White Witch (album)

White Witch
Studio album by
Released1977
GenreDisco
Length32:56
LabelBuddah
ProducerMichael Zager, Andrea True, Elliot Apter, Mark Milchman
Andrea True Connection chronology
More, More, More
(1976)
White Witch
(1977)
War Machine
(1980)

White Witch is the second studio album by the group Andrea True Connection, released in 1977 by Buddah Records.[1] The album spawned two moderate hit singles: "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" and "What's Your Name, What's Your Number". White Witch wasn't a commercial success and failed to enter any sales charts. It was the last album released by the group, and the vocalist Andrea True would later release only one solo album in 1980.

Background and production

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After the success of her first album and the gold-certified single "More, More, More",[2] the band began to prepare for their second release. The album production included studio musicians with a new band assembled for the tour, which included future Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick. The material was co-produced by the disco pioneers Michael Zager and Jerry Love.[3]

Singles

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The first single from the album was "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing", released in early 1977, which became True's second biggest hit, reaching #27 on Billboard's pop chart, and #4 on the club chart.[4] It also peaked at #89 on the Canadian singles chart.[5] "What's Your Name, What's Your Number" was released as the second and last single of the album (and also of the group) in late 1977. It reached #56 on the US pop chart, #9 on the club chart,[4] and also #34 in the UK.[6][7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]

In a 1978 review, Billboard referred to the album as "a mixed bag", describing most of the material as "pop-flavored, curiously carrying a late '60s feel", yet noting that the "[s]ound is perky, with useful keyboards, guitar and percussion work behind True's idiosyncratic vocals."[9] In a retrospective mixed review, Alex Henderson from AllMusic wrote that, "while White Witch isn't a bad album, it falls short of the excellence [of] her first album, More, More, More." He also stated that there are a few gems in the album, "including the Michael Zager-produced "What's Your Name, What's Your Number" and the exuberant, Gregg Diamond-produced "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" – both of which are exercises in unapologetically campy fun." He concluded that the "LP is strictly for diehard disco collectors."[8]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What's Your Name, What's Your Number"Roger Cook, Bobby Woods6:36
2."You Make Love Worthwhile"Robert Brown, Doug Cosman4:33
3."Life Is What You Make It"Alvin Fields, Michael Zager3:21
4."It's All Up to You"Alvin Fields, Michael Zager3:04
Total length:17:34
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."N.Y., You Got Me Dancing"Gregg Diamond6:04
6."White Witch"Val Burke, Andrea True3:18
7."Sally Can't Dance"Lou Reed3:06
Total length:12:28

References

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  1. ^ Perrone, Pierre (November 26, 2011). "Andrea True". Obituaries. The Independent. p. 50.
  2. ^ "RIAA Gold Record Winners". Billboard. Vol. 88, no. 42. Nielsen Business Media. October 16, 1976. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 5, 2020 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Paoletta, Michael (January 16, 1999). "True Fans Can Get 'More, More, More' As Disco Queen Returns". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 3. Nielsen Business Media. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 5, 2020 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b "Andrea True - Awards : Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "RPM 100 Top Singles (51-100)". RPM. Vol. 27, no. 1. April 2, 1977. p. 36. Retrieved July 4, 2016 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 568. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Alex Henderson. "The Andrea True Connection - White Witch". AllMusic. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  9. ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. June 24, 1978. p. 104. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via World Radio History.
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