Flowers (The Emotions album)

1976 studio album by The Emotions

Flowers

Studio album by

The Emotions

Released| June 1976
Studio| P.S. Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois
Genre| R&B, soul
Length| 28:40
Label| Columbia
Producer| Maurice White, Charles Stepney
The Emotions chronology
| Untouched
(1971)  | Flowers
(1976)  | Rejoice
(1977)

|
|

Flowers is a studio album by the American girl group The Emotions, released in 1976 by Columbia Records.[1] The album reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top R&B albums chart.[2] Flowers has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.[3]

## Overview

[edit]

The group's first LP on Columbia Records, Flowers was produced by Charles Stepney and Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire. The album was reissued with an 8-page booklet, liner notes and a bonus track in 2012.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic|  [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [1]
Rolling Stone| (favourable)[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [8]
Village Voice| B[5]
Melody Maker| (favourable)[6]

With a B grade Robert Christgau of the Village Voice wrote "Earth, Wind & Fire's girl group--literally. Whether it's Jeanette, Sheila, or Wanda who sounds like Diana Ross at a higher level of consciousness, the effect is exquisite."[5] Amy Hanson of Allmusic, in a retrospective 3 out of 5 star review, opined "Revamping their classic girl group soul sounds to incorporate the more eclectic nuances of (Maurice) White's production, the resultant brassed-up disco proved to be on target." She added " With fellow Earth, Wind & Fire members Verdine and Fred White adding their unmistakable chops to the sound, the Emotions ultimately emerged with an absolutely stunning brew that kept their powerful vocal harmonies well spotlighted, while adding more than a little funk to the sound."[4] Jim Arundel of Melody Maker also called Flowers "an incredibly short but definitely sweet album."[6]

## Singles

[edit]

The album's title track got to No.16 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No.2 on the NZ Top 40 Singles chart.[9][10] Another single, "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love", reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart and No.13 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[11][12]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love"| Wanda Hutchinson, Jeanette Hawes| 4:01
2.| "Me for You"| Clarence McDonald, Fritz Baskett| 4:17
3.| "You've Got the Right to Know"| Wanda Hutchinson| 2:36
4.| "We Go Through Changes"| Wanda Hutchinson, Henry Hicks, Jr.| 0:55
5.| "Special Part"| Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Lani Groves| 3:52
Total length:| 15:41

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

6.| "No Plans for Tomorrow"| Wanda Hutchinson, Henry Hicks, Jr.| 3:44
7.| "How Can You Stop Loving Someone"| Wanda Hutchinson| 4:14
8.| "Flowers"| Maurice White, Al McKay| 4:28
9.| "God Will Take Care of You"| Civilla D. Martin, Walter S. Martin| 0:33
Total length:| 12:59

2012 remastered bonus trackNo.| Title| Length

|
|

10.| "Flowers" (Single Version)| 3:43

## Personnel

[edit]

The Emotions

* Sheila Hutchinson - vocals
* Wanda Hutchinson - vocals
* Jeanette Hutchinson - vocals

Musicians

* Verdine White - bass
* Larry Dunn - keyboards
* Al McKay, Joe Hutchinson, Jr. - guitars
* Fred White - drums, percussion
* Oscar Brashear, Michael Harris - trumpets
* Don Myrick - alto saxophone
* Richard Brown - tenor saxophone
* Louis Satterfield - trombone
* Tom Tom 84 (Thomas Washington) - arranger

Technical

* Recorded by Paul Serrano
* Ron Coro, Tom Steele - design
* Norman Seeff \- photography

[4]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1976)  | Peak
[2]

|

U.S. Billboard Top LPs | 45
U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs | 5

Singles
Year  | Single  | Peak chart positions

|
|

US Pop
| US
R&B
[13] | US
Dan
[14] | NZ

[10]

| UK Pop
[15]
1976  | "Flowers"  | 87  | 16  | -- | 2  | --
"I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love"  | 51  | 13  | 4  |  | 40

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3\. MUZE. p. 286.
2. ^ a b "The Emotions: Flowers (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
3. ^ "The Emotions: Flowers". riaa.com. RIAA.
4. ^ a b c Hanson, Amy. "The Emotions: Flowers". Allmusic.com.
5. ^ a b "The Emotions: Flowers". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
6. ^ a b Arundel, Jim (March 26, 1994). "Silver Surfer". Melody Maker. Vol. 71, no. 12\. p. 37\. ProQuest 223508582.
7. ^ McEwen, Joe (September 9, 1976). The Emotions: Flowers. Rolling Stone.
8. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 227.
9. ^ "The Emotions: Flowers (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com.
10. ^ a b "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". nztop40.co.nz. Recorded Music NZ. September 10, 1978. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
11. ^ "The Emotions: I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love (Dance/Club Play Songs)". billboard.com.
12. ^ "The Emotions: I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com.
13. ^ "The Emotions: Hot R&B Songs". Billboard.
14. ^ "The Emotions: Dance Club Songs". Billboard.com.
15. ^ "UK Charts > The Emotions". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Flowers at Discogs

* v
* t
* e

The Emotions

Studio albums|

* So I Can Love You (1969)
* Untouched (1972)
* Flowers (1976)
* Rejoice (1977)
* Sunbeam (1978)
* Come into Our World (1979)
* Sincerely (1984)
* If I Only Knew (1985)

Compilation albums|

* Sunshine (1977)

Singles|

* "So I Can Love You"
* "Heart Association"
* "Show Me How"
* "My Honey and Me"
* "Flowers"
* "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love"
* "Best of My Love"
* "Don't Ask My Neighbors"
* "Smile"
* "Shouting Out Love"
* "What's the Name of Your Love?"
* "You're the One"
* "You're the Best"

Collaborations|

* "Boogie Wonderland"
* "All in the Way"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Wattstax
* Earth, Wind & Fire

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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