"City" is a 1976 single for Chicago band Weapons of Peace. It became a chart hit for the group early the following year.
Background City is a single from the self-titled album by the group Weapons of Peace.Popsike – Weapons of Peace – Peace Is Our Weapon Vinyl LP US Press Backed with "Both Same (As the Other)", it was released in late 1976 on Playboy P 6093.Breakwell Records - WEAPONS OF PEACE / CITY b/w BOTH SAME (AS THE OTHER (45's (P 6093)
"City" was composed by C. Franklin (Charles Franklin), R. Hardy (Andrew Hardy), and F. Henderson Jr. (Finis Henderson, Jr.).Billboard, December 11, 1976 - Page 60 Billboard's Top Single Picks, Soul, recommended, WEAPONS OF PEACE -City 13:09)Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 30, Part 5, Number 1, Section 2, January - June 1976 - Page 2398 EU68968.(Got to get out of the city. w Charles Franklin, w & m Finis Henderson, Jr., m Andrew Hardy. 2 p. Add. ti: (Gotta get out of the city. © Charles Franklin: 25Jun76; EU685968.
Mark Davis was the producer for the single.Billboard, December 11, 1976 - Page 60 Billboard's Top Single Picks, Soul, recommended, WEAPONS OF PEACE -City 13:09)
It was reported by Cash Box in the magazine's 27 November issue that Playboy recording act Weapons of Peace would be performing at the McCormick Inn in Chicago for the annual party of black MacDonalds franchise owners. The single by the group called "City" was to be released in two weeks time.Cash Box, November 27, 1976 - Page 42 CASH BOX R&B Reflections ’N’ Black
According to the 4 December 1976 issue of Billboard, Weapons of Peace, a new group on the Playboy label had released their debut single from their album which was at the time referred to as Peace is Our Weapon, Love is Our Song.Billboard, December 4, 1976 - Page 27 Soul Sauce *Continued from page 26
Reception The single was in the recommended soul list of Billboard Top Single Picks for the week of 11 December 1976.Billboard, December 11, 1976 - Page 60 Billboard's Top Single Picks, Soul, recommended, WEAPONS OF PEACE -City 13:09)
The single was reviewed in the 25 December issue of Cash Box where it was one of the Picks of the Week. The reviewer began with "Hard rocking funk pursues the lead vocalist as he complains that the pressures of the city are “getting him down.”" The arrangement being built around the bassline crystal clarity of the bass was mentioned as well. The review was finished off with the reviewer saying that it was a good fusion of rock and heavier funk sounds, and the recommendation that the song was for r&b programming.Cash Box, December 25, 1976 - Page 40 SINGLESREVIEWS, picks of the week, WEAPONS OF PEACE (Playboy 6093) City
Airplay It was reported in the 10 December issue of the Gavin Report, the single was a regional highlight at WCKO-FM in Fort Lauderdale and KGRI-FM in Henderson.The Gavin Report, # 1129, December 1976 - -4- (12/10/76), Black Radio, Regional Highlights It was also a new add at KSMB in Lafayette,The Gavin Report, # 1129, December 1976 - -9- (12/10/76), New Adds and on the week of 17 December, a regional highlight at KRE in Berkley and KGRI-FM in Henderson.The Gavin Report, # 1129, December 1976 - -4- (12/17/76), Black Radio, Regional Hilights
On the week of 18 December, Cash Box recorded the single's addition to the r&b playlist of WCKO in Fort Lauderdale.Cash Box, December 18, 1976 - Page 40 ADDITIONS TO R&B PLAYLISTS, WCKO — FT. LAUDERDALE — Joe Fisher
According to the 25 December issue of Billboard, the single was getting play attention at WBLS in New York for the week of 25 December.Billboard, December 25, 1976 - Page 24 Billboard Singles Radio Action, Northeast Region, WBLS -New York Also that week, Cash Box recorded the single's addition to the r&b playlists of WBLS (Frankie Crocker's programming), XEAZ in San Diego and WOL in Washington D.C..Cash Box, December 25, 1976 - Page 54 ADDITIONS TO R&B PLAYLISTS, WBLS — NEW YORK — Frankie Crocker; XEAZ — SAN DIEGO — Bruce Ley; WOL — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cortez Thompson
Charts "City" debuted at no. 81 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for the week of 8 January, 1977.Billboard, January 8, 1977 - Page 28 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 1/8/77, This Week 81, NEW ENTRY It peaked at no. 78 the following week.Billboard, January 15, 1977 - Page 30 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 1/15/77, This Week 78, Last Week 81, Weeks on Chart 2MusicVF.com - City By Weapons of Peace Having spent five weeks in the chart, its last entry was no. 94 on 5 February.Billboard, February 5, 1977 - Page 46 Billboard Hot Soul Singles Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 2/5/77, This Week 94, Last Week 78, Weeks on Chart 5
Billboard, February 12, 1977 - Page 52 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 2/12/77
City made its debut at no. 73 in the Record World R&B Singles chart the week of 29 January 1977.Record World, January 29, 1977 - Page 80 THE R&B SINGLES CHART JANUARY 29, 1977, JAN. 29 73, JAN. 22 - It held that position for another week.Record World, February 5, 1977 - Page 68 THE R&B SINGLES CHART
References
External links Discogs - Weapons of Peace - City menchitty11 channel, Jan 5, 2016 - Weapons Of Peace - City (1977) (audio)