An Album/Song A Week: "When Will I See You Again" - Three Degrees

 If there was one thing missing from the phenomenal crossover success of Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records in the 70's it was the women on the label not achieving the same success as the men.  This isn't from a lack of trying.  PIR had plenty of women on their label.  But except for one exception, none of the others were able to crash the Pop chart. 

 The one exception were the Three Degrees.  1972's #1, "Me and Mrs. Jones" is often cited as the greatest Philly Soul record.  But closely behind is 1974's #2, "When Will I See You Again".  Prior to signing with PIR, the biggest success the Three Degrees had was with a #29 Pop cover of the Chantels' classic "Maybe" in 1970. 

 "When Will I See You Again" collects all the great things about a Gamble & Huff song.  It's a smooth, lush three minutes that is a perfect radio single.  This wasn't the first time the Three Degrees appeared on a big PIR single.  Earlier in 1974, they were the featured vocalists on MFSB's "TSOP (Soul Train Theme)", which went to #1 months before the release of "When Will I See You Again".

  But 1974 would be the last successful year for the Three Degrees.  Although they were often labeled as Gamble & Huff's version of the Supremes, they never came close to reaching those heights.  By 1978 they were off PIR.  And the ladies of PIR would have many R&B hits, crossing over eluded them.  But there's plenty of good records by the Three Degrees and others like Patti LaBelle, Jean Carne, Sharon Paige, Jones Girls, Dee Dee Sharp, Phyllis Hyman.  Here's a Spotify playlist that PIR made  of the Women of P.I.R.