The Three Degrees
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1963) - Fayette Pinkney (RIP 2009) -- vocals - Shirley Porter -- vocals - Linda Turner -- vocals
line up 2 (1963-66) NEW - Janet Harmon (aka Janet Jones) -- vocals (replaced Shirley Porter) - Fayette Pinkney (RIP 2009) -- vocals NEW - Helen Scott (aka Helen Scott-Leggins) -- vocals (replaced Linda Turner)
line up 3 (1966-67) NEW - Shelia Ferguson -- vocals (replaced Helen Scott) - Janet Harmon (aka Janet Jones) -- vocals - Fayette Pinkney (RIP 2009) -- vocals
line up 4 (1967) - Shelia Ferguson -- vocals NEW- Sonia Goring -- vocals (replaced Janet Harmon) - Fayette Pinkney (RIP 2009) -- vocals
line up 5 (1967) - Shelia Ferguson -- vocals - Fayette Pinkney (RIP 2009) -- vocals NEW- Sundray Tucker -- vocals (Sonia Goring)
line up 6 (1967-76) - Shelia Ferguson -- vocals (replaced Helen Scott) NEW - Valerie Holiday -- vocals (replaced Sundray Tucker) - Fayette Pinkney (RIP 2009) -- vocals
line up 7 (1976-86) - Shelia Ferguson -- vocals (replaced Helen Scott) - Valerie Holiday -- vocals (replaced Janet Harmon) NEW - Helen Scott (aka Helen Scott-Leggins) (replaced Fayette Pinkney)
line up 8 (1986-2010) NEW - Cynthia Garrison (RIP 2024)-- vocals (replaced Victoria Wallace) - Valerie Holiday -- vocals - Helen Scott -- vocals
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- The Chantels (Sonia Goring) - Sheila Ferguson (solo efforts) - The In Crowd (Fayette Pinkney and Helen Scott) - The Philly Degrees - Fayette PInknevy (solo efforts)
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Maybe Company: Roulette Catalog: YQ-7002-RO Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: Japanese reissue Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $30.00
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I'd owned this album for years, occasionally giving it a spin. One day I saw a Three Degrees album for sale at a yard sale. It had the same title "Maybe" but a radically different cover. Both albums were released on Roulette, but mine had a couple of extra tracks and a much more risqué cover. I didn't realize my copy was a 1974 Japanese reissue which included two bonus tracks. (By the way in case you were curious, from left to right the Japanese cover pictured Valerie Holiday, Sheila Ferguson and Fayette Pinkney.
Since their 1963 debut on Swan Records, by the time The Three Degrees were sign to Roulette, they'd already undergone five line-up changes and recorded eleven singles across four labels. In spite of having decent sales, no label had ever allowed them to record an album. Enter Morris Levy's Roulette Records.
Produced by their longtime manager and songwriter Richard Barrett, 1970's "Maybe" featuring vocalists Shelia Ferguson, Valerie Holiday and Fayette Pinkney. Since none of the three singers were writers, the album was reliant on Barrett to provide them with suitable outside material; in this case a mash-up of different musical styles including pop, rock, soul and "oldies". The surprising thing was how good the overall result were. Sure, there were a couple of clunkers. With a Holiday-penned extended spoken word vamp, their remake of The Chantels' "Maybe" was one of the most painful things I've ever heard. The supper club version of Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur's Park" and a '50s-flavored updated of the chestnut "Stardust" were equally needless. Still, you had to admit these ladies had talented. Unlike a lot of female trios where there is clear one lead singer, The Three Degrees were blessed with three capable lead singers. If I had to pick the standout, then I'd give the nod to Ferguson whose delivery was perfect for pop-soul numbers like "I Turn To You". Regardless of who you thought was the best, having three capable vocalists made them every bit as talented as their better known Motown competitors. Anyhow, you've heard this countless times before - given quality material like impressive arrangement of The James Gang's "Collage" and their remake of Sly Stones' "You're the One" the results were first-rate; easily on a par with Motown's girl groups. Saddled with poor, ill-suited songs like "Sugar On Sunday" and "The Magic Door" the results were deadening. There was simply too much poor material to make this a classic debut, but it was a more-than-decent start and most soul fans should find it worth a spin.
"Maybe" track listing: 1.) I Turn To You (Tony Camillo) - 3:12 rating: *** stars The album opened with one of the two "bonus" tracks found on the Japanese reissue. "I Turn To You" had previously appeared as the "B" side on their 1972 "Trade Winds" 45. For some reason the track listing was reversed in Japan where "I Turn To You" was the "A" side. The dramatic, orchestrated opening wasn't promising, but when Shelia Ferguson's lead vocals kicked in and the song morphed into an up-tempo pop track things took a turn for the better.
- 1972's "I Turn To You" b/w "Trade Winds" (Roulette catalog number LL-2534-RO)
2.) Collage (Joe Walsh - Patrick Cullie) - 2:59 rating: **** stars I've always wondered who decided a James Gang song would be a good track for The Three Degrees to cover The James Gang original was a highlight on their "Yer Album" LP, but it was fascinating to hear how radically different and impressive the new arrangement was. The original's stark ballad was replaced with a slinky slice of psych-soul that would not have sounded out of place on a Norman Whitfield produced album. And The Three Degrees' performances were awesome. The song also appeared as a "B" side on one of the releases of their "Maybe" 45. 3.) You're the One (Sylvester Stewart) - 3:23 rating: **** stars Geez, talk about drastic musical shifts ... James Gang to Sly and the Family Stone! Well, technically "You're the One" wasn't a Sly and the Family Stone release since Stewart recorded and released it with The Family Stone's female backing vocalists. As "Little Sister" the group featured Sly's younger sister Vet Stone along with Mary McCreary and Elva Mouton. With a proto-rap introduction The Three Degree's cover was every bit as good as the original. Even if Larry Graham's "burping" bass was missing in action, the ladies demonstrated they could get down and dirty with a patented slice of Sly Stone funk. The track appeared as the "B" side of their "Maybe" single. 4.) Sugar On Sunday (Mike Vale - Tommy. James) - 3:23 rating: ** stars \Having grown up on the Tommy James and the Shondells' version, any cover was going to have a hard time competing. That's certainly the case with this slowed down and highly orchestrated version. Unfortunately the arrangement failed to take advantage of the original's golden refrain. 5.) Maybe (Richard Barrett) - 5:37 rating: ** stars "Maybe" was originally credited to End Records owner George Goldner and the anonymous "Casey". Arlene Smith and the Chantels recorded and released their classic doo-wop-flavored version of the song back in 1957. With the writing credit now his ( I've always wondered about the litigation that led to the change), Barrett had The Three Degrees take a shot at the song. Abandoning the song's doo-wop roots, the remake featured a big, rollicking sound with a nice Fayette Pinkney lead vocal. Released as a single, it provided the group with their first big taste of success.
1965's "Maybe" b/w "Yours" (Swan catalog number S-4525-W)
Good luck recognizing the remake. The Holiday written and performed spoken word opening vamp was lame and seemed to go on and on and on ... (Sure sounded like Isaac Hayes borrowed the concept for "Shaft".) By the time you got to the actual song, which was done as an over-the-top orchestrated ballad, you just didn't care anymore. The single was released with at least three different "B" sides:
- 1970's "Maybe" b/w "You're the One" (Roulette catalog number GG-76) - 1970's "Maybe" b/w "Sugar On Sunday" (Roulette catalog number R-7097) - 1970's "Maybe" b/w "Collage" (Roulette catalog number R-7097)
The group's 1970 Australian television special included a promotional clip for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GHhDJ8uHI
6.) You're The One (Sharon McMahan) - 2:50 rating: **** stars Etta James and Mavis Staples both recorded this one. Good company. Anyone who doubted these ladies could handle a Motown-styled soul number should check out the catchy "You're The One". One of the album's most commercial offerings, the song was released as a single:
English language release: - 1970's "You're the One" b/w "Stardust" (Roulette catalog number R-7097) Spanish language release: - 1970's "Eres La Preferida" b/w "Quizas' Columbia catalog number MO 1108)
(side
2) As most folks know, the song title is actually "MacArthur Park" - not that it matters since there's no way to save this overblown piece of pomposity from itself. Is it any better or worse than the Richard Harris hit? I dislike both versions; perhaps this one a little less so since it's not as familiar to me. Struggling to say something nice here - Pinkney seemingly handled the bulk of lead vocals, though the other two got there shots at the spotlight as well. YouTube has a 1974 clip of the trio performing the tune for an appearance on the Norwegian NRK television network. The choreography was impressive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OzQCe0tIvE There's another clip of them performing the song on Japanese television. Same choreography, but different outfits: The Three Degrees - MacArthur Park - YouTube 2.) Rosegarden (Joe South) - 2:40 rating: *** stars Another title typo - the song's title was actually "Rose Garden". Anyone who grew up on the Lynn Anderson country hit, or Joe South's swamp-rock version was going to be surprised how funky the horn-powered "Rosegarden" was. Docked a star for the abrupt ending with what sounded like a bomb exploding ... 3.) Stardust (Hoagie Carmichael - Mitchell Parish) - 4:08 rating: ** stars In spite of the '50s-styled update, I can't say I liked the song, though the background frog sound effects were funny. Ferguson handled lead vocals and I'll admit she did a nice job. YouTube has a 1979 performance recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEHYPIXrdbk 4.) Lonely Town (Jennie Lee Lambert - Mickie Gentile) - 2:50 rating: *** stars In spite of the intrusive horn arrangement and a MOR-ish arrangement "Lonely Town" had a nice beat and displayed Ferguson's powerful voice and the group's sweet harmonies. It would have made a nice "B" side. YouTube has a promotional video filmed for a 1970 Australian television special - "The Three Degrees In Australia": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz1oSHev_Zo 5.) The Magic Door (Clyde Otis - Serge Lama - Yves Gilbert) - 2:20 rating: ** stars Their fans will scream, but "The Magic Door" has always struck me as an adult contemporary lounge act ballad. Very Dionne Warwick-ish, albeit without the kind of melody Bacharach and David would have furnished. 6.) I Wanna Be Your Baby (Leon Huff) - 2:50 rating: *** stars The second "bonus" track. the group had history with Leon Huff's "I Wanna Be Your Baby". Like the earlier "Maybe", they'd originally recorded and released a sweet, yearning version of the song back in 1966. It appeared as the "B" side of their "Tales are True". With a fuller arrangement and lush early '70s arrangement the ballad was reissued as a non-LP 1972 single. Frankly, the 1966 original was the better of the two.
- 1972's "I Wanna Be Your Baby" b/w "Find My Way" (Roulette catalog number R-7125
Turns out the German version of the album entitled "The Three Degrees" features the same track listing as the original US release, but yet another cover (Bellaphon catalog number BI 15116)
The Three Degrees have a nice website at: The Three Degrees - The Official Website - Home
© Scott R. Blackerby June 2025
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