Sharon Redd - Sharon Redd (1980)

Sharon Redd (October 19, 1945 - May 1, 1992) was an American singer from New York City. She was the half sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford.

Despite not being as recognized as other stars, Redd was able to establish herself as a Diva on the disco scene in the late 70s and early 80s.

After her third and final Prelude album, Redd slowed down and occasionally did more session work. 

She re-appeared briefly in 1991 for another solo single, but that would prove to be her final output of note. She succumbed to pneumonia complications on January 5, 1992.

Her self-titled debut balances post-disco club music with the extension of '70s soul that many referred to as urban during the '80s. 

The two lead cuts on the album, "You Got My Love" and "Can You Handle It," are easily the highlights -- a 12" featuring both songs hit number five on Billboard's club play chart. 

A young DJ and Prelude employee by the name of François Kevorkian leant his editing and mixing talents to those two songs (arguably the two greatest moments of Redd's career) and helped propel them to their high-chart placement. 

Redd proves that she's more than competent with ballads on "Leaving You Is Easier Said Than Done" and "You Stayed on My Mind," but it's on the two key tracks and the equally upbeat "Try My Love on for Size" (a surprising non-hit) where she truly shines.

Tracklist

A1.  You Got My Love - 5:52

A2.  Can You Handle It - 6:26

A3.  It's A Lie - 5:40

B1.  Try My Love On For Size - 5:06

B2.  Leaving You Is Easier Said Than Done - 3:51

B3.  Love Is Gonna Get Ya - 4:56

B4.  You Stayed On My Mind - 5:38

Companies, etc.

• Licensed From – CBS Records
• Produced For – Mainline Productions
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Prelude Records
• Copyright © – Prelude Records
• Made By – Shorewood Packaging Co. Ltd.
• Recorded At – Bias Studios
• Pressed By – CBS Pressing Plant, Aston Clinton
• Published By – Peterman & Co. Ltd.
• Published By – Rondor Music (London) Ltd.
• Published By – Redd-Siren Music

Credits 

• Backing Vocals [Background] – Bobby Thurston, Roland Clark, Sass
• Bass – James Brown, Jerry Wilder
• Coordinator [Album Coordinator] – S. Steve Harris
• Coordinator [Album Coordinator], Management, Directed By [Direction] – Ruth E. Carson
• Drums – Steve Walker
• Engineer – Bob Dawson
• Keyboards, Synthesizer – Al Johnson, Kevin Toney
• Lacquer Cut By – TimTom
• Lead Guitar – Rodney Brown
• Mixed By – Bob Dawson, Rodney Brown
• Percussion – Carl Lacey
• Photography By – Trudy Schlachter
• Producer – Willie Lester & Rodney Brown
• Production Manager – Patrick Cochrane
• Rhythm Guitar – Theodore "Sugarbear" Jones

Notes

Released: 1980 

Recorded at:  Bias Studios, Falls Church, VA.

Genre: Funk / Soul 

Style: Disco 

Length:  37:38

Label - Epic