Brother to Brother was an American musical group fronted by Michael Burton who had three hits during the 1970s. They had a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with their version of Gil Scott-Heron's song "The Bottle".
Brother to Brother | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Genres | Soul, funk, disco |
| Years active | 1974 - ? |
| Labels | Win Or Lose, Turbo Records, Sugar Hill Records, Philips Records, All Platinum, Unidisc |
| Past members | Michael Burton Billy Jones Frankie Prescott Yogi Horton |
Background
editThe ensemble was formed in 1974 by Michael Burton. Musicians in the group included Billy Jones, Frankie Prescott, and Yogi Horton.[1]
Besides "The Bottle", the group had hits with "Let Your Mind Be Free" and "Chance with You".[2]
Career
editIt was reported by Cash Box in the magazine's 13 July issue that their single "In the Bottle" was selling well and was beginning to have strong airplay.[3]
On the week of 28 September, having been in the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for ten weeks, the single reached no. 10.[4] The following week it peaked at no. 9.[5] It also debuted at no. 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 that week.[6] There was also a full-page ad on page 57 that their In the Bottle album had been released on Turbo 7013.[7]
The group's album In the Bottle was reviewed in the 15 January 1975 issue of Walrus. The reviewer said that the group murdered "I Wish It Would Rain" but they established a grasp on modern r&b, and they led the way with the first and third tracks on both sides.[8] It was also one of the hottest LPs in New York according to Jeff Teitelbaum.[9] Also that week, Walrus noted that their song "In the Bottle was getting heavy airplay at KTYD in Santa Barbara, California.[10]
In February 1976 they had some chart success with "Let Your Mind Be Free" which remained in the charts for eight weeks. Later that year, they had more success with "Chance with You" which spent eleven weeks in the charts.[11]
They recorded their album Let Your Mind Be Free which was released on All Platinum 7015. It made it into the Cash Box Top 50 R&B albums chart. At week nine on 24 July 1976, it peaked at no. 33.[12][13]
They recorded an album Brother 2 Brother which was released on Sugar Hill Records H 259 in 1980.[14]
Later years
editMichael Burton wrote and produced the song "Superstar for Lydia Murdock which was released in 1983.[15] The song is an answer to Michael Jackson's hit "Billie Jean". The singer takes the place of Billie Jean and tells her side of the story.[16] It made it to no. 47 on the Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles chart.[17][18][19] It also charted in UK on the main chart, making it to no. 14 and charting for ten weeks during its run.[20] And working with Gerry Gabinelli, Bobby Eli, and Tony Bongiovi, he also produced her other single "Love on the Line.[21] It got to no. 55 on the Record Mirror UK Disco Top 85 chart,[22][23] and no. 48 on the Music Week Top Disco & Dance chart.[24]
References
edit- ^ Soulwalking - brother to brother
- ^ Records and Charts - Brother To Brother
- ^ Cash Box, July 14, 1974 - Page 17 cash box R&B news, r& b ingredients
- ^ Billboard, September 29, 1974 - Page 32 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard Special Survey for Week Ending 9/28/74, This Week 10, Last Week 14 Weeks on Chart 10
- ^ Billboard, October 12, 1974 - Page 30 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard Special Survey for Week Ending 10/12/74, This Week 11, Last Week 10, Weeks on Chart 12
- ^ Billboard, October 12, 1974 - Page 52 Billboard Hot 100 For Week Ending October 12, 1974, This Week 93, New Entry
- ^ Billboard, October 12, 1974 - Page 57 The Nation's Next Big "Message" Song
- ^ Walrus, January 15, 1975 - Page 1, New Releases, Merit Albums, Brother to Brother/IN THE BOTTLE/Turbo TU 7013
- ^ Walrus, January 15, 1975 - Page 7 New York Continued... Sam Goody's Inc. / Jeff Teitelbaum Buyer Hotest LPs:
- ^ Walrus, January 15, 1975 - Page 13 Santa Barbara, Calif, KTYD-AM & FM / Laurie Cobb: Heavy Airplay:
- ^ Records and Charts - Brother To Brother
- ^ Cash Box, July 24, 1976 - Page 48 Cash Box R&B, Top 50 R&B Albums, 33 LET YOUR MIND BE FREE, 36, Weeks On Chart 9
- ^ Cash Box, July 31, 1976 - Page 40 Cash Box R&B, Top 50 R&B Albums, 43 LET YOUR MIND BE FREE, 33, Weeks On Chart 10
- ^ Both Sides Now Publications - Page 1 Sugar Hill Label Album Discography, SH 259
- ^ Apple Music - Superstar, Composition & Lyrics
- ^ Song Facts - Superstar by Lydia Murdock
- ^ Cash Box, October 29, 1983 - Page 44 TOP 100 BLACK CONTEMPORARY SINGLES, October 29, 1983 47, 10/22 53, Weeks On Chart 5
- ^ Cash Box, November 5, 1983 - Page 16 TOP 100 BLACK CONTEMPORARY SINGLES, November 5, 1983 47, 10/29 47, Weeks On Chart 6
- ^ Cash Box, November 12, 1983 - Page 24 TOP 100 BLACK CONTEMPORARY SINGLES, November 12, 1983 97, 11/5 47, Weeks on Chart 7
- ^ Official Charts - SUPERSTAR by LYDIA MURDOCK, CHART RUN
- ^ Billboard, October 13, 1984 - Page 70 Billboard Singles Reviews, Disco / Dance, recommended, LYDIA MURDOCK -Love On The Line; Team TRS3006
- ^ Record Mirror, September 1, 1984 - Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 72 55 Love on the Line Lydia Murdock WEA 12in
- ^ Record Mirror, September 1, 1984 - Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 72 55 Love on the Line Lydia Murdock WEA 12in
- ^ Music Week, September 15, 1984 - Page 43 Music Week Disco and dance Top Singles, This Week 48, Last Week 49, Weeks on chart 2
External links
edit- Discogs - Brother To Brother