Heaven & Earth

I Can't Seem To Forget You


This is an example of what a synth-bass can sound like when done properly. I Can't Seem To Forget makes you want to rock from side-to-side, o.k. it does lose the groove a little after the intro., but that doesn't matter 'cus it keep returning for the chorus - wonderful. Electronic bass was also used by Roy Ayers to good effect about this same time with Sylvia Striplin and Eighties Ladies and hopefully I'll come to that later.

Heaven & Earth came out of the middle-class South Shore community on the south side of Chicago in 1974. Brothers Dwight & James Dukes, Keith Steward and Michael Brown. The group were discovered by the manager Lil Schneider who brought them to Clarence Johnson. Johnson & his partner Lucky Cordel (former station manager at WVON) were impressed enough to sign them to the newly formed G.E.C. Label.

The first single I Can't Forget About You was a top ten hit in Chicago in March 1976. Johnson reported that they had sold about 50,000 copies local but 20th. Century didn't promote it elsewhere so after they asked for a release from that contract.

In 1978 Johnson got a better deal with Mercury Records for two albums with the Group with a much changed and not for the better line-up. He had withdrawn from G.E.C. and formed his own production group Starvue. Mercury gave the group two chart singles but were not impressed with the sales and dropped them.

Heaven & Earth Discography (Albums)

I Can't Seem To Forget You - GEC 1000 (1975)
Heaven And Earth - Mercury (1978)
Fantasy - Mercury (1979)
That's Love - TEC (1980)

Photo: Old Chess building with WVON add on billboard