This Time I'll Be Sweeter
Encyclopedia
This Time I'll Be Sweeter is a soul
ballad written by Haras Fyre
(professionally known as Pat Grant
) and Gwen Guthrie
.
In her autobiography Dancing in the Street Martha Reeves
states she made the first recording of the song but the first evident release was a version by Linda Lewis
which appeared on the 1975 album Not a Little Girl Anymore. However speculated, one of the songwriters Haras Fyre (also a bassist on several of the song's original versions) says it was Marlena Shaw
who made the first recording in 1974 although her version was not released until 1976. Lewis' track - whose background vocalists included Gwen Guthrie - was released as the album's lead single in the US
http://books.google.ca/books?id=TygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA68&dq=%22this+time+i%27ll+be+sweeter%22+linda+lewis+september+1975;
belatedly issued in the UK in September 1976 as the follow-up to Lewis hit "Baby I'm Yours", "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" just missed the UK Top 50 peaking at #51.
Martha Reeves' version appeared on her Rest of My Life album released in 1976; her version shared the producers of Lewis' track: Bert De Coteaux and Tony Silvester who were also responsible for Marlena Shaw
's 1974 recording on the 1976 album Just a Matter of Time.
"This Time I'll Be Sweeter" was recorded by Roberta Flack
for her 1977 release Blue Lights in the Basement
to which Gwen Guthrie contributed background vocals.
The song had its highest profile incarnation as the debut single for Angela Bofill
; taken off the Angie
album, the track was released 21 November 1978. "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" reached #23 on the Hot Soul Singles chart
and although Bofill would score higher on that chart with subsequent singles "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" remained her only single to approach the Billboard Hot 100
, bubbling under
at #104.
Deniece Williams
- who with Gwen Guthrie sang back-up on the 1975 Linda Lewis version - recorded "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" for her 2007 album Love, Niecy Style.
Overall there are more than eighty recorded versions of "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" including those by Wendy Alleyne, Teresa Carpio
, Sharon Cuneta
, Isaac Hayes
, La India
("Te daré dulzura"), AC Kelly, Maysa, Kevin McCord, Tillie Moreno
, Buddy Montgomery
, Nia Peeples
and Jack Radics.
The song "This Time I'll be Sweeter" was also revived by the Philippines' Ultimate Champion Rachelle Ann Go
as her carrier single in the album Rachelle Ann Falling In Love released by Viva Records.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
ballad written by Haras Fyre
Haras Fyre
In 1971, Haras joined a local band called the Matchmakers, where he met vocalist and pianist Gwen Guthrie. The two became romantically involved, moved in together and, with The Matchmakers' saxophonist James Wheeler & trumpeter Jerome McCoggle, they joined the New York City based band "East...
(professionally known as Pat Grant
Haras Fyre
In 1971, Haras joined a local band called the Matchmakers, where he met vocalist and pianist Gwen Guthrie. The two became romantically involved, moved in together and, with The Matchmakers' saxophonist James Wheeler & trumpeter Jerome McCoggle, they joined the New York City based band "East...
) and Gwen Guthrie
Gwen Guthrie
Gwen Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, and Roberta Flack....
.
In her autobiography Dancing in the Street Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
states she made the first recording of the song but the first evident release was a version by Linda Lewis
Linda Lewis
Linda Lewis is an English vocalist, songwriter and Guitarist. Lewis is the oldest of six children two of whom also had singing careers...
which appeared on the 1975 album Not a Little Girl Anymore. However speculated, one of the songwriters Haras Fyre (also a bassist on several of the song's original versions) says it was Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw is an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.-Biography:She was first introduced to music by her uncle Jimmy Burgess, a jazz trumpet player...
who made the first recording in 1974 although her version was not released until 1976. Lewis' track - whose background vocalists included Gwen Guthrie - was released as the album's lead single in the US
http://books.google.ca/books?id=TygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA68&dq=%22this+time+i%27ll+be+sweeter%22+linda+lewis+september+1975;
belatedly issued in the UK in September 1976 as the follow-up to Lewis hit "Baby I'm Yours", "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" just missed the UK Top 50 peaking at #51.
Martha Reeves' version appeared on her Rest of My Life album released in 1976; her version shared the producers of Lewis' track: Bert De Coteaux and Tony Silvester who were also responsible for Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw is an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.-Biography:She was first introduced to music by her uncle Jimmy Burgess, a jazz trumpet player...
's 1974 recording on the 1976 album Just a Matter of Time.
"This Time I'll Be Sweeter" was recorded by Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
for her 1977 release Blue Lights in the Basement
Blue Lights in the Basement
Blue Lights in the Basement is Roberta Flack's sixth album , released in 1977.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Roberta Flack - piano, vocals*Gwen Guthrie - background vocals*James Mtume - percussion, background vocals...
to which Gwen Guthrie contributed background vocals.
The song had its highest profile incarnation as the debut single for Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill is an American R&B vocalist and songwriter.Bofill was born to a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother; one of the first Latina singers to find success in the R&B market.She performed with Ricardo Marrero & the Group and Dance Theater of Harlem chorus prior to her 1978 debut album,...
; taken off the Angie
Angie (album)
This is the original recording debut of Angela Bofill on the GRP Records label.The album was heralded as a mild success, popularizing on some of the themes of the times. The song,This Time I'll Be Sweeter, was able to chart fairly well on the U.S R&B front...
album, the track was released 21 November 1978. "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" reached #23 on the Hot Soul Singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and although Bofill would score higher on that chart with subsequent singles "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" remained her only single to approach the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, bubbling under
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
at #104.
Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
- who with Gwen Guthrie sang back-up on the 1975 Linda Lewis version - recorded "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" for her 2007 album Love, Niecy Style.
Overall there are more than eighty recorded versions of "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" including those by Wendy Alleyne, Teresa Carpio
Teresa Carpio
Teresa Carpio is a Hong Kong English pop and Cantopop singer, actor and singing teacher, born in Hong Kong. She is the mother of singer T. V. Carpio.-Family background:Carpio's father is Filipino and her mother Chinese. Born into a musical family...
, Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
, Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, La India
La India
La India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
("Te daré dulzura"), AC Kelly, Maysa, Kevin McCord, Tillie Moreno
Tillie Moreno
Tillie Moreno, also known as "Manila's Queen of Soul", is a Filipino R&B/soul/pop vocalist and entertainer whose career began in the 1970s. She is best known for her songs "Saan Ako Nagkamali", "Umagang Kay Ganda", and "Nothing I Want More"...
, Buddy Montgomery
Buddy Montgomery
Charles "Buddy" Montgomery was an American jazz vibraphonist and pianist. He was the youngest brother of Wes and Monk Montgomery. He and brother, Monk, formed the "Mastersounds," in the late 50's and produced ten recordings...
, Nia Peeples
Nia Peeples
Virenia Gwendolyn "Nia" Peeples is an American R&B and dance music singer and actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nicole Chapman on Fame...
and Jack Radics.
The song "This Time I'll be Sweeter" was also revived by the Philippines' Ultimate Champion Rachelle Ann Go
Rachelle Ann Go
-External links:*...
as her carrier single in the album Rachelle Ann Falling In Love released by Viva Records.