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I'm not too proud to admit that on occasion I can feel an itch to hear some mindless disco. If you ever feel yourself in the same mood, may I suggest spinning 1980's "People's Choice" ...

Based In Philadelphia and formed in the early-1970s, People's Choice were built on the talents of the late singer/keyboard player Fred Brunson. With various line-ups the band had a pretty good chart run, but by the time this set was released both disco and People's Choice had already peaked in terms of creativity and popularity. As you could probably guess from the Paul Gross designed cover art, the result found the Brunson and company struggling to sound contemporary, relevant, let alone fun. Teaming the band with producer Tom Moulton should have generated some results, but the majority of this set was pretty formulaic dance material, burdened by dull songs and equally bland performances ('Bad Dancin' Rita'). The exceptions to the rule came when Brunson stepped to the forefront. With a recording career that stretched back to the mid-1950s Brunson was blessed with a classic soul voice and when he deployed the instrument the results were amazing, usually overcoming even the most mundane material - check out his performance on the otherwise forgettable 'My Feet Won't Move, but My Shoes Did the Boogie'. Shame Brunson never got around to record a true soul LP.

- In terms of dance tracks the opener 'You Ought To Be Dancin'' was about as cookie-cutter as you could get. From the mindless lyrics, bland rhythm track, to the pathetic party sounds, there simply wasn't a single note of originality on this one. Imagine a dance song recorded for zombies ... Naturally this was the track Casablanca decided to tap as a single. Needless to say it did little on the charts. rating: * stars

- Most folks probably didn't realize that Brunson had been recording since the mid-1950s and had spent most of that type working as a soul artist. If you didn't know that, then 'If I Knew Then What I Know Now' probably came as a total surprise. Yes, the song was topped with patented disco-fied production effects, but the heart of the performance was an old-fashioned soul song. Even better was hearing Brunson's old school voice largely stripped of the normal disco mindlessness. Great track and simply ashamed it was lost amidst the rest of these crowd pandering tracks. rating: **** stars

- No idea who the featured female singer was (Juarita Johnson ?), but she added a nice change of pace to the band's sound. As for 'Special Things for You', well it was a decent disco-tinged ballad, though the real highlights came in the form of the jittery lead guitar solos and Dexter Wansel's cheesy synthesizers. rating: ** stars

- Yeah, the song itself was goofy, but Brunson's gruff soul-soaked vocal made all the difference. Casablanca tapped this one as a single, though it did nothing commercially. rating: **** stars

- Back to mindless dance fodder, 'Bad Dancin' Rita' had about as much energy as an insurance commercial. rating: ** stars

- An old school ballad, 'Sweeter than Honey' suffered from some of the dumbest lyrics you've heard in a long time ("... I like Tastycakes ...") , but survived thanks to the Brunson lead vocal. rating: *** stars

- Okay, the adult contemporary ballad 'Warm Nights, Soft Lights' was so lame not even Brunson's performance could save it ... yech ! Was it just me, or did he sound a bit like a bland Larry Graham on this one ? rating: ** stars

- 1981's 'My Feet Won't Move, but My Shoes Did the Boogie' b/w 'You Ought To Be Dancin'' (Casablanca catalog number NB 2322)

- 1981's 'My Feet Won't Move, but My Shoes Did the Boogie' b/w 'You Ought To Be Dancin'' (Casablanca catalog number NBD 20228)

(side 2)
1.) My Feet Won't Move, but My Shoes Did the Boogie (Frank Brunson - David Thompson) - 4:24

Despite the vocalists, the group's biggest hits were instrumentals. They were signed to Philadelphia International and worked with Leon Huff on the funk and disco gem "Do It Any Way You Wanna," among the great pieces of '70s Philly dance music. It was their lone R&B chart-topper, and it peaked at number 11 on the pop charts in 1975. They previously recorded for Phil-L.A., and "I Likes to Do It" had reached number nine in 1971. They remained on Philadelphia International until 1982, when they recorded for TPC. They also issued one LP on Mercury, Strikin', in 1984.

[edit] Former members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

Frank Brunson of Buffalo, a Top 40 hit maker with one of the most dynamic voices to come out of Buffalo, died Saturday in Veterans Affairs Medical Center after a long illness. He was 78.

Mr. Brunson, inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2002, made the Billboard charts 10 times during the 1970s and into 1980 with his band People’s Choice. The band specialized in a brand of funk that was huge in the discos, and its biggest hit was “Do It Any Way You Wanna,” which went to No. 11 on the Billboard pop singles chart and No. 1 on the R&B charts. It was a gold record.

But Mr. Brunson’s legacy went way beyond the hits. He started his career as a pop and R&B singer in the 1950s, cutting singles on Gee Records.

Bob Skurzewski, who is nearing completion of a book on the early years of Buffalo rock ’n’ roll, interviewed Brunson several times and became a close friend. He said Mr. Brunson told him that he walked away from the Gee deal because Gee was distributed by RCA and RCA was putting too much energy into pushing another new performer — Elvis Presley.

Mr. Brunson also was a good friend of the legendary Jackie Wilson. Wilson, Mr. Brunson related, had him open a show, and when he walked off into the wings to huge audience reaction, Wilson asked him what he was doing.

“They don’t think you’re done,” said Wilson, sending him back onto the stage.

“Frank was always amazed that a star like Jackie Wilson would do that for him,” said Skurzewski. “Frank was talented . . . that little guy, that big voice.”

The stature gave him the nickname “Little Frankie Brunson” early in his career. The voice earned him the name “Big Daddy” when he recorded for Wilson’s label — a deal he walked away from after he released “Big Daddy’s Blues” and all of the songs he wrote had other people’s credits on them.

Mr. Brunson was born in Buffalo, the son of the Rev. John A. and Sarah Brunson. He began singing at his father’s churches in Dunkirk and Silver Springs.

After he developed heart problems in the mid-1980s, he returned to Buffalo in 1990 and wound up back in church, becoming the family man he hadn’t been able to be while on the road. For most of the 1990s, he was the rock that anchored most of the music groups at St. John Baptist, one of the city’s largest churches.

“It seemed to make the service; the whole service culminated at his solo,” said Gregory Treadwell, who was music coordinator for the groups Mr. Brunson worked with — the Radio Choir, Men’s Choir, United Mass Choir, St. John United Voices Choir and Frank Brunson & the Hitmen.

The latter group was formed specifically to perform with Mr. Brunson in the Tralf. He continued singing even after he had to use a wheelchair after suffering a stroke in 2002, Treadwell said. “He couldn’t sing as long as he wanted to, but it was a joy just to hear him sing,” said Treadwell. “Just seeing his face could cheer people up.”

In addition to performing, Mr. Brunson also worked with two programs affiliated with St. John Baptist — Project Gift, a program for special education students, and Project Promise — and helped form a youth choir. He took the students to perform at hospitals and for shut-ins, Treadwell said. The choir is still going today.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, the former Shirley Seals; three sons, Mark Brunson, Eddie J. Champion and Nathan D. Hemphilll; and four daughters, Marian Hailstock, Diane Girtman, Monique Williams and Sherida Alston.

Frankie Brunson Sang With The Lynn Hope Quintet Who Had 45's Released On Aladdin, Chess And King From 1951 ~ 1960.

Frankie Brunson

Groove 0173 - Charmaine / I Believe In You - 1956
RCA 47-6908 (Hello, Bye Bye) We'll Meet Again / Roses Of Picardy - 1957
RCA 47-7039 - Ward 13 / Love In Bloom - 1957
RCA 47-7140 - How Ya Gonna Live / What A Difference - 1957

The Fashions (Members "Little" Frankie Brunson, Roger Andrews, Dave Thompson ...........)

V - Tone 202 - I'm Dreaming Of You / Lonesome Road - 1959
V - Tone 202 - I'm Dreaming Of You / I Love You So - 1959 (Orange Label Scarcer Than Blue)

Big Daddy (Frankie Brunson)

Wynne 106 - I Think You're Lying / ? - 1959
Pmb 720 - Hard Top / ? - 1959
Gee 1051 - Walking Her Home / Where In The World - 1959

Frankie Brunson

Gee 1058 - You'll Never Get Away / When You Were Sweet Sixteen - 1960
Gee 1063 - Give Me Something To Live For / ? - 1960

The Fashions

Ember 1084 - Try My Love / I Just Got A Letter - 1962

Frankie Brunson

Fairmount 613 - Move Baby Move / Boys Have Feelings Too - 1963

The Fashions

Cameo 331 - Baby That's Me / Nick And Joe Callin' - 1964

People's Choice (Members At One Time Or Another --- Frankie Brunson, Stanley Burton, Roger Andrews, Dave Thompson, Leon Lee (Who Would Record Solo In 1974), Guy Fiske And Bob Eli)

Palmer 5009 - Ease The Pain / Hot Wire - 1966
Palmer 5020 - Savin' All My Love / Easy To Be True - 1967
Palmer 5031 - Savin' All My Love / ? - 1968
Philips 40615 - Lost And Found / Keep Holding On - 1969
Phil-L.A. Of Soul 349 - I Likes To Do It / Big Ladies Man - 1971
Phil-L.A. Of Soul 352 - Wootie-T-Woo / 'Cause That's The Way I Know - 1971
Phil-L.A. Of Soul 356 - Magic / Oh How I Love It - 1972
Phil-L.A. Of Soul 358 - Let Me Do My Thing / On A Cloudy Day - 1972
TSOP 4751 - Love Shot / The Big Hurt - 1973

Leon Lee

Crossover 977 - He Was The Man, Part 1 / He Was The Man, Part 2 - 1974

People's Choice

TSOP 4759 - Party Is A Groovy Thing / Asking For Trouble - 1974
TSOP 4769 - Do It Any Way You Wanna / The Big Hurt - 1975
TSOP 4773 - Nursery Rhymes (Part 1) / Nursery Rhymes (Part 2) - 1975
TSOP 4781 - Here We Go Again / Mickey D's - 1976
TSOP 4782 - Movin' In All Directions / Mellow Hood - 1976
TSOP 4784 - Cold Blooded & Down-Right-Funky / Jam, Jam, Jam (All Night Long) - 1976
TSOP 4786 - If You Gonna Do It (Put Your Mind To It) (Part 1) / If You Gonna Do It (Put Your Mind To It) (Part 2) - 1977
Philadelphia International 3649 - Turn Me Loose / Soft And Tender - 1978
Philadelphia International 3658 - Rough-Ride / Stay With Me - 1978
Casablanca 2322 - My Feet Won't Move, But My Shoes Did The Boogie / You Ought To Be Dancin' - 1980
Wood City 25000 - Destruction / Off-Spring - ?
Veronica 493-3727 - Run To Me / You're Mine - ?

Lp's

Gee 704 - Big Daddy's Blues - Early '60s
TSOP Kz 33154 - Boogie Down U.S.A. - 1975
TSOP Pz 34124 - We Got The Rhythm - 1976
Philadelphia International Jz 35363 - Turn Me Loose - 1978

Frankie Brunson's been around and involved in music a long time. Nearly 70 years old, the Buffalo, NY-reared entertainer is the son of a local preacher. Even before high school graduation (Hutchinson High) he was making a name locally as Little Frankie. He sang with the Lynn Hope Quintet who recorded on Aladdin, Chess, and King Records from 1951 to 1960; one of his songs "I Believe in You" was recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis and he cut the critically acclaimed Big Daddy Blues album on Gee Records in the late '50s, but hit consistently in the '70s as the leader of People's Choice.

He debuted in 1956 on Groove Records with "Charmaine," a smallish hit; subsequent releases on RCA didn't do as well. In Philadelphia he hooked up with the Fashions (Brunson, Roger "Punchy" Andrews, Dave Thompson...) and made a couple of singles on V-Tone Records, most notably "I'm Dreaming." As Big Daddy, so name for his gruff singing style and not his stature, (Brunson is very short) he cut singles on Wynne, PMB, and Gee Records in 1959. Alternating between names, he cut two that didn't go on Gee in 1960 as Frankie Brunson before reverting back to Big Daddy for "The Teacher Parts 1 & 2" on Crackerjack Records. The Fashions regrouped in 1962 for one single on Ember Records "Try My Love" b/w "I Just Got a Letter." Next came a Frankie Brunson single on Fairmount then yet another Fashion's revival on Cameo Records in 1964 with "Baby That's Me."

It was on Cameo that Brunson formed a friendship with Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble, where both worked. The Fashions evolved into People's Choice; Brunson, Andrews, and Thompson were joined by Leon Lee and sometimes Guy Fiske and Bobby Eli and became a hot item in the Philly area; their first three recordings dropped on Palmer Records (1966-1967) with "Savin' All My Love" issued twice. A one off on Phillips in 1969 "Lost and Found" b/w "Keep Holding On" paved the way for the groups' breakout on the Phil-L.A. of Soul label in 1971 when Brunson was 40 years old via "I Like to Do It" and "Wootie-T-Woo" two other singles weren't as successful.

Brunson reunited with Gamble & Huff in 1973 to record on the hot songwriters/producers TSOP label, a division of Philadelphia International Records, debuting with "Love Shot" b/w "The Big Hurt," while it failed to do much outside of Philly a tight alliance had been made. Still Leon Lee left to cut a solo on Crossover Records entitled "He Was the Man" (1974) beginning a succession of various members wading in and out the group to band with the core trio.

"Party Is a Groovy Thing" broke in 1974 and PC toured the Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York areas (as far west as Buffalo and Pittsburgh) on a regular basis. They followed it with their biggest hit "Do It Anyway You Wanna" then the energetic "Nursery Rhymes," "Here We Go Again," and other delightfully funky, hardcore Philly sounds. Gamble switched them to Philadelphia International in 1978 for their final recordings. A final single came out on Casablanca Records in 1980 with the outrageous title "My Feet Won't Move, But My Shoes Did the Boogie." They gigged around Philly until Brunson suffered a minor heart blockage in 1984 causing them to disband after racking up ten funk and disco hits on Billboard's R&B chart. Brunson return to Buffalo in the late '80s, reunited with his kids and joined St. John Baptist church where he sung in the choir until it was necessary for him to have a pacemaker installed. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi