Enchantment -

Enchantment was an American soul group from Detroit that released six albums between 1976 and 1983, scoring R&B hits with “Gloria,” “Sunshine,” “It’s You That I Need,” and “If You’re Ready (Here It Comes).”

Members: Emanuel “EJ” Johnson, Bobby Green, Mickey Clanton, Joe Thomas, Dave Banks

Background

Enchantment formed in 1967 at Pershing High School in Detroit with lead singer Emanuel “E.J.” Johnson (b. September 1, 1950) and vocalists Joe Thomas, Dave Banks, Ed “Mickey” Clanton, and Bobby Green.

In 1969, Enchantment won a talent contest sponsored by Detroit radio station WCHB, then came to the attention of former Motown executive Dick Scott and his Artists International development company. Scott worked with the group on stage presentation, choreography, and musical-theater appearances in Detroit.

In 1973, they met producer Michael Stokes at Detroit nightclub Stage One. By 1975, Stokes recorded Enchantment with arrangers Paul Riser and Jimmy Roach for Deliver Us from Evil, a Dimension Pictures feature that screened in Detroit that July and opened in Los Angeles the following February. Polydor issued “Call on Me” from the film as a 1975 single. In 1976, Stokes secured a Roadshow Records deal through label head Fred Frank.

Enchantment

Enchantment released their self-titled debut album in October 1976 on Roadshow, through United Artists.

The album contains eight Emanuel Johnson–Michael Stokes songs performed by singers Emanuel “E.J.” Johnson, Joe “Jobie” Thomas, Bobby Green, Edgar “Mickey” Clanton, and Dave Banks.

Enchantment features sixteen named backing musicians plus the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, including keyboardist Paul Griffin, percussionist Jack Brokensha, bassist Chuck Rainey, drummers Alvin Taylor and Allan Schwartzberg, and guitarists Eddie Willis and John Tropea. Carl Austin and John Trudell appear in the string-and-horn credits.

“Come On and Ride” barrels past train-whistle effects, horn bursts, punchy rhythm, and Johnson’s growled lead. “Hold On” charges through wah-wah bite and fast string sweep before a band break. “Dance to the Music” snaps through clipped offbeat figures and short punctuation. “Gloria” slows to light percussion, four-part harmonies, and measured replies. “My Rose” lingers over subdued rhythm and wide arrangement swell. “Sunshine” opens on a shivering intro, then passes the lead among the group. “Sexy Lady” stays close to wah-wah accents and sensuous backing voices. “Thank You Girl for Loving Me” closes on group harmonies, small guitar touches, and cascading motion.

A1. “Hold On” (6:29)
A2. “Gloria” (5:20)
A3. “Dance to the Music” (4:00)
A4. “Sexy Lady” (3:00)

B1. “Come On and Ride” (4:16)
B2. “My Rose” (4:28)
B3. “Sunshine” (4:40)
B4. “Thank You Girl for Loving Me” (3:45)

Enchantment recorded the album in 1976 at Sound Suite, Detroit, and Hit Factory, NYC, with Michael Stokes and arranger Johnny Allen.

Enchantment features a scenic tadpole frog painting by Teresa Fasolino, a noted animal illustrator who also created the concrete rose imagery for the 1977 Billy Paul album Only the Strong Survive.

Desert Moon lifted “Come On and Ride” as a 1976 single (b/w “Hold On”), which reached No. 67 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles and No. 37 on Billboard Disco Singles.

United Artists issued “Gloria” as a November 1976 single (b/w “Dance to the Music”), which reached No. 25 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

Roadshow lifted “Sunshine” as a May 1977 single (b/w “Sexy Lady”), which reached No. 45 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

Enchantment reached No. 104 on Billboard Top LPs and No. 11 on Billboard Top Soul LPs.

Once Upon a Dream

Enchantment released their second album, Once Upon a Dream, in December 1977 on Roadshow, through United Artists.

Once Upon a Dream features six returning named sessionists from the debut plus nine additional named backing musicians and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

The returning players include drummer Allan Schwartzberg, guitarist John Tropea, keyboardist Michael Stokes, percussionist Jack Brokensha, and string-and-horn players Carl Austin and John Trudell. The new session credits include saxophonist Alto Reed, guitarist Jeff Mironov, keyboardist Patrick Rebillot, and bassists Neil Jason and Will Lee.

“Sunny Shine Feeling” stomps through pounding low end, piano flourishes, group harmonies, and bright punctuation. “If You’re Ready (Here It Comes)” snaps from wah-wah and keyboard figures into string sweep, then returns to hard rhythmic drive. “It’s You That I Need” slows around a low bed, a lone horn, Joe Thomas’s lead, and tight harmonies. “You’re the One” surges through pounding accents and swirling motion before Johnson enters.

“You Must Be an Angel” drives through punchy punctuation, swelling arrangement, and a sudden ending. “Up Higher” jumps into a short, faster chant and saxophone break. “Silly Love Song” lingers on Johnson’s lead while quivering backing detail thickens the refrain. “Angel in My Life” drifts through a tremble-heavy opening before a brief swing passage. “Trying to Get Over (With You)” opens with layered arrangement, tight group harmonies, and tender lead placement.

A1. “Sunny Shine Feeling” (3:43) – Stokes, Lanier
A2. “If You’re Ready (Here It Comes)” (4:42) – Stokes, Lanier
A3. “It’s You That I Need” (5:59) – Stokes, Lanier
A4. “You’re the One” (4:32) – Stokes, Lanier

B1. “You Must Be an Angel” (3:03) – Stokes, Lanier
B2. “Up Higher” (2:05) – Stokes, Lanier
B3. “Silly Love Song” (4:55) – Johnson, Stokes
B4. “Angel in My Life” (3:45) – Stokes, Lanier
B5. “Trying To Get Over (With You)” (5:52) – Johnson, Stokes

Enchantment recorded Once Upon a Dream at studios in New York (The Hit Factory, Record Plant), Detroit (Sound Suite), and Miami (Criteria Recording) with producer Michael Stokes. Johnny Allen arranged the strings and horns.

Michael Mendel designed the sleeve with photography by Ameen Howrani.

Roadshow lifted “It’s You That I Need” as a December 1977 single (b/w “Sunny Shine Feeling”), which reached No. 33 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

In May 1978, “If You’re Ready (Here It Comes)” became the second single (b/w “Angel in My Life”) and reached No. 14 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

Once Upon a Dream reached No. 46 on Billboard Top LPs and No. 8 on Billboard Top Soul LPs.

Journey to the Land Of…Enchantment

Enchantment released their third studio album, Journey to the Land Of…Enchantment, in 1979 on Roadshow, through RCA.

Journey contains eleven tracks, with Michael Stokes, Joe Thomas, Emanuel Johnson, and Robert Lowe among the credited writers.

Enchantment recorded the album with bassist Greg Coles, drummer Emanuel “E.J.” Johnson, guitarists Eddie Willis, Robert Lowe, and Willie Hampton, and keyboardist Michael Stokes. Johnny Allen arranged the strings and horns.

“Future Gonna Get You,” “Magnetic Feel,” and “I Wanna Boogie” ride the album’s faster side with bright rhythm figures and full-group replies. “Anyway You Want It” snaps that drive into a tighter single-length burst. “Love Melodies” bends toward country-western phrasing under front-placed harmonies. “Oasis of Love” settles into the softer side with warm backing layers. “Forever More” lingers on falsetto reach and close group support. “Where Do We Go from Here” closes the main sequence in a lead-and-backing-harmony layout before the brief “Journey” coda.

A1. “Future Gonna Get You” (3:50) – Stokes, Thomas, Lowe
A2. “Magnetic Feel” (4:41) – Stokes, Thomas, Lowe
A3. “Anyway You Want It” (3:15) – Johnson
A4. “Love Melodies” (3:35) – Stokes, Thomas
A5. “Oasis of Love” (3:44) – Stokes, Thomas

B1. “I Wanna Boogie” (3:48) – Stokes, Thomas, Lowe
B2. “Fun” (2:29) – Stokes, Thomas
B3. “Let Me Entertain You” (3:38) – Stokes, Thomas, Lowe
B4. “Forever More” (4:58) – Johnson
B5. “Where Do We Go from Here” (4:20) – Johnson
B6. “Journey” (1:50) – Stokes

Michael Stokes produced the album. Engineers Jerry Block and Michael Stokes worked on the sessions. Sid Maurer handled art direction, and Jim O’Connell drew the sleeve illustration.

Roadshow lifted “Anyway You Want It” as a March 1979 single (b/w “Oasis of Love”), which reached No. 109 on Billboard Bubbling Under and No. 38 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

“Where Do We Go from Here” followed in June 1979 (b/w “I Wanna Boogie”) and reached No. 29 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles. Roadshow also paired “Forever More” with “Magnetic Feel” during 1979.

Journey to the Land Of…Enchantment reached No. 145 on Billboard Top LPs and No. 25 on Billboard Top Soul LPs.

Soft Lights, Sweet Music

Enchantment released their fourth studio album, Soft Lights, Sweet Music, in 1980 on RCA.

Soft Lights contains nine tracks by outside writers and group members, performed by Enchantment during the group’s post-Roadshow period.

The sessions include keyboardists Emanuel Johnson, George Roundtree, Rudy Robinson, William Wooten, and Eugene Butler, guitarist Bruce Nazarian, drummer Jerry Jones, bassists Greg Coles, Tommy DeLoch, Anthony Willis, and Jervonny Collier, and percussionists Mike Iacopelli, Trenita Womack, and Carl “Butch” Small.

“Settin’ It Out” opens in party mode with wobbly synth and firm low-end snap. “Soft Lights, Sweet Music” drives through background exchanges and a late Johnson ad-lib. “I Believe in You” pairs Dave Banks’s lead with Johnson’s interjections at the verse endings. “I Can’t Fake It” gives Joe Thomas a front line against curved backing parts. “Moment of Weakness” eases the pace with a softer line. “You and Me” closes on Johnson’s tenor and a 3/4 rhythm turn.

A1. “Settin’ It Out” (3:59) – Womack, Woods, Wooten
A2. “I’m Who You Found (Not Who You Lost)” (4:13) – Glover, Dean
A3. “I Believe in You” (5:04) – Banks, Johnson, Stevenson
A4. “Moment of Weakness” (3:45) – Garner, Jones
A5. “I Can’t Fake It” (2:54) – Thomas

B1. “Soft Lights, Sweet Music” (4:20) – McLeod
B2. “Are You Ready for Love” (4:07) – Johnson
B3. “I Can’t Be the One” (3:07) – Womack, Woods, Wooten
B4. “You and Me” (5:03) – Johnson

Enchantment recorded Soft Lights, Sweet Music in 1980 at United Sound Systems in Detroit, Universal Studio in Chicago, and Britannia Studios in Los Angeles. Don Davis produced the album.

RCA lifted “Settin’ It Out” as a 1980 single, and the song reached No. 47 on Billboard Dance/Disco. “Moment of Weakness” followed in 1981 and reached No. 47 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

Soft Lights, Sweet Music reached No. 202 on Billboard Top LPs and No. 65 on Billboard Top Soul LPs.

Enchanted Lady

Enchantment released their fifth studio album, Enchanted Lady, in 1982 on Columbia. The album was the group’s first Columbia studio album.

Enchanted Lady features twenty-six named backing musicians, with William “Budda” Anderson counted once across guitar and percussion credits.

The album includes bassist Sandy Anderson, drummer Buddy Williams, guitarist Amir Bayyan, keyboardist Fred McFarlane, harpist Margaret Ross, cellist Kermit Moore, percussionists Rubens Bassini and Sam Figueroa, trumpeters Jon Faddis and Lew Soloff, trombonist Dave Bargeron, and saxophonist Alex Foster.

“I Know Your Hot Spot” rides a mid-rhythm snap with lead exchanges and a tight 1980s finish. “Toe Jammin’” boogies through a hard bridge and gives each member a lead turn. “Enchanted Lady” slows into gentle phrasing, lucid background parts, and Johnson’s testimonial tenor. “I Can’t Forget You” deepens that slow side with grief-weighted delivery and close harmonies. “Adora” places Joe Thomas at the front, folding natural voice into falsetto. “Only You” and “Your Love Is Like a Melody” keep the group’s close charting inside updated studio polish.

A1. “I Know Your Hot Spot” (4:58) – Reid, Anderson, Boardley
A2. “Enchanted Lady” (5:19) – Johnson
A3. “Toe Jammin’” (5:45) – Joe Thomas, Sedrick Thomas
A4. “I Can’t Forget You” (6:24) – Johnson

B1. “Adora” (4:48) – Joe Thomas
B2. “Only You” (6:33) – Anderson, Reid
B3. “Your Love Is Like a Melody” (3:25) – Johnson
B4. “Peace Is What the World Needs” (5:20) – Anderson, Reid

Enchantment recorded Enchanted Lady in 1982 at Right Track Recording in New York. Raymond Reid and William Anderson produced and arranged the album, and Larkin Arnold served as executive producer. The mastering took place at Masterdisk in New York.

Columbia lifted “I Know Your Hot Spot” as an August 1982 single (b/w “Only You”), which reached No. 45 on Billboard Hot Soul Singles.

“I Can’t Forget You” followed in January 1983 (b/w “Peace Is What the World Needs”), and “Enchanted Lady” followed in February 1983 (b/w “Your Love Is Like a Melody”).

Utopia

Enchantment released their sixth studio album, Utopia, in 1983 on Columbia.

Utopia contains nine tracks, with Michael Stokes, Emanuel Johnson, Joe Thomas, L. Stokes, John Barnes, Dave Erving, Sam Dees, and Ron Kersey among the credited writers.

Enchantment recorded the album with bassists Eddie Watkins and Freddie Washington, drummers James Gadson and Mike Baird, guitarist Charles J. Fearing, pianists Michael Stokes, Clarence McDonald, and Wayne Lindsay, percussionists Gary Coleman and Carl Small, and synthesizer players John Barnes, Michael Stokes, and Dave Erving.

“Give It Up” opens on tougher electronic snap, urgent harmonies, and traded leads. “Come Be My Lover” pushes space-age synths against pounding accents and call-and-response movement. “Love Struck” slows to synthetic strings, keyboard ballast, bells, and Johnson’s impassioned lead. “Here’s Your Chance” buzzes through synth figures, percussion, and tight group replies. “Don’t Fight the Feeling” softens into Jobie Thomas’s pleading lead and sweeping harmonies.

“Somebody’s Loving You” quickens the romantic side with chiming guitar, electronic drive, and Emanuel Johnson’s forceful line. “I’m Dreaming” settles into regret-tinged phrasing over tight background sweep. “Get It While It’s Hot” bursts from a busy introduction into sassy lead turns and hard low-end pressure. “Gotta Find Love” closes with a slower, sparer setting around Johnson and cooing group support.

A1. “Give It Up” (4:55) – L. Stokes, Johnson, Barnes, M. Stokes
A2. “Come Be My Lover” (4:58) – L. Stokes, M. Stokes, Thomas
A3. “Love Struck” (4:59) – Dees, Kersey
A4. “Here’s Your Chance” (5:30) – L. Stokes, M. Stokes, Johnson
A5. “Don’t Fight the Feeling” (4:43) – M. Stokes, Thomas

B1. “Somebody’s Loving You” (3:40) – L. Stokes, M. Stokes, Erving, Johnson, Thomas
B2. “I’m Dreaming” (4:14) – Johnson
B3. “Get It While It’s Hot” (3:02) – M. Stokes, L. Stokes
B4. “Gotta Find a Love” (4:22) – Johnson

Michael Stokes produced and arranged Utopia for Michael Stokes Productions. Audrey Satterwhite handled art direction.

Columbia lifted “Here’s Your Chance” as an October 1983 single (b/w “I’m Dreaming”). In January 1984, “Don’t Fight the Feeling” became the second single (b/w “Get It While It’s Hot”) and reached No. 64 on Billboard Black Singles.

Discography: