High Inergy - Discography

Following on from Three Ounces Of Love post and keeping with the Motown ladies theme, here's another all girl group from the 70s, High Inergy.  They are probably best known for their 1977 hit You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) written by Marilyn McLeod (check out Nu Page - A Heart Is A House on Mowest from 1973 on which she leads) and Pam Sawyer.  The track was actually recorded first by Millie Jackson on Lovingly Yours album from 1976 which also contained her version of Latimore's Somethin' Bout Cha.

High Inergy were discovered by Berry Gordy's youngest sister Gwen Berry Fuqua (who married Harvey Fuqua in 1961) at a show in Pasadena California in 1976 and signed them to Motown's Gordy label in 1977.  The group were sisters Vernessa & Barbara Mitchell, Michelle Martin (Rumph) and Linda Howard who was a dancer on Soul Train.  Vernessa left the group after the 2nd album in 1978 (to pursue a gospel career) and they remained a trio.

They had 9 US R&B 45 hits, 2 of which entered Billboard Hot 100 lower reaches (#82 & #89) and their first hit (You Can't Turn Me Off) reaching #12 which they were unable to emulate. However, Motown must have had faith in them as they released 8 albums between 1977 and 1983 all on Gordy, but again none could improve on the chart position of their first  album Turning You On which was #6 R&B and #28 Pop. 

The group disbanded in 1984 to pursue solo careers.  The only member who had any success as a solo artist was Barbara Mitchell who released 2 albums and about 5 45s in the 80s.

Discography

45s

1977 - You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) / Save It For A Rainy Day [Gordy M 7155F]

1977 - You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) / Let Me Get Close To You [Motown (UK) TMG 1087]

1978 - Love Is All You Need / Some Kinda Magic [Gordy G 7157F]

1978 - We Are The Future / High School [Gordy  G7160F]

1978 - Lovin' Fever / Beware [Gordy G 7161F]

1979 - Shoulda Gone Dancin' / Peace Land [Gordy G 7166F]

1979 - Come And Get It / Midnight Music Man [Gordy G 7172F]

1979 - Skate To The Rhythm / Midnight Music Man [Gordy G 7174F]

1979 - I Love Makin' Love (To The Music) / Somebody, Somewhere [Gordy G 7178F]
1980 - Make Me Yours / I Love Makin' Love (To The Music) [Gordy G7187F]
1980 - Hold On To My Love / If I Love You Tonight [Gordy G 7192F]
1981 - I Just Want To Dance With You / Take My Life* [Gordy G 7201F]
1981 - Goin' Through The Motions / I Just Can't Help Myself [Gordy G 7207F]
1981 - Don't Park Your Loving / Now That There's You [Gordy G 7211F]
1982 - First Impressions / Could This Be Love [Gordy 1613GF]
1982  - Wrong Man, Right Touch* / Beware [Gordy 1632GF]
1982 - Journey To Love / Could This Be Love [Gordy 1641GF]
1983 - He's A Pretender / Don't Let Up On The Groove [Gordy 1662GF]
Smokey Robinson with High Inergy / Smokey Robinson
1983 - Blame It On Love / Even Tho' [Tamla 1684TF]
1983 - Back In My Arms Again / So Right [Gordy 1688GF]

* no sound clip available
No * and no link means YT sound clip embedded below

Albums

# indicates recommended tracks
Cat. No. appended to tracks released on 45

1977 - Turnin' On [Gordy G6-978 S1]

Love Is All You Need  [Gordy G 7157F]
You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) [Gordy M 7155F]
Some Kinda Magic  [Gordy G 7157F]
Searchin' (I've Got To Find My Love)
Ain't No Love Left (In My Heart For You)
Let Me Get Close To You [Motown (UK) TMG 1087]
Save It For A Rainy Day [Gordy M 7155F]
Could This Be Love Gordy 1613GF & 1641GF]
High School  [Gordy  G7160F]

1978 - Steppin' Out [Gordy G7-982 R1]

Lovin' Fever  [Gordy G 7161F]
Hi!
You Captured My Heart
Didn't Wanna Tell You #
Everytime I See You I Go Wild
Fly Little Blackbird #
Beware [Gordy G 7161F &1632GF]
We Are The Future  [Gordy  G7160F]
Peaceland  [Gordy G 7166F]

1979 - Shoulda Gone Dancin' [Gordy G7-987 R1]

Shoulda Gone Dancin' [Gordy G 7166F]

I've Got What You Need

Come & Get It [Gordy G 7172F]

Midnight Music Man [Gordy G 7172F & G 7174F]

Let Yourself Go

Love Of My Life #

Too Late (The Damage Is Done) #

1979 - Frenzy [Gordy G7-989 R1]

Two great modern soul album only tracks on this one.

Skate To The Rhythm [Gordy G 7174F] (Funky Disco)
Main Ingredient # (Modern Soul)
I Love Makin' Love (To The Music) [Gordy G 1178F] (Funky Disco)
Will We Ever Love Again? # (Modern Soul)
Phantom # (Modern Soul/Disco)
Heartbeat (Disco)
Somebody, Somewhere [Gordy G 718F]
Voulez-vous? (Disco)
Time Of Your Life (Ballad/Stepper)

1980 - Hold On [Gordy G8-996 M1]

I Just Can't Help Myself [Gordy G 7207F]
Sweet Man (Disco)
Make Me Yours [Gordy G7187F]
Hold On To My Love [Gordy G 7192F]
If I Love You Tonight [Gordy G 7192F]
Boomerang Love (Disco)
I'm A Believer # (Ballad)
It Was You Babe # (Modern Soul)


1981 - High Inergy [Gordy G8-1005 M1]

Goin' Thru The Motions [Gordy G 7207F]
All Of You (Modern Soul)
Heaven's Just A Step Away (Everytime I Hold You) (Ballad/Stepper)
Fill The Need In Me (Modern Soul)
Devotion (Modern Soul Dancer)
I Just Wanna Dance With You [Gordy G 7201F]
Now That There's You [Gordy G 7201F]
Don't Park Your Loving [Gordy G 7211F]
Soakin' Wet (Funky Disco) ... got shades of MJ Wanna Be Starting Something!

1982 - So Right [Gordy 6006GL]

Journey To Love [Gordy 1641GF]
Don't Cha Love It (Modern Soul)
Wrong Man, Right Touch [Gordy 1632GF]
Wanna Be Your Lady # (Modern Soul / Boogie)
First Impressions [Gordy 1613GF]
So Right [Gordy 1688GF] (Horrible 80s pop/soul) 
Show Me How (Modern Soul Stepper)
Tired Of Being Alone * surprisingly this isn't on YT but it's a cover of the Al Green song
Take A Chance (Disco Funk)
Match Point (80s Disco / Funk)

1983 - Groove Patrol [Gordy 6041GL]

This was their last album and sadly from the poor quality of the tracks it is not surprising!  This was the time when 80s music was changing to synthesised cr*p!  This album is mainly devoid of ANY soul.  The only worthy track is Just A Touch Of Love featuring Smokey Robinson. The other track featuring Smokey (Blame It On Love) is a bland MOR ballad, the rest of the album is 'crash, bang wallop' 80's synthed dance dirge even the cover of The Supremes HDH hit.

Dirty Boyz (Horrible 80s Electro/Dance)
Rock My Heart  (Horrible 80s Electro/Dance)
He's A Pretender [Gordy 1662GF]
Groove Patrol
Blame It On Love [Gordy 1684GF]
Back In My Arms Again [Gordy 1688GF]
So Right [Gordy 1688GF]
Just A Touch Away # (Ballad/Stepper)

Selection of best 45 released tracks

High Inergy [1977] - You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On) [Gordy M 7155F]

Their first and biggest hit originally recorded by Millie Jackson.  The sound clip is the full 5:09 album version not the 3:31 45 version.

High Inergy [1977] - Save It For A Rainy Day [Gordy M 7155F]

Modern Soul

High Inergy [1977] - Let Me Get Close To You [Motown TMG 1087]

This was the flip side on the UK release.

Ballad

High Inergy [1978] - Love Is All You Need [Gordy G 7157F]

Funky Soul

High Inergy [1978] - Some Kinda Magic [Gordy G 7157F]

70s Modern Soul

High Inergy [1978] - We Are The Future [Gordy  G7160F]

Really nice Modern Soul Stepper

High Inergy [1978] - Lovin' Fever [Gordy G 7161F]

Modern Soul Stepper

High Inergy [1978] - Beware [Gordy G 7161F]

Modern Soul

High Inergy [1979] - Peace Land [Gordy G 7166F]

Soulful Ballad written by group members.

A side is Shoulda Gone Dancin' (see link in Discography above)

High Inergy [1979] - Midnight Music Man [Gordy G 7172F / G7174F]

Modern Soul Stepper

Released as flip side on 2 consecutive 45s ... and better than both A sides IMHO!

G7172F A side is funky dancer Come And Get It (see link in Discography above)

G7174F A side is funky dancer Skate To The Rhythm (see link in Discography above)

High Inergy [1979] - I Love Makin' Love (To The Music)  [Gordy G 7178F]

70s funky dancer sounding similar to Undisputed Truth.

High Inergy [1979] - Somebody, Somewhere  [Gordy G 7178F]

Modern Soul Stepper

High Inergy [1980] - Make Me Yours [Gordy G 7187F]

Decent and faithful cover of Bettye Swann's classic

High Inergy [1981] - Goin' Through The Motions [Gordy G7207F]

Modern Soul reminiscent of The Emotions - Best Of My Love

Flip side is a funky dancer I Just Can't Help Myself which has shades of Theme Form Shaft in it. (see lin in Discography above)

High Inergy [1982] - First Impressions [Gordy 1613GF]

80s Modern Soul

High Inergy [1982] - Could This Be Love [Gordy 1613GF]

80s Modern Soul with a funky edge

Also released as flip to Journey Of Love 1641GF

High Inergy [1982] - Back In My Arms Again [Gordy 1688GF]

80s cover of Holland Dozier Holland song recorded by The Supremes

Selected Album Tracks

1978 - Steppin' Out [Gordy G7-982 R1]

Didn't Wanna Tell You

70s Modern Soul Stepper

Fly Little Blackbird

Moody 70s Modern Soul Stepper

1979 - Frenzy [Gordy G7-989 R1]

Main Ingredient

Modern Soul

Will We Ever Love Again?

Modern Soul groover

Phantom

Modern Soul bordering on Disco

1980 - Hold On [Gordy G8-996 M1]

It Was You Babe

Modern Soul

I'm A Believer

Ballad/Stepper

1982 - So Right [Gordy 6006GL]

Wanna Be Your Lady

Modern Soul / Disco

1983 - Groove Patrol [Gordy 6041GL]

Just A Touch Away

Modern Soul Ballad/Stepper