1974
BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU GOT * WILLIAM DeVAUGHN * CHELSEA 2005 002 * UK
William DeVaughn answered an advert for artists to record, the outfit advertising were a dodgy lot who would, after listening to demos that the hopefuls sent in, pick the ones with potential, then invite the artist to come and record it, and make them pay for the session! If the recording worked out they would then try to sell the master to a legit company.
Philadelphian William DeVaughn paid fourteen hundred dollars for the chance to record Be Thankful for What You Got, a song he had written. With the backing of the excellent band MFSB, the Philadelphia International house band, he struck gold; the record, released on the Roxbury label (see below), went to number one R&B and # four Pop, going on to sell over two million copies, as well as spawning a host of cover versions.
BE THANKFUL FO WHAT YOU GOT * WILLIAM DeVAUGHN * ROXBURY 0236 * USA