Wikipedia

Ace Spectrum

Ace Spectrum was an American R&B, soul and disco musical group that was popular in the mid-1970s.

Ace Spectrum
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active1966–76
LabelAtlantic
Past membersRudy Gay
Elliot Isaac
Aubrey Johnson
Henry Zant

History

edit

Based in New York City,[1] the group consisted of Rudy Gay Sr., Elliot Isaac, Henry "Easy" Zant, Aubrey "Troy" Johnson, and, on their final album, Frederick G. Duff and Lawrence Coley.[2] Zant, also known as Edward "Easy" Zant, was not only a member but he also managed the group.[3] Gay, Isaac, Zant and Johnson began collaboration as a group in 1966.[3] "Don't Send Nobody Else", written by Ashford & Simpson,[3] was their biggest single. From their Tony Silvester-produced[4] debut album, it peaked at number 57 on Billboard's Hot 100[5] while finding its way to the top 20 on the R&B Singles chart. Their single "Keep Holdin' On" was released as a 12-inch single, and heavily promoted by their record label at disco clubs.[6] Another single "Live and Learn" with lead vocals by Frederick, reached position 35 on the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. Their first two albums saw chart action. Inner Spectrum attained position 28 on the R&B Albums chart, and Low Rent Rendezvous saw action on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart (#138),[7] as well as on R&B Albums (#35).[8] Patrick Adams produced and arranged the group's 1976 recordings, but further success eluded them.[9][10]

Style and influence

edit

Ace Spectrum never developed into a huge hitmaker, although Allmusic considers it a "decent soul ensemble."[2] Their recordings have generated considerable interest among Northern Soul collectors.[11] The 1975 release "Keep Holding On" was one of the first 12-inch singles.[12] Musically, the group employed a mix of up-tempo and down-tempo songs. The group eschewed the "high-voice technique" that was common for the era. Backing strings were important to the group's sound. Billboard commented positively about group, stating it deserved "as much exposure as possible." Rudy Gay Sr., a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity, later went on to both father the famous basketball player and become music director for The Stylistics.[13]

Discography

edit

Singles

edit
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing other relevant details
Single Year Label Chart positions Album
US
Pop
[1]		 US
R&B
[14]		 US
Dance
[15]
"Don't Send Nobody Else"
b/w "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"		 1974 Atlantic 3012[16] 57 20 — Inner Spectrum
"Trust Me"
b/w "I Just Want to Spend the Night With You"		 1975 Atlantic 3281[16] — — — Low Rent Rendezvous
"Keep Holding On"
b/w "Without You"		 Atlantic 3296[16] — — —
"Live and Learn"
b/w "Just Like in the Movies"		 1976 Atlantic 3353[16] — — 35 Just Like in the Movies

Studio albums

edit
List of studio albums, showing all relevant details
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Pop
[17]		 US
R&B
[17]
Inner Spectrum[16] 209 28
Low Rent Rendezvous[16]
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Formats: LP, vinyl, CD
  • Catalogue number: SD 18143
 138 35
Just Like in the Movies[16]
  • Released: 1976
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Formats: LP, vinyl, CD
  • Catalogue number: SD 18185
 — —

References

edit
  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955–1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 5. ISBN 0-89820-139-X.
  2. 1 2 Wynn, Ron. "Ace Spectrum Artist Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "New on the Charts". Billboard. October 12, 1974. p. 38. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  4. ↑ "New on the Charts". Billboard. January 11, 1975. p. 16. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890–1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 5. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  6. ↑ "'Hijack' Inspires Strong Atlantic Disco Promotion". Billboard. September 6, 1975. pp. 4, 22. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ The Billboard Albums, 6th ed. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 20. ISBN 0-89820-166-7
  8. ↑ "Ace Spectrum Artist Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  9. ↑ "New York Beat". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. March 11, 1976. p. 56. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ Black Music & Jazz Review. 1 (10). IPC Specialist & Professional Press: 27. 1979.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  11. ↑ Miller, Chuck (2011). Warman's American Records. Krause Publications. ISBN 9781440228216. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ Shapiro, Peter (2006). Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco. Macmillan. ISBN 9780865479524. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Top Album Picks - Soul". Billboard. April 20, 1974. p. 52. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1998). Joel Whitburn presents top R & B singles, 1942-1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. p. 4. ISBN 0898201365. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  15. ↑ Billboard Dance/club top songs, chart. 1976.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Popoff, Martin (2010). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991. Krause Publications. ISBN 9781440216213.
  17. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (1999). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B albums, 1965-1998. Record Research. p. 2. ISBN 0898201349.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ace_Spectrum&oldid=1351982881"