Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig, Charlotte Crossley – Formerly Of The Harlettes
An underrated dollar bin soul-jazz find, Formerly Of The Harlettes is the lone album by former Bette Midler backup singers Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig, and Charlotte Crossley. The album seems to have somehow slipped through the cracks despite a stellar lineup produced by the great David Rubinson that includes Herbie Hancock, Freddie Washington, Leon Ndugu Chancler, Willie Weeks, and Wah Wah Watson. Check the excellent near ten-minute vocal-driven fusion arrangement of Hancock’s classic “Maiden Voyage.” Sharon Redd would later go solo and release a few dance classics including 1980’s “Can You Handle It” which was a favorite of Paradise Garage’s Larry Levan.
A1 Can’t Dance (Dance, Dance, Dance)
A2 Ain’t No Man Worth It
A3 Cash In
A4 Maiden Voyage
B1 Roll Me Through The Rushes
B2 Put It Where You Want It
B3 Does Your Mama Know About Me
B4 Now (Sweet Lover Man)
Arranged By – David Rubinson, John Barnes
Artwork [Cover] – Richard Amsel
Bass – Byron Miller, Fred Washington (tracks: A3), Mac Cridlin (tracks: A2, A3, B1), Willie Weeks (tracks: A1, B2)
Congas – Raul Rekow (tracks: B4)
Design – John Berg, Rob Biro
Drums – James Gadson, Leon Ndugu Chancler (tracks: A4, B1, B2, B4)
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Herbie Hancock (tracks: A4)
Engineer – David Rubinson, Fred Catero
Engineer [Assistant] – Chris Minto
Guitar – Wah Wah Watson, Ray Parker Jr. (tracks: A1, B3)
Illustration [Back Photo] – Eric Stephen Jacobs
Keyboards, Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – John Barnes
Pedal Steel Guitar – Sneaky Pete (tracks: A2)
Producer – David Rubinson
Saxophone – Mel Martin (tracks: A3)
Timbales – José Chepitó Areas (tracks: B4)