The Weather Girls are an American female duo whose best-known line-up comprised Martha Wash and Izora Armstead. Formed in 1976 in San Francisco, California, Wash and Armstead began their musical careers as Two Tons O' Fun, the female backup duo for disco singer Sylvester. After several years of singing background for Sylvester, the duo was signed in 1979 to Fantasy Records as Two Tons O' Fun. The duo changed their name to The Weather Girls and were launched into somewhat more mainstream recognition following the release of the single, "It's Raining Men" (1982), which became their first number-one song on the US Dance Chart and their biggest hit. Despite having several hit songs on the Dance Chart as Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls, the duo never achieved a top 40 hit on the main US Hot 100 and ultimately disbanded in 1988 after the release of their self-titled fifth album The Weather Girls.
The Weather Girls | |
|---|---|
 Martha Wash (left) and Izora Armstead c. 1980 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Two Tons O' Fun The Two Tons |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1976–1988, 1991–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | theweathergirlsmusic |
In 1991, Armstead reformed the duo with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes. Over the course of a decade, the Armstead and Rhodes released three albums: Double Tons of Fun (1993), Think Big!, and Puttin' On the Hits (1999). In 2004, Armstead died due to heart failure and was replaced with singer Ingrid Arthur in 2005. Following the release of two albums Totally Wild! (2005) and The Woman I Am (2009), Arthur left the group and was replaced with singer Dorrey Lin Lyles in 2012.
As the Weather Girls with Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, the duo received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1983.[4]
History
edit1970–1975: Formation and early years
editIzora Rhodes and Martha Wash met at a young age.[5] Wash attended Church of God in Christ, which was an alley away from the Baptist church Rhodes was attending.[5] Rhodes was the lead vocalist and pianist of the San Francisco Inspirational Choir.[5] Wash and Rhodes eventually landed in a gospel group called N.O.W. (News of the World).[5][6] While performing part-time in the group, Wash worked as a secretary for UC Hospital while Rhodes worked as a bartender and a nurse assistant.[5] Rhodes also worked as a piano and vocal teacher.[5]
1976–1979: Sylvester and the Two Tons o Fun
editIn February 1976, Wash auditioned as a backup singer before American singer-songwriter Sylvester and his manager Brent Thomson. Impressed with her vocal performance, Sylvester inquired if she had another large black friend who could sing, after which she introduced him to Izora Rhodes. Although he referred to them simply as "the girls", Wash and Rhodes formed a musical duo called Two Tons O' Fun.[7][8] Two Tons O' Fun debuted as Sylvester's backing vocalists on his self-titled third album Sylvester, released in 1977. The duo sang backup vocals on the album's singles "Down, Down, Down" and "Over and Over"; the former charted at number eighteen on the Billboard Dance chart.[9]
In 1978, Sylvester released his fourth album Step II, in which The Two Tons also contributed background vocals throughout the album. They performed backing vocals on the singles "Dance (Disco Heat)" and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" which both peaked at number one on Billboard's Dance chart.[9] In 1979, the duo secured their own record deal with Fantasy Records. That same year, Two Tons O' Fun sang background on Sylvester's live album Living Proof, one of their final performances together. As they began to work on their own album, the duo appeared in fewer shows with Sylvester.
1980–1981: Debut album and Backatcha
editOn January 24, 1980, the duo released their debut self-titled album Two Tons o' Fun. The album spawned two top-five dance singles: "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" and "I Got the Feeling".[10] Shortly after the release of the album, they changed their name to The Two Tons after being informed that an Oklahoma gospel act had already registered the group name "Two Tons o Fun" with ASCAP since 1958.[5] Their second album Backatcha was released later that year. The album spawned a single "I Depend On You" that peaked at number seventy-two on the Dance chart.[10] The follow-up single "Never Like This" peaked at number fifty-five on the R&B chart.
1982–1988: The Weather Girls and breakthrough
editIn September 1982, the duo released their single "It's Raining Men", and changed their duo title to The Weather Girls, a name chosen as a pun on the song's subject. The song became their biggest hit to date, peaking at number one on the Dance chart and number forty-six on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.[11] The song also peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart,[12] and became certified Silver-status for sales exceeding 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[13] "It's Raining Men" received a nomination at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards (1983) for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. On January 22, 1983, they released their third album Success.[11] Despite the overall success of the album's lead single, the album experienced mild success.[14] The album's title-track "Success" was released as the second single and peaked at number eighty-nine on the R&B chart.[11] Two additional singles, "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas)", were also released but failed to chart.
In 1984, The Weather Girls performed backing vocals on the million-selling single "Centipede" by Rebbie Jackson.[15] The song was written, arranged, and produced by Michael Jackson, who also sang background vocals on the song.[15] It reached number 4 on the Black Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. In 1985, The Weather Girls released their fourth album Big Girls Don't Cry. The album's singles "Well-A-Wiggy" and "No One Can Love You More Than Me" experienced moderate success and had poor promotion. In 1988, The Weather Girls released their self-titled fifth album The Weather Girls, party produced by Full Force and Reggie Lucas, which was ultimately seen as a commercial failure by their record label. Shortly after the album, The Weather Girls disbanded and Wash took up a solo career and also began working as a session vocalist.[16]
1991–2003: Reformation
editAfter a three-year hiatus and Wash pursuing her solo career, Armstead reformed The Weather Girls with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes and relocated to Germany in 1991. Their first album together Double Tons of Fun was released in 1993. The album's lead single "Can You Feel It" peaked at number two on Billboard's Dance chart. The song also peaked at number 75 on Germany's music chart, their second single to enter that chart since "It's Raining Men". While touring the club circuit, the album's third single "We Shall All Be Free" peaked at number 80 on Germany's music chart. Their follow-up album Think Big! was released in December 1995. The album saw Armstead's contribution as a songwriter and penning several songs, including the album's third single "The Sound of Sex (Ooh Gitchie O-La-La-Ay)", which was written with her daughter. The album also contained a cover version of Sylvester's 1979 disco hit "Stars", recorded as a duet with Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville.
In 1999, The Weather Girls released their eighth studio album Puttin' On The Hits, which contained a collection of covered disco songs. The non-album track "Big Brown Girl" was released as a single in 1999. In 2002, they joined the Disco Brothers for participation in the German National Final for the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Get Up". In the end, the group only managed a 13th place out of 15.
2004–2012: Lineup change
editOn September 16, 2004, Izora Armstead died of heart failure at age 62. Prior to Armstead's passing, new member Ingrid Arthur joined The Weather Girls in 2004. Following Armstead's passing, they released the album Totally Wild. It scored an underground club hit with the single "Wild Thang" in 2004. In 2006, Joan Faulkner began performing with Rhodes and often substituting for Arthur. In 2008, the Weather Girls released a single "Break You", which topped the Dance chart.[11] In 2009, the duo released a new studio album titled The Woman I Am. In 2012, The Weather Girls released "It's Raining Men 2K12", a newly recorded version of their 1982 hit, produced by Sebo Reed.[17] In the same year, Arthur departed from The Weather Girls to focus on her solo career. Dorrey Lin Lyles, a singer who had worked with the duo in the past, was added to the duo in mid-2012.
2013–present: Recent activity
editThe Weather Girls began touring internationally in 2013. In 2018, they released a new single "We Need Love", produced by Torsten Abrolat, Terri B! and featuring, Jason Anousheh.[18]
Legacy
editWidely associated with their biggest song "It's Raining Men", VH1 ranked the song at thirty-five on their list of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000,[19] and also at thirty-five in their 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s in 2009.[20] Paste Magazine ranked the song twelve in their list of The 60 Best Dancefloor Classics in February 2017.[21]
"It's Raining Men" has often been perceived as a gay anthem.[22] A campaign in Facebook was launched on January 19, 2014, to get the song to UK number one in response to a UKIP councillor blaming recent UK floods and adverse weather on divine retribution for the British government's introduction of gay marriage.[23] The campaign was reported widely and The Weather Girls' version reached number 21 on the first day of the chart week.[24] The song re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2014 at number 31.[25] In 2017, Rolling Stone included the song on their 25 Essential LGBTQ Pride Songs list.[26] In 2018, Billboard ranked the song at number forty-seven on their The 50 Best Gay Anthems Of All Time list.[27] The Gay UK ranked the song at number two on their Top 40 Gay Anthems for Pride list.[28]
To date, The Weather Girls have accumulated an overall total of four number-one dance singles.[11] Dynelle Rhodes holds the rights to the Weather Girls name and performs across Europe.
Members
edit
Current membersedit
Touring membersedit
|
Former membersedit
|
Faulkner often substitutes for and performs as the second member.
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [29] |
US R&B [29] | |||
| Two Tons o' Fun | 91 | 28 | ||
| Backatcha |
|
— | — | |
| Success | — | — | ||
| Big Girls Don't Cry |
|
— | — | |
| Weather Girls |
|
— | — | |
| Double Tons of Fun |
|
— | — | |
| Think Big! |
|
— | — | |
| Puttin' on the Hits |
|
— | — | |
| Totally Wild |
|
— | — | |
| The Woman I Am |
|
— | — | |
| Carry On: The Deluxe Collection 1982–1992 |
|
— | — | |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [30] |
US Dance [30] |
US R&B [30] |
AUS [31] |
GER [32] |
NL [33] |
NOR [34] |
NZ [35] |
SWI [36] |
UK [37] | ||||||||
| "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" | 1980 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Two Tons o' Fun | |||||
| "I Got the Feeling" | — | 2 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Just Us" | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Taking Away Your Space" | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "I Depend on You" | 1981 | — | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Backatcha | |||||
| "Never Like This" | — | — | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "It's Raining Men" | 1982 | 46 | 1 | 34 | 16 | 43 | 46 | 8 | 13 | 95 | 2 | Success | |||||
| "Success" | 1983 | — | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 95 | ||||||
| "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Well-a-Wiggy" | 1985 | — | — | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Big Girls Don't Cry | |||||
| "No One Can Love You More Than Me" | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Big Girls Don't Cry" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Love You Like a Train" | 1988 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Weather Girls | |||||
| "Land of the Believer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Can You Feel It" | 1993 | — | 2 | — | — | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | Double Tons of Fun | |||||
| "We're Gonna Party" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "We Shall All Be Free" | 1994 | — | — | — | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Oh, What a Night" | 1995 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Think Big! | |||||
| "Star" (featuring Jimmy Somerville) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "The Sound of Sex (Ooh Gitchie O-La-La-Ay)" | 1996 | — | — | — | — | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Don't Look Any Further" (with Dennis Edwards) |
1998 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Puttin' On The Hits | |||||
| "I'm So Excited" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Get Up" (Disco Brothers featuring The Weather Girls) |
2002 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||
| "Wild Thang" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Totally Wild | |||||
| "Break You" (Ralph Falcon featuring The Weather Girls) |
2008 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||
| "It's Raining Men 2K12" (Sebo Reed featuring The Weather Girls) |
2012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "We Need Love" (featuring Jason Anousheh) |
2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Cheek to Cheek" | 2019 | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Stand Up" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Perrone, Pierre (September 27, 2004). "Izora Rhodes-Armstead". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-20. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- ^ Sisario, Ben (September 28, 2004). "Izora Armstead, a Singer in the Weather Girls Duo, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "The Weather Girls - Big Girls Don't Cry". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- ^ Weather Girls | Artist. Grammy Awards. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ a b c d e f g Gamson, Joshua (March 10, 2005). The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, the Music, the Seventies in San Francisco. Macmillan. ISBN 9780805072501 – via Google Books.
- ^ Martha Wash Cover Story. America's AIDS Magazine. Retrieved on January 28, 2019
- ^ Gamson 2005, pp. 115–118.
- ^ Davis, Sharon (2015). Mighty Real: Sharon Davis Remembers Sylvester. New Romney: Bank House Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-0-9573058-9-2.
- ^ a b Sylvester | Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on February 1, 2019
- ^ a b Two Tons of Fun | Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on February 1, 2019
- ^ a b c d e The Weather Girls | Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on February 1, 2019
- ^ Weather Girls | full Official Charty History | Official Charts Company. Official Charts. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ a b Weather Girls - "It's Raining Men". BPI. Retrieved on June 21, 2021
- ^ Success - The Weather Girls (All Music). AllMusic. Retrieved on March 29, 2019
- ^ a b Collier, Aldore (May 27, 1985). "Rebbie, oldest sister, latest bloomer, in the Jackson family". Jet. 68 (11). Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
- ^ The Weather Girls | Biography & History | AllMusic. AllMusic. Retrieved on March 30, 2019
- ^ It's Raining Men 2K12 (Sebo Reed Meets Weather Girls) [Remixes] - EP by Sebo Reed & The Weather Girls on Apple Music. iTunes. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ We Need Love (Remixes) by Terri B! & The Weather Girls on Apple Music. iTunes. Retrieved on March 30, 2019
- ^ "Rock on the Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Dance Songs". Rock on the Net. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ Ali, Rahsheeda (May 2, 2013). "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s". VH1. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "The 60 Best Dancefloor Classics". pastemagazine.com. 27 February 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ "The pink hit parade: Sing if you're glad to be gay". The Independent. London. November 1, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ^ It's Raining Men set to make a splash in Top 40 on this week's Officia. Official Charts. Retrieved on February 17, 2019
- ^ Morse, Felicity (January 21, 2014). "Facebook campaign launched to get 'It's Raining Men' to number 1 after Ukip councillor blames floods on gay marriage". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-20. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
- ^ "NEWS: It's Raining Men Enters Into Official UK Single's Chart". Thegayuk.com. February 2, 2014. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ 25 Essential LGBTQ Pride Songs. Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ 50 Top LGBTQ Anthems: Critic's Picks (Updated 2018). Billboard. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ 40 top gay anthems for Pride. The Gay UK. Retrieved on February 5, 2019
- ^ a b
- Two Tons o Fun: Two Tons o Fun Billboard Chart History
- The Weather Girls: The Weather Girls Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on February 10, 2019
- ^ a b c "The Weather Girls". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 334. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie The Weather Girls". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).[dead link]
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie The Weather Girls". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography The Weather Girls". Norwegian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography The Weather Girls". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie The Weather Girls". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- ^ "UK Charts > The Weather Girls". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Weather Girls)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 22, 2022.