Stargard (group)

Stargard was an American R&B, funk and soul girl group.[1]

Stargard
OriginUnited States
GenresFunk, disco, R&B, soul
Years active1976–1983
LabelsMCA Records
Warner Bros. Records
Past membersRochelle Runnells (deceased)
Debra Anderson
Janice Williams

Overview

At the group's inception Stargard's members were Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson and Janice Williams. The vocal trio issued the "Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" on the soundtrack of the 1977 feature film Which Way Is Up?. The Norman Whitfield penned track also came upon Stargard's self-titled debut album released in 1978 on MCA Records.[2] The album rose to numbers 12 & 26 upon the Top R&B Albums and Billboard 200 charts respectively.[3][4] As a single "Which Way Is Up" rose to numbers 1, 12 & 21 upon the Billboard Hot R&B Songs, Dance Club Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. "Which Way Is Up" also reached No. 19 on the UK Singles chart.[5][6][7][8]

During 1978 Stargard released their sophomore album entitled What You Waitin' For.[9] The LP's title track reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[10] The group then switched to Warner Bros. Records where in 1979 their third LP The Changing of the Gard was issued. The album was co-produced by Verdine White of Earth, Wind, & Fire.[11] As a single "Wear It Out" rose to no. 4 upon the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[12] Stargard also lent background vocals to Junior Walker's 1979 album Back Street Boogie.[1]

Anderson went on to leave Stargard shortly after The Changing of the Gard's issue. With now only Williams and Runnells in tow the duo released their Whitfield produced fourth album entitled Back 2 Back in 1980.[1] They thereafter returned to MCA upon which their fifth LP Nine Lives was issued in 1982.[1]

Rochelle Runnells passed away in 2012, her cause of death isn’t public.

Media appearances

Stargard appeared as 'the Diamonds' in the 1978 feature film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.[13]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
US
[14]		 US
R&B
[15]		 CAN
[16]
1978 Stargard 26 12 25 MCA
What You Waitin' For — 50 —
1979 The Changing of the Gard — 57 — Warner Bros.
1981 Back 2 Back 186 — —
1982 Nine Lives — — — MCA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[17]		 US R&B
[18]		 US
Dan
[19]		 AUS
[20]		 CAN
[16]		 NLD
[21]		 NZ
[22]		 UK
[23]
1977 "Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" 21 1 12 79 24 20 7 19 Stargard
1978 "Disco Rufus" 88 — — — — — — —
"Love Is So Easy" — 75 — — — — — 45
"What You Waitin' For" — 4 — — — — — 39 What You Waitin' For
"Sensuous Woman" — 81 — — — — — —
1979 "Wear It Out" — 43 4 — — — — — The Changing of the Gard
"Runnin' from the Law" — 61 — — — — — —
1981 "High on the Boogie" — 70 59 — — — — — Back 2 Back
"Back to the Funk" — — — — — — — —
1982 "True Love" — — — — — — — — Nine Lives
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References
  1. Henderson, Alex. "Artist Biography". AllMusic.
  2. Stargard: Stargard (Liner notes and text). MCA Records. 1978.
  3. "Stargard: Stargard (Billboard 200)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  4. "Stargard: Stargard (Top R&B Albums)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  5. "Stargard: UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  6. "Stargard: Theme Song From "Which Way Is Up" (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018.
  7. "Stargard: Theme Song From "Which Way Is Up" (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  8. "Stargard: Theme Song From "Which Way Is Up" (Hot 100)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  9. Stargard: What You Waitin' For (Liner notes and text). MCA Records. 1978.
  10. "Stargard: What You Waiting For (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com.
  11. Stargard: The Changing of the Gard (Liner notes and text). Warner Bros. Records. 1979.
  12. "Stargard: Wear It Out (Dance Club Songs)". billboard.com.
  13. "Stargard". IMDB.com.
  14. "Stargard: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018.
  15. "Stargard: Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  16. "Stargard: CAN Charts". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  17. "Stargard: Hot 100". Billboard.com.
  18. "Stargard: Hot R&B". Billboard.com.
  19. "Stargard: Hot Dance Club Play". Billboard.com.
  20. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  21. "NLD Charts > Stargard". MegaCharts. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  22. "NZ Charts > Stargard". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  23. "Stargard: UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.