21st Century -

21st Century was an American soul group from Chicago that released the 1975 album Ahead of Our Time on RCA Victor. The group changed its name to 21st Creation for their 1978 second album, Break Thru, on Motown’s Gordy imprint.

Members: Fred Williams, Alphonso Smith, Pierre Johnson, Tyrone Moores, Alonzo Martin

Background

21st Century formed in Chicago in 1973 with lead singer Pierre Johnson and singers Fred Williams, Alphonso Smith, Tyrone Moores, and Alonzo Martin. Johnson grew up in the Henry Horner Homes on the West Side, and the five singers attended Richard T. Crane High School.

Golden Tone Productions staff brought the group to writer-producer Marvin Smith. The singers auditioned for Golden Tone president Reggie Sykes, who signed them to the label. Smith produced their first recording session, which yielded “Remember the Rain?” backed with “You’re My Only World.” Golden Tone issued the single in the Chicago area in 1974, and its early local sales led to an RCA Victor contract.

RCA promoted “Remember the Rain?” in early 1975 and reissued the single through Victor. 21st Century made its professional concert debut on February 21, 1975, at the High Chaparral Lounge on a bill with Billy Preston. In advance of their album, the group appeared at McVickers Theater with The Miracles, The Impressions, Joe Simon, Willie Clayton, Candi Staton, and the Soul Train.

Ahead of Our Time

21st Century released their debut album, Ahead of Our Time, in August 1975 on RCA Victor.

The album contains seven originals plus covers popularized by Barbra Streisand (“The Way We Were”), Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers (“Does Your Mama Know About Me?”), and The Originals (“You’re My Only World”). 21st Century performed the album as a five-singer lineup of Alonzo Martin, Alphonso Smith, Fred Williams, Pierre Johnson, and Tyrone Moores.

“Remember the Rain” lingers on childhood-memory text, with a young lead vocal up front and backing voices echoing the scolding line. “Tricks Are Made for Kids” snaps into dance tempo and turns its title into a clipped children’s-rhyme phrase. “Child” and “You’re My Only World” place high lead parts inside close group harmony. The softer cuts draw the album toward falsetto-led vocal blend, while the quicker side favors short phrases and clean ensemble replies.

A1. “Tricks Are Made for Kids” (3:00) – Marvin Smith
A2. “The Way We Were” (2:49) – Hamlisch–A. Bergman–M. Bergman
A3. “Ahead of Our Time” (2:13) – Marvin Smith
A4. “Remember the Rain” (3:58) – Marvin Smith
A5. “Does Your Mama Know About Me?” (3:56) – Chong–Baird

B1. “Child” (3:25) – Marvin Smith
B2. “If By Chance” (2:43) – Smith–Ellis–Durham
B3. “Mirror, Mirror” (2:25) – Marvin Smith
B4. “See My Love Growin’ Old” (4:15) – Ellis
B5. “You’re My Only World” (2:55) – originated on the 1974 fifth Originals album Game Called Love, written by arranger George Stanley Clinton, Jr. (not George Clinton).

Mark Davis and Marvin Smith co-produced the album, which Gary Ladinsky co-engineered with Jim Nipar. Ahead of Our Time features arrangements by David Blumberg and Tom Baird.

The cover features intergalactic imagery by Craig DeCamps, whose graphics grace 1973–75 albums by David Werner, Elephants Memory, Granicus, Mo McGuire, Pat Lundy, and Zulema.

RCA Victor lifted “Remember the Rain?” as a March 1975 single, which reached No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 69 on Billboard R&B. “Child” followed as an August 1975 single and reached No. 71 on Billboard R&B.

Break Thru

21st Creation released the group’s second album, Break Thru, in January 1978 on Gordy.

The album contains nine songs with multiple producer teams and writer sources. “After the Dance” rides a club beat under group vocal lines. “Tailgate” extends that dance-side writing through a longer title-centered cut. “Thanks for Saving Me” drives harder accents beneath ensemble vocals.

“Girls, Let’s Keep Dancing Close” tightens the tempo into a shorter dance piece. “You Gotta Dance to My Music” snaps into a direct floor command, while “Funk Machine” keeps the album on clipped rhythm figures and group-forward delivery.

A1. “After the Dance” (5:34) – originated on the 1976 Marvin Gaye album I Want You, co-written with Leon Ware and T-Boy Ross.
A2. “Tailgate” (5:03) – Phillips–Davis–Jackson
A3. “Thanks for Saving Me” (5:33) – Marvin Smith
A4. “Girls, Let’s Keep Dancing Close” (2:54) – Powell–Posey

B1. “Love at Its Best” (3:45) – Wakefield–Hirsch
B2. “You’re the Best Thing in Life for Me” (3:54) – Johnson
B3. “Funk Machine” (3:46) – Hutch
B4. “Baby, I’m for Real” (3:24) – originated on the 1969 Originals debut Green Grow the Lilacs, co-written by Marvin and Anna Gordy Gaye.
B5. “You Gotta Dance to My Music” (3:48) – Hutch

21st Creation recorded and mixed Break Thru at Motown Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Hal Davis produced “After the Dance” and “Girls, Let’s Keep Dancing Close,” while Mark Davis co-produced “Tailgate” and “Thanks for Saving Me.”

Brenda and Michael B. Sutton produced “Love at Its Best.” Harold Johnson produced “You’re the Best Thing in Life for Me,” and Harold Johnson and Mark Davis produced “Baby, I’m for Real.” Willie Hutch produced “Funk Machine” and “You Gotta Dance to My Music.”

Break Thru appeared in a sleeve designed by Stan Martin, with photography by Gary Heery and type design by Tom Nikosey.

Gordy lifted “Tailgate” as a May 1977 single, which reached No. 32 on Billboard Dance Club Songs. In 1978, “Girls, Let’s Keep Dancing Close” appeared as a Gordy single.

Discography: