Double Exposure (band)

Double Exposure
OriginPhiladelphia, United States
GenresDisco
Years active1961–present
LabelsSalsoul
MembersLeonard "Butch" Davis
Joe Harris
Kenny Pitt
James Burris
Past membersJimmy Williams
Charles Whittington
Lorenzo Bell
Websitewww.doubleexposuremusic.com

Double Exposure is an American, Philadelphia-based disco group. They are best known for their 1976 hit, "Ten Percent".[1]

History

The group formed in 1961 with Leonard "Butch" Davis, Charles Whittington, Jimmy Williams and Joe Harris. They were originally known as the United Image[1] and released two singles, "Love's Creeping Up on Me" on Stax Records in 1971 and "The African Bump" on Branding Iron Records in 1972.

They were signed to Salsoul Records in 1975 and released their debut album, Ten Percent in 1976. The album featured the title track, which was remixed by Walter Gibbons and reached No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the dance/disco charts.[2] The tracks "Everyman (Has to Carry His Own Weight) and "My Love Is Free" were also popular club songs.

In 2001, a dance group called M&S used samples from Double Exposure's "Everyman" in their song called "Salsoul Nugget".

In September 2008, they recorded new material an Eli/Dixon/Green composition called "Soul Recession"/Soultronics Records at Eli's Studio E (The Grooveyard) facility in Philadelphia. Some original Salsoul/Philly/TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)/MFSB (Gamble and Huff) session musicians have appeared on "Soul Recession", including Earl Young, Bobby Eli, Dennis Harris, T.G. Conway, Jimmy Williams and Rikki Hicks.

Jimmy Williams died in October 2016.[3]

In 2018, new members Kenny Pitt and Lorenzo Bell are performing with the original band members to keep the Double Exposure sound alive.

In 2022 Salsoul re-released the "Ten Percent" album and is also available for streaming.

In 2024 James Burris became the newest member replacing Lorenzo Bell.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
US
[2] 		US
R&B
[2]
1976 Ten Percent 129 40 Salsoul
1978 Fourplay — —
1979 Locker Room — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Compilations

  • The Best of Double Exposure (Charly, 1999)
  • The Anthology (Suss'd, 2006)
  • My Love Is Free: The Best of Double Exposure (Koch, 2006)

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[2] 		US
R&B
[2] 		US
Dan
[2]
1976 "Ten Percent" 54 63 2 Ten Percent
"My Love Is Free" 104 44 15
"Everyman (Has to Carry His Own Weight)" — 84 8
1978 "Newsy Neighbors" 107 — — Fourplay
"Perfect Lover" — — —
1979 "I Got the Hots for Ya" — 33 37 Locker Room
1982 "After All This Time" — — 57 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Double Exposure Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "US Charts > Double Exposure". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Rizik, Chris (October 31, 2016). "R.I.P. Double Exposure and Trammps lead singer Jimmy Williams". SoulTracks. Retrieved August 22, 2020.