The Softones -

The Softones were an American soul group from Baltimore that released a self-titled album on Avco in 1973, followed by two studio albums and a live disc on H&L in 1977/78. The group’s name was shortened to The Tones for a further album on self-press Criminal in 1983.

Members: Marvin Brown, Steven Jackson, Elton Lynch, Byron Summerville

Background

The Softones formed in late-sixties Baltimore when second tenor Steven Jackson teamed with lead and first tenor J. Marvin Brown, second tenor and baritone Elton Lynch, and first and second tenor Byron Summerville. Brown had briefly sung with Washington, D.C., group The Unifics before their 1971 move to Fountain Records. The singers began as school-age performers in West Baltimore and used the local billing the Edmondson Avenue Temptations. Brown sang the high lead above Jackson, Lynch, and Summerville’s tenor and baritone parts.

The group cut its first released sides as The Soft Tones. Avco issued “My Dream” / “How Did I Lose?” in August 1972, while Baltimore label Thereway paired “Any Street” with “How Did I Lose?” under the same billing. Avco followed in March 1973 with “I’m Gonna Prove It” / “Guns,” a Hugo & Luigi production that reached the Billboard soul chart that spring. The label then issued “Can’t Help Falling in Love” / “What Is Life?” in June 1973 and changed the billing to The Softones for “The First Day” / “Everybody Knew But Me” in November. Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore produced the self-titled Avco album The Softones later that year. Van McCoy arranged and conducted the LP, which fixed the one-word group name on the album cover.

Softones

The Softones released their self-titled debut album in January 1973 on Avco.

The album presents orchestral vocal soul and mid-tempo ballad material, performed by vocalists Marvin Brown, Steve Jackson, and Elton Lynch. Brown places the lead line in a high register, and the group answers with close-stacked refrains across the Hugo & Luigi material. The album contains nine selections: one Hugo & Luigi title, five Hugo & Luigi and George David Weiss titles, one Mark Barkan and Don Oriolo title, and one Marvin Brown and Keith Glascoe title.

Softones sets falsetto leads inside polished close-harmony balladry and brisk ensemble numbers. “The First Day” clips through bright unison answers and a forward title refrain. “Everybody Knew but Me” skims a brisk complaint pattern with a clean lead-to-group handoff. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” glides at a low tempo under a close-held falsetto lead and cushioned chorus. “Extra-Ordinary People” circles the repeated title phrase through soft choral answers and a rounded verse lift. “I’m Gonna Prove It” charges through quick title pledges and compact orchestral accents. “Why, Why, Baby” lengthens the plea across repeated question phrases and softened group replies. “My Dream” settles into a low, intimate register with a sustained lead and gentle choral closure.

A1. “The First Day” (3:32) – Peretti, Creatore
A2. “Everybody Knew But Me” (3:02) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
A3. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (2:51) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
A4. “Extra-Ordinary People” (2:53) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
A5. “I’m Gonna Prove It” (3:12) – Barkan, Oriolo

B1. “Why, Why, Baby” (5:14) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
B2. “And I Remember Your Face” (3:02) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
B3. “Never Let A Woman Like That Go By” (4:07) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
B4. “My Dream” (3:16) – Brown, Glascoe

Hugo & Luigi produced eight selections on Softones. A&D Productions produced “My Dream.”

Avco lifted “I’m Gonna Prove It” as a 1973 single, which reached No. 44 on Billboard R&B. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” became a July 1973 single and reached No. 56 on Billboard R&B. In January 1975, “The First Day” reached No. 69 on Billboard R&B.

Black Magic

The Softones released their second studio album, Black Magic, in January 1977 on H&L.

The album blends disco-length vocal-soul arrangements and ballad material, performed by the Softones with arranged and conducted parts by Horace Ott. “Call It Love” opens the album in a seven-minute frame, and “That Old Black Magic” extends the Arlen–Mercer standard across the second side. The album contains eight selections, including three Landy McNeal titles, one Bob Johnson title, two established standards, and two titles with partial credit support.

Black Magic expands the group’s close-harmony format with extended floor cuts, theatrical covers, and concise mid-tempo pieces. “Call It Love” leans through a measured pulse, with falsetto lines set against broad ensemble answers. “Laundromat” lopes through a lower pulse and plainspoken lead phrasing. “(Where Do I Begin) Love Story” sways through a broad film-theme contour with softened consonants and a smooth chorus. “That Old Black Magic” struts through extended title repetition, clipped orchestral punches, and a steady pulse. “Bulldog (Dog Power Song)” bounces through chant-like title stress and firm backbeat accents. “Love Child” presses its confession line through a tighter mid-tempo vocal pattern.

A1. “Call It Love” (7:40) – McNeal
A2. “Go On With The Show” (3:25) – Johnson
A3. “Laundromat” (3:23) – McNeal
A4. “(Where Do I Begin) Love Story” (3:52) – Lai, Sigman

B1. “That Old Black Magic” (7:00) – Arlen, Mercer
B2. “Maybe Tomorrow” (3:37) – McNeal
B3. “Bulldog (Dog Power Song)” (3:05)
B4. “Love Child” (3:15)

Hugo & Luigi produced Black Magic. Ott arranged and conducted the album. Michael DeLugg engineered the sessions. Gilbert Kong mastered the album.

Avco issued “That Old Black Magic” as a late 1975 single, which reached No. 29 on Billboard R&B and No. 2 on Billboard Disco.

Brand New Day

The Softones released their third studio album, Brand New Day, in January 1978 on H&L.

Brand New Day uses compact rhythm pieces and lighter vocal ballads across the sequence, performed by the Softones with production by Landy McNeal.

“Silly Billy” drifts through a low-tempo comic refrain, with the lead tucked inside group replies. “That’s What Love Can Do” bounds through brisk title-line replies and a clear chorus lift. “I Played the Fool” settles on contrite lead phrasing and softened close-harmony support. “I Won’t Let You Down This Time” pleads through extended promise phrases and rounded ensemble answers. “Get ’cha Tails Up” kicks into clipped exhortation phrases and a firmer dance pulse. “I’m Gonna Make the Score” slides at a moderate pulse through scorekeeping text and compact group answers.

A1. “Street Music” (3:24) – Johnson, Pettus, Paul
A2. “Let Me Have A Turn” (4:07) – Johnson, McNeal
A3. “Silly Billy” (4:18) – Ohio Players
A4. “That’s What Love Can Do” (3:27) – Norman, Nissenson
A5. “I Played The Fool” (3:33) – Johnson, McNeal

B1. “I Won’t Let You Down This Time” (3:53) – Johnson, Pettus, Paul
B2. “Get ‘Cha Tails Up” (3:52) – McNeal
B3. “I Got Time On My Hands” (3:23) – Peretti, Creatore, Weiss
B4. “Sweet Dreamer” (2:49) – Johnson, Pettus, John
B5. “I’m Gonna Make The Score” (3:38) – McNeal

McNeal produced Brand New Day. McNeal, Patrick Adams, and Roy Norman arranged the album. Patrick Adams and Roy Norman conducted the credited orchestral parts.

H&L lifted “That’s What Love Can Do” as a 1978 single (b/w “Sweet Dreamer”).

Discography: