When Will I See You Again: Best of

The Three Degrees | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 4, 1996)
• Original Release Date: June 4, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002ADL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,842 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 collection from the '70s Soul trio. Although they were formed in the early '60s, this Philadelphia-based act didn't make a real dent in the charts until the Philly Soul era in the mid '70s and the Disco-era during the latter part of that decade. The Three Degrees may have always been a trio (as their name implies) but over the years, 12 female vocalists have been members of act. 18 tracks including 'When Will I See You Again', 'Woman In Love', 'Take Good Care Of Yourself' and many more. Sony/BMG. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The brief reign of the Three Degrees as disco queens, June 15, 2003

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: When Will I See You Again: Best of (Audio CD)

The Three Degrees were originally a Sixties Girl Group out of Philadelphia, discovered by producer/songwriter Richard Brrett, who also had Little Anthony & the Imperals, the Chantels, and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers in his stable. However, all of the songs on "The Best of the Three Degrees: When Will I See You Again" are taken from the Seventies, when the group was signed to Philadelphia International Records and their albums were being produced by Gamble & Huff. At that point the Three Degrees consisted of Valerie Holiday, Sheila Ferguson, and the only remaining original member Fayette Pickney and the R&B Girl Group was now doing lush disco songs starting with their first hit for their new label, "Dirty Ol' Man." Then they got to sing with MFSB on "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" the new theme song for television's "Soul Train," which went #1 on the Pop Charts in 1974. That same summer the Three Degrees hit the charts with their mega-hit, "When Will I See You Again," which made it to #2 and became their signature song (and therefore the title for this hits collection). The group's other charting songs were "Love is the Message," "I Didn't Know" and "Take Good Care of Yourself," but they were minor efforts compared to "When Will I See You Again." But when the disco bubble popped the Three Degrees went another evolution, changing members and doing a lot of performing and recording in the U.K., where they had always enjoyed more popularity (they played at Prince Charles's 30th birthday party and were invited to his wedding). I was trying to track down the group's Girl Group songs, so this album was not what I was looking for, but in terms of the disco sound these songs have a certain touch of elegance (I wanted to say the Three Degrees have a smoother sound than a lot of their disco contemporaries, but that don't sound classy enough). As is often the case with groups like this, the hits are not necessarily the best of the lot and I would declare a preference for "Can't You See What You're Doing to Me," "I Live Being a Woman," "A Woman Needs a Good Man," and "A Year of Decision" as being the songs worth discovering amongst these 20 tracks.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The TRUTH about The Three Degrees, July 21, 2003

By 

fussyfreddy (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Will I See You Again: Best of (Audio CD)

This venerable, talented trio has never been fully captured on CD. This one is your best bet.

The problem? These girls had two career phases, utterly irreconcilable to most of their fans. Phase one is The Three Degrees most of us know and love: the Philly International years. They were to this label what The Superemes were to Motown, but their monster hits "When Will I See You Again" (1973), "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," (1974) and their grace notes on Tom Moulton's brilliant 1977 remix of "Love Is The Message" did not commercially sustain.

Still, every album they cut on this label is worthwhile. Even minor R&B hits like "Take Good Care Of Yourself" (1975) still send a chill up the spine with their corny but wistful power.

When the hits dried up, the girls teamed up with Giorgio Moroder, the Italo-German wunderkind who made Donna Summer. Most fans of the 3D's early years HATE these records. I like one of them.

The earlier records are better music overall, but the first album cut they with Giorgio ("New Dimensions," 1978) has a thrilling side-one suite. Think of "Givin Up/Givin In," "Lookin' For Love," and "Falling in Love Again" as the Three Degrees five years later...no longer spring chickens, angry with the downside of the love they used to coo about, but not quite through with it.

Side two is notable for "The Runner," a big disco hit in early 1979. Too bad the second album they cut with Moroder, "3D" (1980) is mostly junk, in the same Eurodisco vein.

An ideal compilation would include most of "New Dimensions," plus one or two sweet singles these girls cut before they hit big, including their 1970 remake of The Chantals' ballad "Maybe."

Alas, soul sisters rarely get their due...

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I found it at last!, March 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: When Will I See You Again: Best of (Audio CD)

I have found the song, "When Will I See You Again," AT LAST! There are few songs that tug at your heartstrings and evoke such powerful emotions in a person the way that song does! I suppose I feel such emotion over this song because I was born in 1970, and that song reminds me of my childhood every time I hear it. It's funny how we associate certain songs with meaningful times in our lives. For the longest, I didn't know who sang the song, and I was even unsure as to the correct title. But recently after listening to an oldies radio station here in Houston play the song, the DJ finally announced the correct song title and artist. Needless to say, I was sooooo excited! I got on Amazon as soon as I got home, and was thrilled to find that they had it in stock! Thanks Amazon! You made my day! =o)