First Choice

Biography

First Choice is an American girl group and vocal music trio from Philadelphia. Their soul
and disco hits included "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "Smarty Pants", "The Player (Part 1)", "Guilty", "Love Thang", and "Doctor Love". They were signed to soul label Philly Groove and to disco label Gold Mind, and later to Warner Bros. and Salsoul.

Career

First Choice began singing in high school as the Debonettes. The group consisted of lead singer Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest, and Wardell Piper. They performed in clubs after school in and around Philadelphia. They were introduced to record man Norman Harris by radio DJ Georgie Woods. Harris produced their first single "This Is the House Where Love Died". The single failed to chart nationally but was played in Philadelphia and dance club across the U.S. Their next release was "Armed and Extremely Dangerous". The single quickly became an R&B top 11 hit in early 1973 and making the UK top 20.
Wardell Piper quit the group to go solo before their first album was released, and is not pictured on the sleeve although she did sing on the album. She was replaced by singer Joyce Jones. Their new hit enabled the group to get national exposure on TV shows such as Dinah, Soul Train, and American Bandstand. Other R&B hits followed. "Smarty Pants" went to number 25 R&B and became the group's biggest UK single reaching number 9 in the UK Singles Chart, "Newsy Neighbors" and "The Player" which became their biggest R&B hit peaking at number 7.
The band switched labels in 1976 to Warner Bros. Records. Jones left the group and was replaced by Ursula Herring. At Warner's they recorded dance floor hits including "Gotta Get Away From You Baby", "Ain't He Bad" and the album title song, "So Let Us Entertain You". In 1977, the trio switched labels again this time recording for their producer Norman Harris' label, Gold Mind Records, where they got their biggest dance single, the infectious "Doctor Love". The single was from their album, Delusions, that AllMusic critic Ed Hogan regarded as the trio's best LP. The next release came in March 1979 called Hold Your Horses. Ursula Herring left and was replaced by Debbie Martin. The LP contained the dance hits "Love Thang", "Double Cross" and the title track "Hold Your Horses".
The trio officially disbanded in 1980 however, in 1983, Salsoul Records released "Let No Man Put Asunder" from their 1977 album, Delusions. That single rose to number 13 on the Billboard dance chart and has become the group's signature song and still a current favorite on the house music scene.
Rochelle Fleming continued to record and perform internationally as a solo artist. Annette Guest became a successful songwriter writing for artists such as Stephanie Mills.

Legacy and re-union

The group was influential to early house and techno music, because of sampling by many artists, including Todd Terry and the Jungle Brothers, mostly from First Choice's 1977 track, "Let No Man Put Asunder". The track was also covered by Mary J. Blige on her 1999 album, Mary.
On August 6, 2014, First Choice performed a reunion concert at East River Bandshell, New York City, with original members Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest, Wardell Piper and Ursula Herring. The concert featured many of the group's ex-label mates from Salsoul Records. The group is still performing, but without Rochelle Fleming. Annette Guest and Ursula Herring, along with Andre Jackson, are currently performing as The First Choice.
In 2019, rapper J. Cole sampled their song "Wake Up to Me" in his song "Middle Child".

Compilation albums

The Best of the First Choice (1976, Kory)
Greatest Hits (1992, Salsoul)
Philly Golden Classics (1994, Collectables)
The Best of First Choice (1994, Southbound)
Greatest Hits (1996, The Right Stuff)
The Best of First Choice (1997, Charly)
The Best of First Choice: Armed & Extremely Dangerous (1999, Philly Groove)
The Ultimate Club Collection (2001, Philly Groove/The Right Stuff/Capitol/EMI)
The Anthology (2005, Suss'd)
The Greatest Hits: It's Not Over (2006, Koch)
The Best of First Choice (2007, Metro Doubles)