Wardell Piper - A Profile of...

Wardell Piper's name first came to my attention in 1979 when she had a funk/disco hit with 'Captain Boogie'. Prior to this she was a member of Philly girl group First Choice and was on their first album 'Armed And Extremely Dangerous' but left the group before the album was released in 1973 to pursue a solo career so wasn't on the cover photo. Piper was on support vocals for the classic 'Armed And Extremely Dangerous' and their first record 'This Is The House (Where Love Died)' which didn't hit, but was played on the Northern Soul scene in UK. 

A further Northern Soul link is that John H. (Henry) Fitch Jr. (who co-wrote most of the songs, played guitar on, and produced her 1979 self-tilted album), was a member of Philly groups Frankie Beverly & The Butlers and also The Show Stoppers.  Fitch also co-wrote Evelyn Champaign King's 1977 disco classic 'Shame' with the same writer Reuben Cross.

Piper released a few more singles in the 80s which were mainly electro/boogie/disco tracks and then seemed to disappeared.  

In recent years she's made a comeback with an album 'Spell' released on Society Hill in 2015 from which 'Keep Living' was released as a single. In 2018/19 she released another single/EP called 'Thankful' which had a 2019 version of 'Super Sweet' originally released in 1979, along with instrumental versions of both tracks. In Dec 2019 she released 'Distant Star' and her most recent release on 20 Nov 2020 is 'Legendary' which is a bit too 'clubby' for this blog. 

There's an hour long interview conducted on 24 Nov 2020 on her facebook.

I'll feature a few of her better 'soul' releases that are appropriate for this blog as much of her material is funky disco material and more latterly club based.

1979 - Win Your Love [Midsong]

1979 - If You Want To Make Love To Me [Midsong]

A very Chaka Khan feel to this funky dance track with strong sistah funk style vocals.

1980 - Gimme Something Real [Midsong]

This is a deep soul ballad written and originally recorded by Ashford & Simpson and was the ttile track of their 1973 debut album on Warner Bros. which Wardell Piper released as her third single in 1980.

1980 - The Power Of Love [Midsong]

Modern Soul / Funk Boogie from 1980 sounding again a bit like Chaka Khan.

2015 - I'm In Love With You [Society Hill]

The best track from 'Spell' is 'I'm In Love With You'. 

2015 - Make It Last with David Simmons

This is a cover of The Futures & Barbara Mason track released on Buddah in 1975.

2015 - I Want Cha

2015 - Don't I Ever Cross Your Mind

2019 - I'm Sure [Piper Girl]

She also released a single in 2019 called 'I'm Sure' on Piper Girl Records (which I'd guess is her own label) which is a retro style groover, prime for modern soul dancefloors.