Wardell Piper -

Wardell Piper is an American soul singer who emerged in First Choice for their 1972 Scepter debut and early Philly Groove sessions. After leaving the group, she cut solo material for Midsong International, which issued her 1979 album, which spawned the dance hits “Captain Boogie” and “Super Sweet.” Piper continued with early-1980s singles on Midsong, Sam, and Prelude before later independent releases.

Background

Wardell Piper is an American singer from Philadelphia. She decided on a vocal path after seeing the Supremes at age seven, then entered group work in 1968 after she met Rochelle Fleming in junior high school. Fleming invited Piper into the Debonettes, a Philadelphia vocal trio with Annette Guest.

The Debonettes worked after-school club dates around Philadelphia before record man Norman Harris entered the group’s orbit through radio figure Georgie Woods. Harris produced the trio’s first single, “This Is the House (Where Love Died),” issued on Scepter in 1972 under the First Choice name. The record paired Fleming’s lead line with Guest and Piper in the backing blend.

First Choice moved to Philly Groove for “Armed and Extremely Dangerous,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 28 on the Hot 100 in 1973. Piper sang on the group’s first album sessions but left before the album reached stores; Joyce Jones replaced her for the cover lineup.

Piper laid low until 1978 when she surfaced on Midsong International, which launched her as a solo artist with the December single “Captain Boogie,” composed and produced by John H. Fitch Jr. and Reuben Cross.

Wardell Piper

Wardell Piper released her self-titled album in 1979 on Midsong International.

Across five long cuts, Piper works deep-funk arrangements with backing vocals by Debbie Fitch, Janet Foster, and Michelle Bullock.

“Super Sweet” sets clipped triads and taut string/horn injections as Piper flexes her mezzo across a tight, unrelenting bassline. “Win Your Lovin’” saunters with sliding bass and nuanced tonal formation (in Dm) that forecasts Piper’s longing delivery.

“Captain Boogie” deep-dives thick bass (in Gm) with coiling licks and clapped vocal tradeoffs; breaking midway for Moog-spread percussive bars. “Don’t Turn Away from Me Baby” alternates vocal call-and-response with striking ensemble refrains (in Cm). “If You Want to Make Love to Me” trends uptempo with buoyant rhythmic verses and a sliding chorus.

A1. “Super Sweet” (11:32) — Michael H. Brown, John H. Fitch Jr., Reuben Cross
A2. “Win Your Lovin’” (7:04)

B1. “Captain Boogie” (5:59)
B2. “Don’t Turn Away from Me Baby” (6:22)
B3. “If You Want to Make Love to Me” (7:10)

Piper cut the five tracks with songwriter–producers John H. Fitch Jr. and Reuben Cross. Sessions occurred with drummer Tina Woodrit and rotating bassists (Bobby Bird, Darleen Brown), guitarists (Fitch, Michael Davis), pianists (Jim Beavan, Nathaniel Lee), and percussionists (Michael Sanders, O.T. Young).

Midsong International issued “Captain Boogie” as a single in 1978 and carried the track into the album sequence. The single reached No. 33 on the Billboard R&B chart in early 1979.

“Super Sweet” appeared as a 1979 single backed with “Don’t Turn Away from Me Baby.” The single reached No. 20 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 46 on the Dance chart.

Postlude

Midsong issued “Gimme Something Real” backed with “The Power of Love” in 1980. John Davis arranged and produced the single, which closed Piper’s documented Midsong run.

Piper moved to Sam Records for “Come On Back to Mama” in 1983. Victor Scott produced the 12-inch single, with a vocal take on one side and an instrumental mix on the reverse.

Prelude issued “Nobody (Can Take You From Me)” in 1984. James Batton produced the track at Alpha International Studios in Philadelphia, with Al Alberts Jr. and Remo Leomporra credited as engineers.

Piper returned to release activity in the 2010s and 2020s through singles and EPs, including Thankful, “Be Sure,” “Distant Star,” “Legendary,” and “How Long.” Later digital issues also placed “Come On Back to Mama” in the Sam Records: The Sound of New York City 1975–1983 program.

Discography: