Armed And Extremely Dangerous
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Album Summary
Armed And Extremely Dangerous arrived in 1973 on Philadelphia's own Philly Groove Records Incorporated, bringing the world a full introduction to First Choice — a vocal group whose lineup featured the powerhouse talents of Rochelle Fleming, Wardell Piper, Joyce Jones, Ursula Herring, Annette Hardeman, Debbie Martin, and Mulaney Star. Rooted deep in the fertile soul garden of Philadelphia, the album captured the group at a moment when the City of Brotherly Love was quietly becoming the center of the universe for lush, rhythm-driven Black music. Philly Groove, a label with its ear pressed firmly to the street, gave First Choice the platform to deliver ten tracks of unapologetic soul and early disco shimmer that would define the group's identity and set the tone for everything that followed.
Reception
- The title track 'Armed And Extremely Dangerous' broke through as a genuine hit, earning First Choice significant attention on the soul and R&B charts and helping establish Philly Groove as a label to be reckoned with.
- The album was embraced by soul and funk audiences across the United States, with First Choice gaining a devoted following on the strength of their tight harmonies and the undeniable energy of tracks like 'Smarty Pants'.
- Critical appreciation for the album has grown considerably over the decades, with retrospective listeners and collectors recognizing it as an important early document of the Philadelphia soul and proto-disco sound.
Significance
- Armed And Extremely Dangerous stands as a foundational release in the Philadelphia soul tradition, helping to bridge the gap between classic 1960s soul vocal group music and the emerging disco and dance sounds that would dominate the latter half of the 1970s.
- First Choice — an all-woman vocal group operating with strength and attitude — brought a distinct feminine voice to a Philadelphia scene often dominated by male acts, and this album gave them a showcase that proved women could lead the funk and soul conversation with just as much fire.
- The album's title track became one of the defining anthems of the early Philly dance scene, and the record as a whole helped cement Philly Groove Records Incorporated as a legitimate home for bold, soulful Black music coming out of Philadelphia.
Samples
- "Armed And Extremely Dangerous" — one of the most recognized samples in dance music history, interpolated and sampled across numerous house, hip-hop, and electronic productions over the decades.
- "Smarty Pants" — sampled by numerous hip-hop and R&B producers, with the track's infectious groove making it a recurring source material in the crate-digging community.
- "Newsy Neighbors" — sampled and borrowed from across multiple genres, contributing to First Choice's reputation as essential source material for producers seeking authentic Philly soul flavor.
Tracklist
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A1 Smarty Pants 113
2:38
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A2 Runnin' Out Of Fools 120
3:32
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A3 A Boy Named Junior 108
3:41
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A4 Love And Happiness 105
6:57
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A5 Wake Up To Me 115
3:45
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B1 Newsy Neighbors 127
5:57
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B2 Armed And Extremely Dangerous 123
2:48
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B3 This Little Woman 130
3:50
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B4 This Is The House 129
2:57
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B5 One Step Away 131
3:10
Artist Details
First Choice was a Philadelphia-based female vocal group who brought undeniable heat to the soul and disco scene through their association with Philly Groove Records Incorporated. The group featured a rotating constellation of talented women — including Rochelle Fleming, Wardell Piper, Joyce Jones, Ursula Herring, Annette Hardeman, Debbie Martin, and Mulaney Star — whose voices carried the unmistakable warmth and sophistication that the City of Brotherly Love was known for. Rooted in the rich soul tradition and riding the rising wave of disco, First Choice carved out their place in the American music landscape with a sound as smooth as Saturday night and as soulful as Sunday morning.
