THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

533-Rose Royce-Do Your Dance.

1977-Number 30 single.

Best Bit-At 1.51. The Rolls Royce of Funky music.

The group who would eventually become ‘Rose Royce’ (see also best songs 233) started out life in the early 1970’s when members of several local bands from the ‘Watts,’ and ‘Inglewood’ areas of Los Angeles joined forces under the name ‘Total Concept Unlimited,’ these musicians were Henry Garner, (drums) Terral “Terry” Santiel, (congas) Lequeint “Duke” Jobe, (bass) Michael Moore, (saxophone) Kenny Copeland, (trumpet, and lead vocals), Kenji Brown, (guitar, and lead vocals) Freddie Dunn, (trumpet) and Victor Nix (keyboards.) In 1973 they toured Europe and Japan backing Edwin Starr, (1942-2003) (see also best songs 429) who would later introduce them to the legendary music producer Norman Whitfield (1940-2008) (see also best songs 911-777-569-480-346 and 233.) Whitfield had spent the previous decade writing and producing at ‘Motown’ records, and was now ready for a new challenge, setting up his own record label ‘Whitfield’ records. While touring in Miami, Joe Harris of the ‘Motown’ group ‘Undisputed Truth’ was introduced to Gwen Dickey, who was then a member of a local group called ‘The Jewels.’ Harris informed Norman Whitfield of his find, and Whitfield signed Dickey to be lead singer of ‘Total Concept Unlimited.’ In 1975 Whitfield was contacted by the film director Michael Shultz to write music for his next film ‘Carwash.’ The soundtrack released in 1976 would become the debut Album by ‘Rose Royce,’ with their name changed from ‘Total Concept Unlimited,’ to ‘Rose Royce’ after the movies automotive theme. The groups new lead singer Gwen Dickey was re-named ‘Rose Norwalt by Norman Whitfield. In total there have been 12 different members of Rose Royce come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active as a touring group.

Gwen Dickey was born on December 1st, 1953, in Biloxi, Mississippi, United States. She began here career by singing professionally at local clubs, and then performing with a local venue’s house band known as ‘The Jewels,’ which was where Joe Harris discovered her. Gwen Dickey would stay as the lead singer of ‘Rose Royce’ until 1980, when leaving to pursue a solo career, after experiencing turmoil with other members of the group, she can be heard performing on all the first four studio Albums of ‘Rose Royce.’ In 1993 she released her one solo studio Album ‘Time to Change,’ and was then back in the charts in 1994, appearing with the British group ‘KWS,’ on a cover of the ‘Rufus and Chaka Khan’ song ‘Ain’t Nobody,’ which reached Number 21 in the UK. She also had a hit with the American Rapper Jay-Z (see also best songs 636-477-267 and 23) in 1998, duetting on a cover of the Rose Royce song ‘Wishing on a Star,’ which made Number 13 in the UK. In 2010, Gwen Dickey experienced a spinal cord injury in her London home, leaving her reliant on a wheelchair, and at the time of writing she still performs concerts while seated on stage.

‘Do Your Dance’ was the first of four singles released from ‘In Full Bloom,’ which was the second studio Album released by ‘Rose Royce,’ from July 1977. The song was co-written by Norman Whitfield, and Dwight Turner, with the production being by Whitfield. The full length Album version of the track which closes side 1 on ‘In Full Bloom,’ goes for 9.15, but for purposes of airplay, the song was edited and released as a 7 inch single as ‘Do Your Dance’ (Part 1) with a running time of 3.30. In America ‘Do Your Dance’ (Part 1) stalled at Number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, although it did make Number 4 on the ‘Billboard R&B chart.

‘Do Your Dance’ was co-written by Norman Whitfield, and Dwight Turner, who was born Dwight David Turner, on February 4th, 1947, in Beckley, West Virginia, United States, he is professionally known as ‘Spyder Turner.’ Turner is best known as a ‘Soul’ singer, and first began recording after winning a contest at the ‘Apollo Theater,’ in New York City, recording some solo tracks, and singing backup for several groups, including ‘The Stereophonics,’ (no not the Welsh one) and ‘Soul/Funk’ group ‘The Fabulous Counts.’ In 1967 Spyder Turner made the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, with his cover of the 1961 Ben E King (1938-2015) classic ‘Stand By Me,’ (see also best songs 804.) In the song, Turner not only imitated the voices of Ben E. King, Smokey Robinson, Chuck Jackson, and Billy Stewart, amongst others, but he also named them as he sang verses of the song in their style., the track peaked at Number 12.

‘We gon’ start at midnight, party till the mornin’ light. You see, we can’t give up or stop, until we get it right. Ain’t that right, ain’t that right.’