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.
One Step Away
First Choice Lyrics
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Yesterday, in a certain section of the Daily Times
The paper read, you will be wed to a friend of mine.
But if that's the price I have to pay
I'll accept the crumbs she throws away
'Cause I [I] can't spend another day
of you being away from me dear. Oh there [there] must be another way,
you don't know how I pray, for you here.
I'm one step away from self-destruction
[believe me baby]
Just one step away from self-destruction
[Hey hey hey hey hey]
In my vista I cry all lonely tears
Cause they have seen the happiness we've had through the years
But now you've gone to another,
and now we're away from each other.
Oh I, [I] can't spend another day
of you being away from me dear
Oh there [there] must be another way,
you don't know how I pray, for you here.
I'm one step away from self-destruction
[believe me baby]
Just one step away from self-destruction
[Hey hey hey hey hey]
Mmm baby, why did you leave me?
[leave me, leave me, leave me]
Ohh baby, why did you deceive me?
[deceive me, deceive me, deceive me]
[I] can't spend another day
of you being away from me dear
you don't know how I pray for you here.
I'm one step away from self-destruction
[believe me baby]
Just one step away from self-destruction
[Hey hey hey hey hey]
Oh, one step away from self-destruction
[believe me baby]
I'm one step away from self-destruction
[Hey hey hey hey hey]
Just one step away from self-destruction
[believe me baby]
[fade out]
The lyrics of First Choice's song "One Step Away" tell the story of someone who is on the brink of self-destruction as they struggle to cope with being apart from the person they love. The verses describe the desperation and sadness that the singer feels as they read about their former lover's upcoming marriage in the newspaper. However, they also express their determination to accept whatever small affection their former partner is willing to offer them, even if it comes in the form of "crumbs she throws away". The chorus drives home the sense of imminent danger, with the singer declaring that they are just "one step away from self-destruction." This suggests that their mental health is at risk because they can't bear the pain of losing their beloved.
The song's bridge is particularly poignant, as it sees the singer looking back on the happy times they shared with their partner and lamenting the fact that they are now apart. They express confusion and heartache as they wonder why their partner left them and deceived them. Despite this, they continue to pray for their partner's return and hope that there is another way for them to be together. The repetition of the phrase "one step away from self-destruction" throughout the song underscores the singer's desperation and the sense that they are barely holding on.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm one step away from self-destruction
I'm so close to falling apart and losing it all
Yesterday, in a certain section of the Daily Times
While reading the newspaper yesterday, I came across some news
The paper read, you will be wed to a friend of mine.
The newspaper said you're going to marry someone I know
But if that's the price I have to pay
If I have to make sacrifices to keep you in my life
I'll accept the crumbs she throws away
I'll settle for whatever little attention you give me
Cause I [I] can't spend another day of you being away from me dear.
I cannot imagine another day without you by my side
Oh there [there] must be another way, you don't know how I pray, for you here.
I hope there's another solution to our problems, and I pray for you to come back to me
In my vista I cry all lonely tears
Every time I look around, I feel like crying tears of loneliness
Cause they have seen the happiness we've had through the years
The memories of our happiness together keep haunting me
But now you've gone to another, and now we're away from each other.
You're with someone else now, and we have grown apart
Mmm baby, why did you leave me?
I can't help but ask myself, why did you walk away from me?
Ohh baby, why did you deceive me?
I feel like you weren't completely honest about your feelings and intentions
I'm one step away from self-destruction [believe me baby]
I want you to believe me when I say that I'm not doing well
Just one step away from self-destruction [Hey hey hey hey hey]
I'm getting closer and closer to losing control of myself and completely falling apart
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: LOUVAIN DEMPS, JOE HINTON, HINTON JOE, MARILYN STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind