High Inergy

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High Inergy
Michelle Martin, Linda Howard, Barbara Mitchell (1979)
Michelle Martin, Linda Howard, Barbara Mitchell (1979)
Background information
OriginPasadena, California, U.S.
GenresPop, R&B, soul, disco
Years active1977–1983
LabelsGordy
Associated actsSmokey Robinson
Switch
Past membersLinda Howard (deceased)
Michelle Martin

Vernessa Mitchell (1977-1978)

High Inergy was an American R&B and soul girl group who found fame on Motown Records in the late 1970s. They are best known for the hit song, "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)".

History[]

High Inergy started in 1976 when the four founding singers were discovered by Gwen Gordy Fuqua during a Bicentennial show in Pasadena, California.[1] The members of the group included lead singer Vernessa Mitchell, her sister Barbara Mitchell, Linda Howard and Michelle Martin (or Rumph).[1] The Mitchell sisters were singers, while the remaining members were known primarily for their dancing.[2]

Fashioned after Martha and the Vandellas and the Supremes, the group was signed to Motown's Gordy subsidiary in 1977.[1] They quickly found success with the R&B/pop hit, "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On),"[1] which reached R&B number 2 and U.S. number 12.

The group became a trio when Vernessa left after the second album to pursue a career in gospel music.[1] Barbara Mitchell replaced her sister as lead singer.[2]

The group would score a total of nine R&B hits before disbanding for solo careers in 1984.[1]

Group member Linda Howard died on December 9, 2012.

Collaborations[]

On their 1980 album, Hold On, the group collaborated with labelmates Switch on the track "Hold On to My Love." The song features Switch member Bobby DeBarge as the male lead vocalist. DeBarge also produced and co-wrote the song.[3]

Smokey Robinson performed two duets with Barbara Mitchell on Groove Patrol,[1] High Inergy's last album, which was released in 1983.[4]

Discography[]

Albums[]

Year Album Cat. # R&B Pop
1977 Turnin' On[5] Gordy G6-978 S1 6 28
1978 Steppin' Out[6] Gordy G7-982 R1 46 42
1979 Shoulda Gone Dancin'[7] Gordy G7-987 R1 72 147
Frenzy[8] Gordy G7-989 R1 — 205
1980 Hold On[3] Gordy G8-996 M1 70 208
1981 [9] Gordy G8-1005 M1 — 203
1982 [10] Gordy 6006GL — —
1983 Groove Patrol[4] Gordy 6041GL 62 206

Singles[]

Year Single Cat. No. R&B Pop Dance
1977 "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)" b/w "Save It for a Rainy Day"[5] Gordy G 7155F 2 12 -
1978 "Love Is All You Need" b/w "Some Kinda Magic"[5] Gordy G 7157F 20 89 -
"We Are the Future" b/w "High School" Gordy G 7160F 77 - -
"Lovin' Fever" b/w "Beware" Gordy G 7161F 51 - -
1979 "Shoulda Gone Dancin'" b/w "Peaceland"[7] Gordy G 7166F 50 - 35
1980 "Make Me Yours" b/w "I Love Makin' Love (To the Music)" Gordy G 7187F 68 - -
1981 "Goin' Through the Motions" Gordy 73 — -
1982 "First Impressions" b/w "Could This Be Love" Gordy 1613GF 50 - -
1983 "He's a Pretender" b/w "Don't Let Up on the Groove"[4] Gordy 1662GF 62 82 25

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Lowe, John. "High Inergy - Biography". AllMusic. United States. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Hold On (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1980.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Groove Patrol (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1983.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Turnin' On (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1977.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Steppin' Out (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1978.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Shoulda Gone Dancin (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1979.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Frenzy (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1979.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ High Inergy (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1981.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ So Right (Media notes). High Inergy. Hollywood, California: Gordy Records. 1982.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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