- Archie Bell -- lead vocals (1968-)

- Lee Bell -- vocals (1968-)

- Huey Butler -- vocals (1968-)

- Joseph Cross -- vocals (1968-)

- Lucious Von Haskins -- vocals (1977-)

- Willie Pernell -- vocals

- Mark Putney -- vocals

- James Wise -- vocals (1968-)

- The Fantastics (Willie Pernell)

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Dance Your Troubles Away

Company: TSOP

Catalog: PZ-33844

Year: 1975

Country/State: Henderson, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring and edge wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5007

Price: $10.00

Reunited with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff on their TSOP label, 1975's "Dance Your Troubles Away" marked Archie Bell and the Drells first album release in six years.  Apparently uncertain how to market the group, TSOP ended up teaming Bell and company with a series of producers including Gamble and Huff, Bunny Sigler, and the team of Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carastarphan.  That diverse approach probably helped explain the album's somewhat schizophrenic mixture which included stabs at old school soul ('I  Won't Leave You Honey, Never' and the pretty ballad 'I Love You (But You Don't Even Know It)'), the title track's light disco moves, and everything in between. With it's nice throwback to 'Tighten Up', the opener 'Let's Groove' was easily the best thing here.  It also provided the group with a top-10 R&B hit.  Ignoring the misleading title, (the song was actually a nice slice of funk) 'Lets Go Disco'' came in a close second.  Elsewhere TSOP tapped the album for three singles, all hitting the R&B charts:

- 'I Could Dance All Night' b/w 'King of the Castle' (TSOP catalog number ZS8-4767)

- 'The Soul City Walk' b/w 'King of the Castle' (TSOP catalog number ZS8-4774)

- 'Let's Groove (Part 1)' b/w 'Let's Groove (Part 2)' (TSOP catalog number ZS8-4775)

"Dance Your Troubles Away" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Let's Groove   (Leon Huff - John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor  Carstarphen) - 

2.) I Could Dance All Night   (Ron Tyson - Bunny Sigler - Alan Felder) - 

3.) I Won't Leave You Honey, Never   (Ron Tyson - Bunny Sigler) - 

(side 2)

1.) Dance Your Troubles Away   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor  Carstarphen) - 

2.) The Soul City Walk   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor  Carstarphen) - 

3.) Let's Go Disco   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor  Carstarphen - Leon Huff - C. Gilbert) - 

4.) I Love You (But You Don't Even Know It)   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor  Carstarphen) - 

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Where Will You Go When the Party's Over

Company: Philadelphia International

Catalog: 34323

Year: 1976

Country/State: Henderson, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: original inner sleeve

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: SOLD

Price: SOLD

The group's second LP for Philadelphia International found them working separately with producers Bunny Sigler and the team of John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen.  Musically 1976's "Where WIll You Go When the Party's Over" offered up what was a fairly standard mix of up tempo dance numbers and lush ballads.  That's to say the collection was a rather typical Philly International release.  As usual Bell and company were at their best on the faster numbers such as the title track and 'Don't Let Love Get You Down'.  Unfortunately, Bell had a major fight on his hands trying to stay afloat above the waves of orchestration, synthesizers and backing vocals. The fact that this wasn't simply background music (aka something from TSOP) spoke highly of namesake Bell.  While the results were never less than professional and listenable, nothing on the album was truly engaging.  Elsewhere, anxious for a hit two singles from the LP the neither did much in terms of sales::

- 1976's 'Right Here Is Where I Want To Be' b/w 'Nothing Comes Easy (Philadelphia International catalog number ZS4-3605)

- 1977's 'Everybody Have a Good Time' b/w 'I Bet I Can Do That Dance You're Doing' (Philadelphia International catalog number ZS4-3615)

Unfortunately, neither did very well, nor did the parent album.

"Where Will You Go When the Party's Over" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Don't Let Love Get You Down   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor Carstarphen) - 

2.) Where Will You Go When the Party's Over   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor Carstarphen) - 

3.) Right Here Is Where I Want To Be   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor Carstarphen) - 

4.) Dancin' Man   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor Carstarphen) - 

(side 2)

1.) Everybody Have a Good Time   (Bunny Sigler) - 

2.) I Swear You're Beautiful   (Bunny Sigler) - 

3.) Nothing Comes Easy   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor Carstarphen) - 

4.) I Bet I Can Do That Dance You're Doing   (John Whitehead - Gene McFadden - Victor Carstarphen) -