Devotion, originally The Superbs, were a female group from New York. Formed in the 1960s, they are remembered for their 1970 hit "Dawning of Love".

Background They were signed with Colossus Records and released exclusively on Paul Kyser's Silver Dollar label.Billboard, June 19, 1971 – Page 51 Late News, Jamie/Guyden To Distribute Silver DollarBillboard, May 8, 1971 – Page 6 General News Record Firm Is Formed By Kyser

Their singles "Dawning of Love" and "So Glad You're Home" (1970) were written by Kyser and co-produced by him and Tom Vetri.45Cat – Devotion – Discography45Cat – The Devotions (New Jersey) – Discography "Dawning of Love" became a hit on the US R&B chart, getting to no. 49 in 1970.MusicVF.com – Songs written by Paul Kyser, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography

Career The Superbs An early line up of the group included former lead singer of The Teardrops, Rhonda Franklin, who joined the group some time around or prior to 1968. Franklin's group had recorded "Wait For Me" backed with "Birdies and Memories" which was on Gossip TKT-2121 in 1964.Shazam – Wait For Me, The TeardropsPopsike – The TEARDROPS – Wait For Me rare Philly SOUL '64 Gossip 45 Rhonda Franklin With Paul Kyser in his first time as a horns and strings arranger, The Superbs recorded "Love's Unpredictable" with Phillis Harris on lead vocals. Kyser co-produced it with Stan R. Krause. The song, backed with "Happiest Girl in the World", was released on Catamount 2122 in 1968.Soul Source – I'm A New Member, By Guest Paul Kyser February 11, 2009 Guest Paul Kyser Posted February 11, 2009Popsike – SUPERBS Love's Unpredictable Happiest Girl In The World CATAMOUNT 2122 45 MINT The next single credited to The Superbs was "The Dawning of Love" backed with "So Glad You're Home" on Symbol 8.Gripsweat – THE SUPERBS The Dawning Of Love SYMBOL NORTHERN SOUL USA 45

The group was photographed for a promotional picture. By the time they were photographed Rhonda Franklin had left the group. Pictured were Phillis Harris, Arnita (surname unknown) and Harris' sister.

Devotion "The Dawning of Love" was released a second time by Kyser in 1970 on Colossus C 126 and credited to Devotion.Billboard, October 24, 1970 – Page 51 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, 49 50 ............... 2 It became a hit and went to no. 49 on the Billboard chart,Billboard, October 31, 1970 – Page 42 Soul, Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY, For Week Ending 10/31/70Billboard, November 7, 1970 – Page 31 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY, For Week Ending 11/7/70 and no. 41 in the Cash Box chart.Cash Box, October 24, 1970 – Page 38 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B LocationsCash Box, October 31, 1970 – Page 37 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B Locations According to Kyser in the Music Executive Paul L. Kyser of Trumpet records Sit Down Documentary by Champagne Filmmaker, Kyser and co. went to Cleveland, Ohio and everything was going well, and the girls were set to appear at the Apollo Theater. Unfortunately, the group's lead singer had a medical issue and went to hospital. After that he got a replacement line up. The Devotion line up became Retta Young, Bertha and Madge Quince.Champagne Filmmaker channel – Music Executive PAUL L KYSER OF TRUMPET RECORDS SIT DOWN DOCUMENTARY 19:00 They did a show in Baltimore, Maryland. They did a prom there with The Moments. This was where Kyser introduced Al Goodman of The Moments to Henrietta Young.Champagne Filmmaker channel – Music Executive PAUL L KYSER OF TRUMPET RECORDS SIT DOWN DOCUMENTARY 20:00 Interestingly, Young, Bertha Addison, and Madge Quince are credited with composing "Stuck To You Like A Magnet" which was registered for copyright in 1968.Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 25, Part 5, Number I, Section I – January–June 1968 – Page 626 STUCK TO YOU LIKE A MAGNET

The first Devotions recording featuring Young was "The Saga of Will-E Jones" (1971), which was composed by Kyser and Vetri.Discogs – The Devotions (2) – The Saga Of Will-E Jones / Let's Join Our World They were listed in the Campus Attractions section in the March 27 issue of Billboard as an act available for a college date.Billboard, March 27, 1971 – Page 115 CAMPUS ATTRACTIONS, Popular Artists, Continued from page 110 Record World reported in the August 14, 1971 issue that Silver Dollar Records, having had local success with "Ain't it Good Enough" by New Sound Express Ltd. were getting ready to ship nationally the single by a dynamite female group, the Devotions. The single, "The Saga of Will-E Jones" was the first Jamie / Guyden release on the Silver Dollar label.Record World, August 14, 1971 – Page 68 New Terrain Rather Than Old Landmarks By LARRY COHEN

In the March 17, 1973 issue of Record World, Dede Dabney in her Soul Truth column had "So Glad You're Home" as one of Dede's Ditties to Watch.Record World, March 17, 1973 – Record World SOUL TRUTH By DEDE DABNEY

Note: "The Saga of Will-E Jones" 1971 release and info by Kyser suggests that Retta Young did not sing on earlier recordings such as "The Dawning of Love."

Later years Retta Young went solo and had a hit with "Sending Out An S.O.S.". The record would eventually peak at No. 88 in the U.S. on the Billboard R&B charts and No. 28 in the U.K.MusicVF.com – Sending Out an S.O.S. By: Retta Young

Discography + Singles (1968) Act Release Catalogue Year Format NotesThe Superbs "Love's Unpredictable" / "Happiest Girl In The World" Catamount 2122 1968 7" single

+ Singles (1970s to 2000s) Act Title Release info Year Format Notes The Superbs "The Dawning Of Love" / "So Glad You're Home" Symbol Records SYMBOL 8 1969 7" single 45Cat – The Superbs (Devotion) – Discography The Devotions "So Glad You're Home" / "The Dawning Of Love" J City JC-325 1970 Devotion "Dawning of Love" / "So Glad You're Home" Polydor Records 2058 071 UK release Devotion Colossus Records The Devotions "The Saga Of Will-E Jones" / "Let's Join Our World Together" Silver Dollar SD-154 1971 Retta Young and the Devotions "So Glad You're Home" / "The Dawning of Love" Essential Media Group 2014 CD-R + Digital 45

+ Albums Title Release info Year Format Notes Retta Young and the Devotions Wanderik Records 1977 LP Retta Young and the Devotions 2011 MP3 album Retta Young and the Devotions (digitally remastered) Essential Media Group 2013 CD-R

References