The Emotions

The Emotions are an American Grammy Award-winning soul/R&B vocal group from Chicago, Illinois. The group started out in Gospel but later delved into to R&B and Soul. The Emotions were named by VH1 as one of the 18 most influential girl groups of all time.[1][2][3]

Beginnings
The group was originally a gospel outfit known as the Heavenly Sunbeams. They eventually became an r&b/soul act with a popular following in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Soon being renamed as The Emotions, they signed with the Memphis based Volt imprint of Stax Records in the late 60s.[1][4][5] Under the production of Isaac Hayes and David Porter the group issued their 1969 debut album entitled "So I Can Love You" on Stax.[6]

So I Can Love You rose to no. 43 upon the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.[7]The album's title track got to nos. 3 & 39 upon the Hot R&B Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively.[8][9] Another single entitled The Best Part Of A Love Affair rose to no. 27 upon the Hot R&B Songs chart.[10]

The group went on to release their sophomore LP entitled Untouched in 1972 upon Stax.[11] The album cut Show Me How rose to no. 13 upon the Hot R&B Songs chart.[12]

The Emotions then started to work on their third studio album entitled Songs of Innocence and Experience. This LP was due to be issued in 1972, but wasn't issued until 2004. With Stax going on to become defunct in 1975, the group then left the record label altogether.[1][13]

Above and beyond
The group then joined up with Columbia Records where an association with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire brought them their greatest level of success.[1] With Charles Stepney and White's production, The Emotions issued the 1976 album Flowers on Columbia. Flowers rose to no.5 upon the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. As well Flowers was certified Gold in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America.[14][15] The album's title track got to no. 16 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart. Another single being I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love rose to nos. 4 & 13 on the Dance Club Songs and Hot R&B Songs chart respectively.[16][17][18][19]

During the following year, Jeanette left the group to give birth to her second child, Pili. As is so youngest sister Pamela was brought in to record upon their next album. Entitled Rejoice this LP was also issued during 1977. White and Clarence McDonaldalso co-produced the single "Best Of My Love" which spent five weeks at number one on the US pop chart in 1977. In 1978, Jeanette returned to the group. In collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire, the group scored big with the single, "Boogie Wonderland", which was a top ten hit in 1979.[1]

During that year the Emotions issued their sixth studio album again produced by White entitled Come into Our World upon Columbia. Come into Our World rose to no. 35 upon the Top R&B Albums chart. The album cut What's the Name of Your Love?also got to no. 30 upon the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[20][21][22] The group continued to record together during the 1980s, and were signed briefly with Motown Records. Their last recording to date was 1996's The Emotions Live released on their own record label, Sunbeam Records.[1]

The Emotions made guest appearances upon Nancy Wilson's 1989 album A Lady with a Song and jazz group Urban Knights's 1995 LP Urban Knights I. They also featured on George Duke's 1995 album Illusions, LL Cool J's 1995 LP Mr. Smith and Smokey Robinson's 1999 album Intimate.[1][23]

During 2000 Pamela Hutchison eventually rejoined the group.[1] The Emotions went on to guest upon Earth, Wind & Fire's 2003 single "All in the Way". All in the Way rose to nos. 13 & 25 upon the Adult R&B Songs and Adult Contemporary Songs chart. This track featured upon EWF's 2003 album The Promise which was also produced by Maurice White.[24][25][26] As well the group appeared on a 2004 PBS soul music special hosted by Patti La Belle where they performed "Best Of My Love".[27] Within September of that year Songs of Innocence and Experience was finally released by Stax.[13]

During 2013, the Emotions moved to Stardom Records, which is owned by Stylistics lead singer Eban Brown. The group went on to collaborate with rapper Snoop Dogg on a Hip Hop/R&B single entitled "Life". This track was written by Terrace Martin and Wanda Vaughn's three daughters.[28] The Emotions went on to appear as a featured artist upon Martin's 2016 Grammy nominated album Velvet Portraits.[29][30]

Influence
The Emotions have been sampled by rappers such as Big Daddy Kane, Tupac Shakur, LL Cool J, Wu Tang Clan, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Salt n Pepa, De La Soul, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest and Notorious BIG.[31][32][33][34]

Singers such as Toni Braxton, 112, Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, Mary J Blige, Ginuwine, Keyshia Cole, Tamia and Janet Jacksonhave also sampled the girl group.[31]

As well they've been covered by artists such as Phoebe Snow, Minnie Riperton, Marcia Hines, Jade, Patti La Belle, Maysa, The Temptations, Samantha Jade and Sheena Easton[31]

Grammy Awards
[2]

Compilation albums

 * Charting compilations