the satisfaction of standing-room-only audiences at the Apollo Theater, Uptown Theater, Howard Theater and to the delight of fans across the nation. Draper created their trademark stage presence which featured white gloves and strobe lights. Drummer Jerome Brailey added his signature touch on "Court of Love" and also toured with the group.
The Unifics continued to chart into the early 1970s with such cuts as "It's a Groovy World," "Toshisumasu" and their last major hit, "The Beginning of My End," all penned by Draper. Their final single was "Dawn of a New Day (In My Life)" on Jerry Butler's Fountain label.
The act split in 1972, with Johnson going on to become an important songwriter and producer for the next 30 years (often working with Fauntleroy). Johnson had a briefly successful solo career in the 1980s and worked with Norman Connors, Jean Carn, The Whispers, Sharon Redd, Gayle Adams and Special Delivery.