The Reflections -

The Reflections were an American soul group from NYC that backed Melba Moore and released the 1975 Capitol album Love on Delivery.

Members: Herman Edwards, Josh Pridgen, Edmund Simmons, John Simmons

Background

The Reflections formed in Harlem, New York City, in 1971 with singers Herman Edwards, Josh Pridgen, Edmund “Butch” Simmons, and John Simmons. John Simmons came from gospel music and also worked as a keyboardist. Melba Moore hired the quartet in 1972 for a gospel segment in her live act, and the group then worked as her backing singers through the mid-decade. Pridgen also sang in choirs for Shirley Caesar and the Royal Travelers.

Love on Delivery

The Reflections released their singular album, Love on Delivery, in 1975 on Capitol. The album contains ten songs performed by Edwards, Pridgen, and the Simmons.

“Day After Day (Night After Night)” snaps through a steady backbeat with clapped titular refrains. “Love on Delivery (L.O.D.)” rides a dance beat while hoarse lead calls meet tight group replies. “She’s My Summer Breeze” softens the vocal blend around a hazy romantic address.

“One Into One” lingers in ballad layers with elongated harmonies around the title phrase. “How Could We Let the Love Get Away” slows into regret text and longer harmony tails. “Three Steps From True Love” tightens around a counted-distance refrain.

A1. “Day After Day (Night After Night)” (4:35) – Williams
A2. “Love on Delivery (L.O.D.)” (5:30) – Bailey–Williams
A3. “Now You’ve Taken Your Love” (5:40) – Simmons–Edwards–Simmons–Pridgen
A4. “Are You Ready (Here I Am)” (3:39) – Simmons–Edwards–Simmons–Pridgen
A5. “She’s My Summer Breeze” (4:23) – Bailey–Williams

B1. “All Day All Night (Runnin’ Around)” (3:31) – Simmons–Edwards–Simmons–Pridgen
B2. “One Into One” (4:15) – Simmons–Edwards–Simmons–Pridgen
B3. “Telephone Lover” (4:03) – Bailey–Williams
B4. “How Could We Let the Love Get Away” (4:12) – Simmons–Simmons
B5. “Three Steps From True Love” (3:43) – Bailey–Williams

J.R. Bailey and Ken Williams produced Love on Delivery with engineer Jerome Gasper at Associated Recording Studios. Juried mixed the album at Sound Exchange Studios.

Love on Delivery appeared in a sleeve with art direction by Roy Kohara and photography by Richard DiLello. The cover image shows the quartet in cream jackets and reflective sunglasses against a pink backdrop.

Capitol lifted “Three Steps From True Love” as a May 1975 single with “How Could We Let the Love Get Away,” and the song reached No. 9 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 94 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Love on Delivery (L.O.D.)” became the second single in September 1975 with “One Into One” and reached No. 58 on the Billboard R&B chart.

In February 1976, “Day After Day (Night After Night)” reappeared as a single with “Are You Ready (Here I Am)” and reached No. 37 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Postlude

The Simmons wrote “Trust Me” on the 1975 Ace Spectrum album Low Rent Rendezvous.

John Simmons backed Stephanie Mills on her 1979–82 albums What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’, Sweet Sensation, and Tantalizingly Hot. Concurrently, he appeared on albums by Peggi Blu and (with Josh Pridgen) Margaret Reynolds. He died on March 16, 1989, at age 45.

Discography: