Eugene Record - A Profile...

Eugene Booker Record (23 Dec.1940 - 22 Jul. 2005) would have been 81 today. He was the lead vocalist for The Chi-Lites between 1959-76 and then again between 1980-88. In the interim he recorded three solo albums for Warner Brothers, "The Eugene Record" (1977), "Trying To Get To You" (1978) and "Welcome To My Fantasy" (1979). When he re-joined The Chi-Lites in 1980 all releases on 20th Century were billed as The Ch-Lites featuring Eugene Record.

He was the main song-writer for the group who had released several singles in the mid 60s which failed to chart until they were signed to Brunswick in 1968 by Carl Davis where they had their first chart entry with "Give It Away" in 1969. They achieved eleven top 10 R&B hits between 1969-74 and two top 10 Hot 100 hits with "Have You Seen Her" (#3 1971) and "Oh Girl" (#1 1972) which was Brunswick's only #1 pop hit in the R&B era. 

Brunswick were in legal and financial trouble in 1976 and their records weren't being promoted so Eugene Record left in frustration and joined Warner Brothers and The Chi-Lites signed to Mercury where they released two albums in 1976-77 and had three minor hits with "Vanishing Love" (a song written by Sam Dees and previously recorded by John Edwards of The Spinners in 1974) and two Phil Hurtt penned songs "My First Mistake" and "If I Had A Girl".

Record released three albums and eight singles on Warner Brothers between 1977-79 with only the first single "Laying Beside You" making any impact on the R&B chart reaching #24. A lot of the material was disco oriented which, sadly, hasn't stood the test of time. 

His next single "Overdose Of Joy" though was a gem picked up on by the UK modern soul scene which now commands three figures. There are only two currently for sale on Discogs with $250 being asked for a  near mint copy.

There is no playlist as the only tracks available on Spotify are on his first album and a link to the album is provided below. I've found links to all of his singles, however, "Take Everything" and "I Don't Mind" is the medley on the flip to the 12" version of "Magnetism" (which doesn't appear on any of his albums) rather than the two individual sides released earlier.

Albums

1977 - The Eugene Record [Warner Bros. #BS 3018]

Full Album HERE

Laying Beside You (4:38)

Danger! Love Under Pressure (3:46)

Here Comes The Sun (4:11)

Overdose Of Joy (4:16)

Trying To Watch The Wind (5:54)

Mother Of Love (4:12)

Love Don't Live By Sex Alone (5:34)

Putting It Down (To The Way I Feel About You) (5:41)

When We Pull The Shades (6:22)

1978 - Trying To Get To You [Warner Bros. #BSK 3097]

Trying To Get To You (3:55)

Come To My Party (3:27)

Time (3:22)

We Belong Together (3:20)

I Want To Be With You (4:55)

Love And Fun (3:57)

You Are The Star Of My Show (4:03)

I'm So Glad (4:47)

Share My Life (5:27)

1979 - Welcome To My Fantasy [Warner Bros. #BSK 3284]

Where Are You (7:35)

Dreams Come In Colors (3:57)

Pain For Pleasure (3:39)

Welcome To My Fantasy (6:00)

Fan The Fire (6:58)

Sweet Insanity (3:53)

Help Yourself To Love (5:01)

Your Love (Ain't Nothing Like It) (4:52)

Singes

1977/02 - Laying Beside You / Love Don't Live By Sex Alone [Warner Bros. #WBS 8322]

1977/06 - Overdose Of Joy / Mother Of Love [Warner Bros. #WBS 8386]

1978/01 - *I Want To Be With You (Edit) / When We Pull The Shades [Warner Bros. #WBS 8517]

1978/04 - *Trying To Get To You / *You Are The Star Of My Show [Warner Bros. #WBS 8570]

1979/05 - *Take Everything / I Don't Mind [Warner Bros. #WBS 8836]

1979/09 - *Where Are You / *Sweet Insanity [Warner Bros. #WBS 49060]

1979/11 - *Fan The Fire / *Help Yourself To Love [Warner Bros. #WBS 49126]

1979 - *Magnetism // *I Don't Mind / Take Everything [Warner Bros. #WBSD 8774] 12"

1979/04 - *Magnetism / *I Don't Mind [Warner Bros. (UK) #K 17384]

The following video is a later live recording of their #1 hit "Oh Girl" with three of the original members Eugene Record, Robert 'Squirrel' Lester and Marshall Thompson who is still a performing member of the group.