Ingram -

Ingram was an American soul-funk sextet that consisted of a namesake brother/sister musical clan from Camden, N.J. They debuted as The Ingram Kingdom with a 1976 self-titled album, followed in 1977 with That’s All, their first mononymic release. The siblings linked with members of Fat Larry’s Band for a pair of 1979/80 albums as Philly Cream. Ingram returned with the 1983/84 albums Would You Like to Fly and Night Stalkers.

Members: Butch Ingram, James “Jimmy” Ingram, Barbara Ingram, Billy Ingram, John Ingram, Timmy Ingram, Francis Ingram, Edith Ingram, Virginia Ingram

Background

Ingram formed in Camden, New Jersey, around Norman “Butch” Ingram, one of nine children of Rev. N. Henry and Vera Ingram. The original lineup featured singer Barbara Ingram, drummer Robert “Timmy” Ingram, singer/percussionist John “Johnny” Ingram, and multi-instrumentalists James “Jimi/Jimmy” Ingram (keyboards, saxophone, flute) and William “Billy” Ingram (guitar, bass, trombone).

James recorded solo material before the family sessions. Norman pursued professional basketball before an accident ended that career. He then organized the band around his siblings, with Francis Ingram, Edith Ingram, and Virginia Ingram later credited for family vocal parts on recordings.

Prior to the group’s breakthrough, Barbara landed work at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and sang as a backing vocalist for Barbara Mason, Billy Paul, Blood Sweat & Tears, Major Harris, New York City, Ronnie Dyson, The Spinners, The Stylistics, The Tymes, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and Ecstasy Passion & Pain.

The Ingram Kingdom

Ingram released their debut album as the Ingram Kingdom in 1976 on Excello, a division of Nashboro Records.

The album introduces the core sextet — Butch, James, Billy, John, Timmy, and Barbara — joined across the program by Francis, Edith, and Virginia Ingram.

Kingdom places family-vocal lead work against springy dance cuts, low-lit slow vocals, and mid-pace chorus arrangements. “Ingram Kingdom” strides through a bright title refrain with theme-song directness. “Tried It and Liked It” saunters behind Barbara’s lead, with the vocal placed close to the front of the arrangement.

“What Else Can I Say” snaps through clipped guitar figures and a buoyant backbeat. “He’s Mine” glides under a low-lit female lead with softened edges. “Someone’s On My Side” braids a shaded guitar line with lead-and-chorus responses, while “The Funk Is in Our Music” and “Put Your Troubles Behind” close the album’s dance side with heavier accent patterns.

A1. “Ingram Kingdom” (4:00)
A2. “Tried It And Liked It” (3:43)
A3. “What Else Can I Say” (2:20)
A4. “He’s Mine” (3:29)
A5. “Music Is Our Message” (5:35)

B1. “The Funk Is In Our Music” (3:25)
B2. “Someone’s On My Side” (3:55)
B3. “She’s All Alone” (5:00)
B4. “Put Your Troubles Behind” (4:05)

Sessions occurred at Quad Recording in Pennsauken, NJ, with L. B. Young, a recent soundman for jazz-funk reedist Jesse Morrison. Quad engineer Bill Holland recorded The Ingram Kingdom in sequence with The Sax That Changed the World, the 1976 Sonet release by Rudy Pompilli & The Comets, a spinoff of Bill Haley’s band.

That’s All

Ingram released their second album, That’s All, in 1977 on H&L Records.

The album recasts the family lineup inside a larger H&L studio frame, with short vocal pieces placed around the nine-minute “Mi Sabrina Tequana (My Sister’s Daughter).” The credits retain John, Billy, Timmy, James, and Barbara from the prior album, with family backing vocals across the album.

That’s All places short vocal cuts around a lengthy centerpiece. “Mi Sabrina Tequana (My Sister’s Daughter)” rattles through a fast instrumental pattern with hard accents and repeated section turns. “Music Has the Power” settles into a long collective refrain. “I Just Wanna Testify” clips its title phrase into a direct call-out pattern.

A1. “Intro” (1:35)
A2. “Everybody Get Up And Get Down (Easy Dancing)” (3:26)
A3. “Get Your Stuff Off” (3:14)
A4. “I Don’t Want To Be Alone” (5:54)
A5. “That’s All” (3:25)
A6. “Would You Be Surprised” (2:28)

B1. “Music Has The Power” (3:54)
B2. “I Just Wanna Testify” (3:36)
B3. “Mi Sabrina Tequana (My Sister’s Daughter)” (9:35)
B4. “Stylin’ Profylin’” (3:03)
B5. “Dedication” (0:35)

Ingram co-produced and arranged That’s All with producer Landy McNeal at H&L Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with engineers James Cordon and Steve Jerome. Hugo & Luigi served as executive producers. D. P. Grodt created the simple cover art.

H&L lifted “Get Your Stuff Off” as a 1977 single (b/w “Stylin’ Profylin’”). The label also issued “That’s All” as a single (b/w “I Don’t Want To Be Alone”).

Would You Like to Fly

Ingram released their third album, Would You Like to Fly, in 1983 on Mirage Records.

The album returns the group to a family-production setup with a tighter, modern studio sound. They retain Butch, John, William, James, and Barbara from the earlier lineup, with Robert Ingram included among the backing vocalists.

Fly favors minimal-lyric dance pieces, mid-tempo vocal refrains, and slow vocal material. “Would You Like to Fly” jogs through a steady backbeat with a restrained lyric count. “Groovin’ On a Groove” churns through a fast repeated vamp and stays locked to its dancer function. “Smoothin’ Groovin’” rides a steadier mid-fast track with a polished surface and sustained forward motion. “D.J.’s Delight” eases the tempo into a lower-pressure vocal-dance lane. “We Like to Do It” jolts through a less settled beat pattern, while the slower cuts de-emphasize rhythm for close vocal placement.

A1. “Would You Like To Fly” (4:52)
A2. “D.J.’s Delight” (6:18)
A3. “Share A Dream” (4:49)
A4. “No One” (3:56)

B1. “Smoothin Groovin” (5:53)
B2. “We Like To Do It” (4:58)
B3. “Groovin On A Groove” (5:06)
B4. “Spoken Words” (4:37)

Ingram recorded Would You Like to Fly at Alpha International Recording Studios in Philadelphia, Silvery Moon Studio in Los Angeles, and Ridge Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Al Alberts Jr. and Butch Ingram mixed and edited the album at Alpha International Recording Studios.

Streetwave issued “Smoothin Groovin” as a 1983 UK single, where it reached No. 56 on the Official Singles Chart.

Night Stalkers

Ingram released their fourth album, Night Stalkers, in 1984 on Mirage Records.

The album tightens the Mirage-era lineup around programmed keyboards, brass doubling, percussion, and lead-vocal exchanges. They retain Butch, John, William, Jimmy, and Robert in the recording lineup, each co-credited on vocals.

Night Stalkers works through hard dance tracks, clipped title patterns, and slower vocal pieces. “Night Stalkers” snaps through a stop-start title phrase over a broken beat. “With You” sways at a hot tempo while the lead vocal stretches across a restless backbeat. “When You’re Hot You’re Hot” bounds through a fast burbling track with group vocals and police-siren effects. “I Like It” trips across a brisk dance pattern. “Hot Body” stomps through a heavy beat and direct floor-level chant. “Just For You” drifts into a slow vocal setting with a softened lead.

A1. “Night Stalkers” (5:34)
A2. “With You” (4:50)
A3. “Drivin’ Me Crazy” (3:30)
A4. “When You’re Hot You’re Hot” (5:49)

B1. “Just For You” (4:46)
B2. “I Like It” (3:52)
B3. “Fantasy” (4:52)
B4. “Hot Body” (5:37)

Family Productions produced Night Stalkers with associate production by Omni Records and engineer Dirk Devlin. Mike Goldberg and Steve Bernstein served as executive producers.

Other End issued “When You’re Hot You’re Hot” as a 1984 UK single with a dub mix and radio mix.

Discography: