The Modulations -

The Modulations were an American soul group from Durham, NC, that released the 1975 album It’s Rough Out Here on Buddah Records.

Members: Larry Duncan, Hoyal Saunders, Henry O. Channell, Larry ”Little Nick” Allen

Background

The Modulations formed in Durham, North Carolina, in 1968 as a vocal quartet with singers Larry Duncan, Henry O. Channell, Hoyal Saunders, and Larry “Little Nick” Allen. They first performed as The Pimps on the local R&B circuit. Around 1971, they cut the undated “Who’s Going to Lose” (b/w “Share Your Love”), arranged by Grady Wiggins for the Durham Mozel label.

Local entrepreneur Henry Bates secured them a contract with Buddah Records, which issued their 1973 second single “I’m Hopelessly in Love” (b/w “What Good Am I”), produced respectively by Ronald Baker and Norman Harris. In July 1974, “I Can’t Fight Your Love” appeared as a preview of their album in-progress, backed with the standalone “Your Love Has Me Locked Up.”

It’s Rough Out Here

The Modulations released their singular album, It’s Rough Out Here, in 1975 on Buddah.

The quartet—Duncan, Saunders, Channell, and Little Nick—sings orchestrated soul and mid-tempo vocal R&B arranged primarily by Vince Montana with select Harris and Baker numbers. Buddah credited bassist Danny Thompson, pianist James Cotton, Trammps drummer Earl Young, and MFSB guitarist Bobby Eli. The Modulations drew the nine-song program from the writing team of Bob Curington, Rodney Brown, Tylon Lester, Willie Lester, and Joe Blunt.

“Rough Out Here” bears down on economic hardship over a clipped backbeat and hard-edged group accents. “I Can’t Fight Your Love” glides on a smooth lead line with polished backing replies. “Love at Last” lifts its hopeful refrain through bright ensemble accents. “I’m Hopelessly in Love” swells under orchestrated scoring as the lead vocal leans into sustained pleading. “Worth Your Weight in Gold” lingers on elongated phrases and slow cadences. “I’ll Always Love You” softens the vocal line inside a sentimental refrain. “Those Were the Best Days of My Life” closes on nostalgic reminiscence with rounded group-vocal replies.

A1. “Rough Out Here” (4:39) – Curington, Brown, T. Lester, W. Lester
A2. “Head On Collision With Heartbreak” (3:10) – Curington, Brown, T. Lester, W. Lester
A3. “Love at Last” (4:55) – Curington, T. Lester, W. Lester
A4. “I’ll Always Love You” (3:44) – Curington, Brown

B1. “I’m Hopelessly In Love” (3:11) – Curington, Brown, T. Lester, W. Lester, Blunt
B2. “I Can’t Fight Your Love” (4:06) – Curington, Brown
B3. “Worth Your Weight In Gold” (4:49) – Curington, T. Lester, W. Lester
B4. “Those Were the Best Days of My Life” (3:13) – Curington, Brown
B5. “Share What You Got, Keep What You Need” (3:51) – Curington, Brown, T. Lester, W. Lester, Blunt

Buddah issued “I Can’t Fight Your Love” as a July 1974 single (b/w “Your Love Has Me Locked Up”), which reached No. 5 on the Billboard dance chart and No. 65 on the Billboard R&B chart.

“Worth Your Weight In Gold” became the second single in September 1975 (b/w “I’ll Always Love You”) and reached No. 79 on the Billboard R&B chart.