From their debut album, Love, Life, and Pain, which showed up in 1986, they scored four consecutive hits: “Jealousy” (essentially a rewrite of and response to Timex Social Club’s hit “Rumours”), “Situation #9”, a remake of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me”, and “Why You Treat Me So Bad”. The latter two both made it to #2 on the R&B charts the next year, with “Lean On Me” becoming a huge pop hit. Foster and McElroy soon left to form their own group and focus on producing other acts, and Pratter eventually left as well. The replacements were David Agent and Kevin Irving. The group’s next albums - beginning with Listen To The Message - were laced with an evolving social consciousness, though they weren’t as successful commercially as the debut. Notable recordings include a dancehall-influenced version of the gospel classic “Oh Happy Day” from the album A New Beginning. Albums|Life, Love and Pain (1986) #2 R&B, #6 Pop|Listen To The Message (1988) #44 R&B, #98 Pop|Under A Nouveau Groove (1989) #39 R&B|A New Beginning (1992) #80 R&B Singles|“Jealousy” (1986) #8 R&B|“Situation #9” (1986) #4 R&B|“Lean On Me” (1987) #1 Pop, #2 R&B|“Why You Treat Me So Bad” (1987) #39 Pop, #2 R&B|“Heavy On My Mind” (1988) #42 R&B|“No Friend Of Mine” (1989) #12 R&B|“Oh Happy Day” (1992) #45 R&B |
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