Originally signed to Philly Groove Records via a production contract with Norman Harris, the group came with Harris when he signed onboard the newly formed Salsoul. Most of Harris' work would be issued on the Gold Mind subsidiary of Salsoul - First Choice were no exception. The bulk of the group's offerings came from the stable of Baker/Harris/Young, but other producers and mixers would feature prominently, such as Tee Scott and Tom Moulton (whose mix of "Dr. Love" is the all-time favorite of Salsoul Label head Ken Cayre). "Let No Man Put Asunder" would not reach it's penultimate destination in every urban DJ's front crate until Shep Pettibone re-worked it inthe early 1980's. The group had recorded a Southern Soul styled version of Al Green's "Love and Happiness" for their sole Philly Groove album, where it sat alongside the major hit "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" and the minor hit "Smarty Pants". Salsould would eventually re-mix and re-issue all three tracks in various incarnations, leading to the misconception that they were vintage Salsoul cuts. In fact, they were vintage Baker/Harris/Young productions that preceded Salsoul and were acquire by the label after the fact.
Lead vocalist Rochelle Fleming enjoys a reputation as one of the legendary disco divas, and still lends vocals to the occassional one-off house track, such as Tom De Novy's "Summer Love".
First Choice was an American girl group vocal music trio from Philadelphia. The group produced the disco hits "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "The Player", "Love Thang", "Let No Man Put Asunder" and "Dr. Love".
Career
Fleming was the main vocalist. The group was originally known as the Debronettes.
Philadelphia DJ Georgie Woods introduced the trio to Norman Harris, guitarist with MFSB, to produce their debut single, "This Is The House Where Love Died". Although it sold poorly, the record led to a recording contract with the Philly Groove record label, and the release of Armed and Extremely Dangerous. Also produced by Harris, the song was a hit first in the UK, where it reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart on Bell Records.
U.S. success followed and the later singles, "Smarty Pants" and "The Player," sold equally well.[citation needed] While producer Harris was associated with numerous hits during the disco boom of the late 1970s, the only later chart entry for First Choice was "Dr. Love," and, in 1984, the group split up.
In 1983, however, the group's 1977 album cut "Let No Man Put Asunder" was remixed by Shep Pettibone and Frankie Knuckles for club play, and became a staple for urban DJs and a classic for listeners. The centerpiece vocals and bass riff of the song were among the most sampled expressions of the emerging Chicago house music scene in the 1980s. Steve "Silk" Hurley used this bass line in his 1987 song "Jack Your Body," which went on to become the first house record to top the UK charts.
In 1987, Fleming re-formed the group with her cousin Laconya Fleming, and Lawrence Cottel, to record Love Itch (Prelude Records). In the same year, a reissue of "Let No Man Put Asunder" was a dancefloor hit in the UK.[citation needed]
Over the years, the group has seen some new success, as many of their songs have been remixed and re-released. Larry Levan remixed its "Double Cross" (Gold Mind, 1979) track, plus Tee Scott's first studio mix was "Love Thang" (1979)). It was also remixed by Tony Humphries in 1993 for the Salsoul remix project, two albums released on Double J Records. First Choice benefitted somewhat when Rhino Records put its Armed and Extremely Dangerous into the Soul Hits of the 70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind series, and also when the Salsoul catalog was digitally remastered and released in the 1990s.
Fleming has also provided guest vocals for the occasional house music release over the years.
Hustler Bill
First Choice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dreamed of a place in the sky
Playing in the fields
Battling with my shields
Bows made out of twine
I wish I could see this world again
Through those eyes
See the child in me
Never growing old
Will we ever feel young again
Will we ever feel young again
Will we ever feel young again
We want to feel young
We want to feel young again
Will we ever feel young
When I was a boy
I searched for a world that's unknown
All we have is fun
Everybody run
Until the sun goes down
I wish I could see this world again
Through those eyes
See the child in me
In my fantasy
Never growing old
Will we ever feel young again
Will we ever feel young again
Will we ever feel young again
We want to feel young
We want to feel young again
Will we ever feel young
The lyrics of the song "Hustler Bill" by First Choice reflect on the idea of nostalgia and longing for the carefree days of youth. The first stanza places the listener in the shoes of the singer, who reminisces about their childhood dreams of a world beyond their current reality. The use of specific imagery such as "playing in the fields" and "battling with my shields" paints a vivid picture of a child's imaginative playtime. The singer then expresses a desire to see the world through the eyes of their younger self, to recapture that sense of wonder and innocence.
The second stanza continues this theme of longing, this time for a world that is "unknown". The emphasis here is on the idea of discovery and exploration, a driving force for many during their formative years. The repetition of the phrase "will we ever feel young again" serves to reinforce this idea of yearning for a return to a time when everything felt new and exciting.
Overall, the song conveys a bittersweet sentiment, celebrating the joys of youth while acknowledging the inevitability of aging and loss of innocence. It speaks to a universal human experience, as everyone has likely felt the pull of nostalgia at one point or another.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a boy
As a child, I had big dreams and aspirations.
I dreamed of a place in the sky
In my imagination, I fancied about a perfect and magical place.
Playing in the fields
I spent my childhood playing and enjoying life to the fullest.
Battling with my shields
I fought many imaginary battles and struggles with unwavering bravado.
Bows made out of twine
With my creativity and resourcefulness as a child, I made use of what I had to create tools to play with.
I wish I could see this world again
As an adult, I long to relive my childhood moments of pure joy and innocence.
Through those eyes
With the same perspective and mindset as a child.
See the child in me
Rediscover my inner child, who's optimistic and full of life.
In my fantasy
In an ideal world where everything is possible and nothing is impossible.
Never growing old
To cherish and hold on to my youthfulness forever.
Will we ever feel young again
As we grow up, we tend to lose our joy, curiosity, and satisfaction with life. We often wonder if we could regain it once more.
We want to feel young
We desire to experience the same innocence and optimism we once had as children.
When I was a boy
Once again, looking back at the time of my childhood.
I searched for a world that's unknown
As children, we're naturally curious, always exploring and discovering new things.
All we have is fun
Being young is all about enjoying our lives to the fullest.
Everybody run
As a child, we love to play and run around, feeling invincible and carefree.
Until the sun goes down
We can play endlessly, enjoying every moment until the day ends.
Will we ever feel young again
Once more, questioning whether we could ever rekindle the same excitement and joy we've had in our childhood.
We want to feel young
Reaffirming our desire and longing to feel young once again.
Will we ever feel young
Once more, questioning whether we could ever rekindle the same excitement and joy we've had in our childhood.
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrPeclo
Super First Choice.
@mannypintado8349
Awesome Jam.