Ace Spectrum
| Ace Spectrum | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | soul, R&B, disco |
| Years active | 1966-1976 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
| Past members | Rudy Gay, Elliot Isaac, Aubrey Johnson, Henry Zant |
Ace Spectrum was an R&B/soul/disco musical group most popular in the mid 1970s.
History
Based in New York City[1] the group consisted of Rudy Gay, Elliot Isaac, Aubrey "Troy" Johnson, Frederick G. Duff, and Henry "Red" Zant[2] (also known as Edward "Easy" Zant) who led the group and provided management.[3] These four began collaboration as a group in 1966.[3] Don't Send Nobody Else, written by Ashford & Simpson,[3] was their biggest single. From their Tony Sylvester-produced[4] debut album, it peaked at number 57 on Billboard's Hot 100[5] while finding its way to the top 20 on the R&B Singles chart. The b-side to their single Without You was released as a 12-inch single, and heavily promoted by their record label at disco clubs.[6] Another single Live And Learn with lead vocals by Frederick, reached position 35 on the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. Their first two albums saw chart action. Inner Spectrum attained position 28 on the R&B Albums chart, and Low Rent Rendezvous saw action on the Billboard 200 (#138),[7] as well as on R&B Albums (#35).[8] Patrick Adams produced and arranged the group's 1976 recordings, but consequential success eluded them.[9][10]
Style and influence
Ace Spectrum never developed into a huge hitmaker, although Allmusic considers it a "decent soul ensemble."[2] Their recordings have generated considerable interest among Northern Soul collectors.[11] The 1975 release "Keep Holding On" was one of the very first 12-inch singles.[12] Musically, the group employed a mix of up-tempo and down-tempo songs. The group eschewed the "high-voice technique" that was common for the era. Backing strings were important to the group's sound. Billboard commented positively about group, stating it deserved "as much exposure as possible."[13]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | b-side | Label/Catalog # | Billboard Hot 100 | R&B Singles | Dance Music/Club Play Singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Don't Send Nobody Else | Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight | Atlantic 3012[14] | 57 | 20 | - |
| 1975 | Trust Me | I Just Want to Spend the Night With You | Atlantic 3281[14] | - | - | - |
| 1975 | Without You | Keep Holding On | Atlantic 3296[14] | - | - | - |
| 1976 | Live and Learn | Just Like in the Movies | Atlantic 3353[14] | - | - | 35 |
Albums
| Year | Title | Label/Catalog # | Billboard Albums | R&B Albums |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Inner Spectrum | Atlantic SD 7299[14] | - | 28 |
| 1975 | Low Rent Rendezvous | Atlantic SD 18143[14] | 138 | 35 |
| 1976 | Just Like In The Movies | Atlantic SD 18185[14] | - | - |
References
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- ↑ The Billboard Albums, 6th ed. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 20. ISBN 0-89820-166-7
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