Favorite 1970s Female Vocal Groups (Lyrics) Quiz

Answer: Walkin' in the Rain (With the One I Love)

A female vocal trio which was produced by the "Maestro of Love", the late Barry White, Love Unlimited had several memorable hits during the early 1970's. "Walking in the Rain (With the One I Love)" was their biggest hit: it peaked at # 14 on the Pop chart and # 6 on the R&B chart.

By the way, the trio had never sung professionally before they met White. They spent almost a year rehearsing before making their debut!

Answer: (How Long) Betcha Got a Chick on the Side

"(How Long) Betcha Got A Chick on the Side" is my favorite Pointer Sisters song. Though the sisters were known for a consistently more 'Pop' sound during the 1980s', their 1970's releases were quite varied. "(How Long) Betcha Got a Chick on the Side" had a strong R&B flavor, as did "You Gotta Believe", which also had a touch of gospel influence.

Their hit "Fairy Tale" was a very popular country tune. It won the 1974 "Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group" Grammy. Also, the sisters became the first black female act to perform at the Grand Ole' Opry.

Answer: Want Ads

"Want Ads" was a # 1 hit on both the Pop and R&B charts for the vocal trio called Honey Cone. The trio was named for one of the members' favorite ice cream flavor! Surprisingly, though the group was very successful and had several big hits, according to msnentertainment.com, the group was together a total of only four years. Former lead singer Edna Wright stated in an interview with writer Paul Williams that Honey Cone's demise was due to "bad timing".

Answer: You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)"

High Inergy, a four-member vocal trio, had their biggest hit, "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)" in 1977. The song was a Top 10 hit on both the Pop and R&B chart. The song is memorable because of it's grammatical significance: the lead singer consistently pronounces the word can't as 'c-ain't'.

Answer: When Will I See You Again

The Three Degrees were a trio which formed in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1963. During their most successful phase, the early to mid-1970's, they were signed to Philadelphia International Records. Interestingly, the first song that they recorded for the label was the song, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia): the theme from the tv show "Soul Train".

The group provided the vocals near the end of the otherwise instrumental track. Credited to the instrumental band, MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother), "TSOP" hit # 1 on both the Pop and R&B chart in 1974. "When Will I See You Again" became a platinum single, hitting # 2 on the Pop chart and # 4 on the R&B chart that same year.

Answer: Don't Ask My Neighbors

Featured on the 1977 LP, "Rejoice", "Don't Ask My Neighbors" was written by songwriter/producer Skip Scarborough. "Rejoice", which also contained the # 1 Pop and R&B smash hit, "Best of My Love", was released by the Columbia label under the production credit of Kalimba Productions. Kalimba Productions was owned by Maurice White, founder of the group, Earth, Wind and Fire.

Answer: You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else

A trio of sisters from Detroit, Michigan, the Jones Girls grew up in a gospel singing family. The sisters made a living as very highly sought after back-up singers for major artists, including Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. After being discovered by Philadelphia International Records co-owner Kenny Gamble and signed to his label, the Jones Girls had a very successful recording career that stretched from the late 1970's through the mid 1980's.

Answer: We Are Family

"We are Family", the title song from the album of the same name, was, of course, one of Sister Sledge's biggest hits. It peaked at # 2 on the Pop chart in 1979. Produced by the Chic Organization, Ltd., the "We Are Family" LP also contained the popular dance track, "He's the Greatest Dancer".

Answer: Which Way is Up

"Which Way is Up", the title song from the 1978 Warner Brothers film, which starred comedian Richard Pryor, was Stargard's biggest hit. The song hit the Top 10 on both the Pop and R&B chart. The vocal trio had several more hits before breaking up in the mid-1980's.

Answer: Magic Man

Though the ladies of Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, play instruments as well, I had to include them here because of Ann's many vocal contributions to the 1970's music scene. Later, of course, in the mid-1980's, Nancy would sing lead on Heart's first # 1 Pop single, "These Dreams".