The Jones Girls ~ Nights Over Egypt 1981 Jazz Funk Purrfection Version

A few months ago I did a remix of this one, but found I could do a better job and here it is!
Happy Sunday!

This wonderful song sung by the smoothest sisters ever! This jazz funk R&B jaunt is so lovely and the women's voices bring it all home. I heard this on the radio in Detroit when it was out and it reminded me what a sunny day felt like. Since it's Sunday, it is time to put out an inviting and relaxing jazz funk classic and "Nights Over Egypt" is the perfect example.

The Jones Sisters were the Detroit born group of real sisters who got their start doing background vocals for their mother, RCA signed gospel singer Mary Frazier Jones. Shirley and Brenda first recorded with mom, then when Valorie was old enough she joined the family act. Then these three girls aged just 12, 13 and 14, decided to expand from gospel into the world of pop/R&B/Soul.

They opened concerts for The Four Tops and Little Richard, signed to Paramount Records and then to Curtom Records for a few singles. Gaining a coveted gig touring with Diana Ross in 1976 they earned her admiration and support and through her they met Kenny Gamble and Patti Labelle at a concert. Gamble contacted Shirley that night after the show and the group signed to Philadelphia International in 1979.

Later on that same year, their eponymously named debut album gave up the dance hit "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" a seriously funky but caustic tune that showcased the women's fine harmonies and soulfullness. The song spent 16 weeks on the disco/dance chart, peaking at a very respectable #12 in the summer of 1979. It entered the Hot100 on June 23, 1979 at #87 the same week that Patrick Hernandez "Born To Be Alive" and The Knack's "My Sharona" debuted. "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" peaked at #38 on August 18, 1979 and spent a total of 9 weeks there, a remarkable achievement considering that was the same week that disco "died" on the pop charts.

That same week Chic's "Good Times" was sitting at #1 as the power pop of "My Sharona" buried the competition for the following survey for six consecutive weeks. The women remained with Gamble & Huff for two albums gaining a popular R&B hit with "Nights Over Egypt" in 1981.

They did a one off LP for RCA Records in 1983 that featured songs written and produced by Chic's Fonzi Thornton with Robert Wright. Wright was a frequent collaborator with Earth, Wind & Fire's Verdine White who played bass and is the younger brother of Maurice White.

Shirley wanted to keep on recording, but her sisters wanted to take a break. That led to her first #1 R&B hit "Do You Get Enough Love" when she started working with PI Records producer/writer Dexter Wansel. The song written by Bunny Sigler, was supposed to be for the O'Jays, but Shirley asked if she could record it. Sigler gave the green light and Shirley became a star in her own right.

She also found love at the same time when she met Harlem Globetrotter Harold Hubbard, who was staying at the same hotel in Philadelphia. The song was recorded as they were falling in love, and that lent a special emotion that resonated with the record buying public. They married September 5, 1986. Valorie passed away at the age of 45, December 2, 2001.