Kathy Sledge threatens to crash Sister Sledge performance

Sounds similar to how Bonnie Pointer got permanently shut-out from her sister act because she left to do some solo work. That rarely breaks up rock bands though, people are allowed to do solo work without being permanently banned from the group. But we don't know the story behind it, maybe they were begging Kathy to come back for years and she refused. And now that she wants back, they're sick of her.

She sounds crazy. From the article below, they've been estranged for twenty years since she went solo.

If they've been performing without her for all this time, she has never trying to get into their Pope gig.

Sounds jealous because she wasn't invited as a solo act.

If there hasn't been reconciliation attempts all along, I'd ban her too.

If she's tried to reconnect with them for a long time,, then they're holding a grudge pretty long.

She was the lead singer. There's not much point to a Sister Sledge without her.

One of the comments in the article above says that one of the other sisters wasn't there either. So it was a duo

Of course Kathy wasn't invited as a solo act, her solo act flopped. She only recorded one album that I know of. The sisters recorded one album without her in the 90s, their last album. Bonnie had a few hits but faded fast as disco died, and also having her husband produce her albums. That really hurt when he badly botched her 1983 album, which was following a comeback song on a soundtrack. I don't think Bonnie's released a full album since, or maybe there was a really obscure one recently. I wouldn't see either of those acts without their exiled sisters.

Is she the sista who threatened to throw her shoe at the Pope if she gets close enough?

In the case of Bonnie Pointer, crack sealed her fate. She STILL does it...ALLEGEDLY!

Where's Miss Warwick at?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Yes but people are more than their drug problems, and you can recover from them, or at least cut back. Bonnie should at least be given the opportunity. She was one of the two founding members of the group, and didn't end-up getting a cut of any of their 80s hits, probably their most commercial period. Would it be that big of a deal to tour with her even if she still was on drugs? They did it with June. As long as she can still sing, it's really nobody's business anyway.

They're going to need a Sledgehammer to crack that nut.

We are family,

Firin' all my sisters, you see . . .

Frankie was a great song. It went to #1 all over the world, but didn't do much in the United States. Give it a listen.

What r3 said. Her voice was the only distinctive thing about their vocals. Without her, who cares?

The sisters without Kathy were horible. That performance was terrible because it needed Kathy's vocals. They embarrassed themselves and fortunately they sang before the Pope arrived.

The problem stems from what they told Kathy years ago.

BYOB! That means Bye-Bye You Old Bitch!

Kathy's the youngest, paralleling Michael in the Jackson 5. They originally tried to break them as a female Jacksons, with a 12yr old Kathy singing lead. They had a few minor chart entries in the early 70s and then floundered until Chic decided to revive their careers.

It is kind of sad all the way around when it comes to Kathy Sledge and her sisters.

They needed Nile Rodgers as producer of everything. They were nothing before him, they were nothing after him.

That Frankie song is fucking awful. It sounds like the theme for a Full House spinoff.

Sister Sledge - He's Just A Runaway (1981) Narada Michael Walden produced this song.

lol r20. the song "Frankie" is pure shit.

r22 - I agree. I can't believe that song was a smash in the U.K. It is fucking terrible.

Sister Sledge - My Guy (1982)

He's the Greatest Dancer and We Are Family are all they're good for.

Lost in Music is also great. Those three were all written/produced by Nile Rodgers. He was all they were good for.

"Thinking of You" is a classic.

This Dimitri From Paris Remix could be played in any club today.

The Narada Michael Walden songs were great too.

All American Girls. Next Time You'll Know. He's a Runaway. If You Really Want Me.

My favorite Sister Sledge Album.

Everythig Sister Sledge did with Chic was gold, even the album cuts: "How To Love", "You Fooled Around", "Easier To Love", "I'm A Good Girl", etc.

Kathy Sledge was a fantastic vocal talent.

r27, it was never released as a single in the US, even though it would've only been the 4th single from a platinum selling album. But it was *gasp* disco, so horrifyingly urban, gay and black for the average Amurican, it had to be destroyed! It sucked (just like them homos do.) Thinking Of You was lightly remixed in the mid-80s, and became a Top 10 hit in the UK (and probably other European countries) along with an equally successful Lost in Music remix.

Here's the best thing they did prior to hooking up with Chic. One of there first singles, it charted, but wasn't a hit. But it's fab. I'm sure it only flopped from lack of promotion. Proof they didn't absolutely need Rodgers, but he certainly helped. Post Rodgers, there was the Narada Michael Walden album, who gave them a very plastic, but generally enjoyable, imitation of Chic.

Sister Sledge - Reach Your Peak (1980)

Philly is chilly

stay away from my food.

R32, Joni was always trying to push into the lead. Not content just being the prettiest she wanted to be the voice of the group, too.

"The people don't know what your mama know...they don't!"

I blame the one who looked like an alien from Star Trek.

r37, that was all of them.

Kathy Sledge - Take Me Back To Love Again (1992)

R29, I absolutely love, "I'm A Good Girl!"

The follow-up album with Chic has some tasty stuff too. After that, Nile and Bernard were becoming too revered as producers, and were too busy to produce a Sister Sledge album a year. They could've had them again but would've had to wait. SS wanted to put out constant product. Rodgers did actually produce another album for them in the mid-80s, with the big euro hit we all hate Frankie. Nile hated it too, and had to be talked into it by someone. But it didn't reverse their fortunes in America.

They were the Personality Free Pointer Sisters, though Nile Rodgers/Chic will always be cooler than Richard Perry.

They were sexy but classy. That is how I remember Sister Sledge. They didn't have to wear lingerie onstage because they had the talent to back it up.

I like this from their Narada album. Music Makes You Feel Good, lives up to its name.

[quote] [R29], I absolutely love, "I'm A Good Girl!"

Yes, well, Joni Sledge isn't ALL bad.

I had to go back and w&w r37. She's a cute alien though.

We are family

Except that cunt Kathy

#WillSisterSledgeHammerThingsOut?

Sister Sledge - Gotta Get Back To Love

Bump.

They look Angolan--are they of Creole heritage, or black hispanic?

I believe they're All American Girls.

Another remix of Thinking Of You

W&W for r52

Chic was crazy overextended in 1980 — they wrote, produced and arranged Diana for Diana Ross, another Chic album, their second Sister Sledge album, and the Johnny Mathis album that was never released. No wonder Debbie Harry's Koo Koo sucked so hard in '81. There was nothing but lint and shitballs left for her.

I think the Johnny Mathis album was finally released not long ago, though I haven't heard it.

I goofed — the Mathis album was an '81 production. Still, they had a lot going on in '80, maybe too much, and Diana got all the blockbuster material so there was a shortage for Sister Sledge et. al.

The Johnny Mathis album is still officially unreleased, but several tracks have been released on Chic compilations. Like this one featuring Luther Vandross in the backing chorus:

Here's the title track to the Johnny Mathis / Chic album.

It's pretty clear Nile Rodgers struggled as a producer in the wake of the disco backlash, circa '81-'82 (Debbie Harry 's bomb, Mathis' shelving, Chic's '81 and '82 albums which barely charted when they ruled the world only two years earlier). Then he figured how to make things work for David Bowie, which led to Madonna's Like a Virgin, and he was set forever.

Listening to the Johnny Mathis tracks, and remembering Debbie Harry's Koo Koo, it seems the situations should have been reversed — Koo Koo should have been shelved.

It's too bad Debbie didn't have a crack at the songs on Diana. Supposedly the Chic guys had shopped them around for a while — to Aretha Franklin, who passed, and then they were given to Diana Ross.

That record was what everyone expected of the Debbie/Chic collaboration, and what they got was a slapdash mess.

I've always thought that the "alien" Sledge sister and Carla from The Chew resemble each other.

Rodger's dream collaboration was with Donna Summer, and he cites her as Chic's primary influence, starting with Love To Love You which captivated him, an angelic voice he described it. There's a great quote with him explaining that's she way beyond a typical diva, like something mystical. Donna felt boxed-in by dance music so she generally resisted recording it. She should've recorded albums with other fanatical fans, Moby and Pet Shop Boys.

It's too bad that Donna Summer didn't work with Nile Rodgers and the Pet Shop Boys. Her 80s output was so hit-and-miss, she really could've used them.

One problem is she would've looked like she was copying Diana. Rodgers pretty much said he wished he could've given those songs to Donna. Not that it's bad with Diana, it's some of her best work.

Kathy Sledge on REELGAYTV

I can see an "Unsung" episode on them in the future.

If Aretha got the Diana songs, I'm Coming Out would have had the subtitle: As the mother of my brother.

I I listened to the Mathis tracks on YouTube, they are just awful. I can see why it wasn't released.

Not awful, R68. They aren't Chic's best work, but Love and Be Loved is up there. That and the title track (remixed with more instrumentation) would have done well for Mathis, at least on the R&B and AC charts.

I am glad that they relied on their talent instead of sex appeal back in the day unlike the pop tarts of today. Sister Sledge were classy and beautiful.

[quote] Sister Sledge were classy and beautiful.

[quote] and beautiful.

[quote] beautiful.

Thank you!

Kathy Sledge Live! "CHANGES / SOMEBODY LOVES ME

A Bowie/Gershwin medley?! Yes, please!

Sister Sledge performs Next Time You'll Know (1981)

Kathy Sledge: All the Man That I Need

Diana Ross / Cher / Dolly Parton / Billie Holliday / Andrews Sisters medley:

Sister Sledge - Let Him Go (1983)

OMG. Thanks to this thread, I have not stopped playing the "Love Somebody Today" CD for 2 weeks. It really is brilliant. A masterful Chic production with the most beautiful lead voices Chic ever worked with (sorry, Ross).

Bump.