Over the course of just four albums released between 1977 and 1982, Delegation established a reputation and a following that continues to this very day based on the group's sleek brand of soulful, dance-infused R&B.  The trio, still active today as led by founding member Ricky Bailey, has long been a mainstay of Cherry Red's Big Break Records label.  That association which has recently culminated in a pair of potent releases: the definitive, double-disc anthology In Love's Time: The Delegation Story 1976-1983, as well as an expanded reissue of Delegation's debut The Promise of Love.

Over 33 tracks, In Love's Time tells the tale of the group through label and line-up changes.  One constant in the Delegation story was producer-songwriter Ken Gold, who with his collaborator Mickey Denne dreamed of becoming a British answer to Gamble and Huff, or Thom Bell.  Gold and Denne took that inspiration from those U.S. soul writer-producers to mold the Delegation sound with insistent rhythms, strings, and horns.  Gold also brought along the acumen he'd acquired as a staff songwriter for the U.S.' venerable Screen Gems publishing house, home to Goffin and King, Mann and Weil, Sedaka and Greenfield, and so on.

The Promise of Love, released in the U.K. on State Records in summer 1977, was preceded by the single release of the title track one year earlier.  Featuring the original Delegation line-up of lead singer Ricky Bailey, Roddy Harris, and Len Coley, the soaring "Promise" was inspired by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' storming Philly soul of "The Love I Lost."  (The trio had originally taken the name The Rumours, but changed it to Delegation after representatives for Graham Parker's up-and-coming rock-and-roll outfit The Rumour threatened litigation.)  Further singles including the U.K. top 30 hit "Where is the Love (We Used to Know)," a catchy pop/R&B homage to Barry White and Love Unlimited, and the upbeat, Philly-style "You've Been Doing Me Wrong," were released in advance of the album.  The latter showcases how Ken Gold was able to put his own spin on the Philly style; while the harmonies and rhythms and strings were redolent of Gamble and Huff, the feel and instrumentation are nonetheless different.

By the time the LP arrived, however, Harris was out of the group and replaced by Ray Patterson.  Delegation remained on State in the U.K. through 1978, with the album reinvented for its U.S. release on the Shadybrook label.  The U.S. version included "Oh, Honey," a smooth and breezy midtempo soul ballad that made it all the way to No. 6 on the R&B chart and barely missed the top 40 of the Hot 100, placing at No. 45.

BBR's deluxe reissue of The Promise of Love is based on the original U.K. track listing, but its eight bonus tracks comprise Delegation's entire State Records output including the tracks heard on the U.S. edition of The Promise and non-LP singles like a fun cover of Ray Parker, Jr.'s bright and bouncy "Honey, I'm Rich."  In Love's Time has nine tracks from Delegation's State period, some in single versions and extended 12-inch mixes.

Sophomore album Eau de Vie (retitled Delegation in the U.S.) was released in the U.K. on Ariola Records and in the U.S. on Mercury, and featured another change to the roster with Len Coley replaced by Bruce Dunbar.  Eau de Vie even further showcased the group's versatility and adaptability, and eight of its songs are featured on BBR's anthology including the Bailey/Patterson/Dunbar co-write "Welcome to My World," an attractive, romantic slow burner with the trio's harmonies at their tightest, and Bailey singing in falsetto a la Russell Thompkins, Jr. or William Hart.  Issued as a single in the U.S., "Welcome was backed with "Heartache No. 9," a delectable disco delight presented on In Love's Time in its 12-inch mix.  Equally upbeat were the funky, bass-heavy confections "Put a Little Love on Me" (also included in its extended version) and "Darlin' (I Think About You)," as well as the anthemic "You and I."

The trio's third long-player, from 1981, was simply titled Delegation in the U.K., while in the U.S. it went by Delegation II to avoid confusion with the re-titled version of Eau de Vie.  (Got that?)  The floor-filling "In the Night" earned the group a hit in Sweden, while the gorgeous, Earth, Wind & Fire-flavored "In Love's Time" made No. 54 on the U.S. R&B chart and the persuasive "I Want'cha Back" reached No. 52 in Germany.  They're here, along with six additional songs.  The album's brassy "Turn on to City Life" was co-written with longtime horn arranger Lynton Naiff, and "12th House" found the group covering New Musik, with Bailey again deploying his best falsetto for the quiet storm groove.  "Dance, Prance, Boogie" is infused with a party vibe.  "Singing," with its fiery Latin percussion, is presented on this collection in its 12-inch mix.

Deuces High, Delegation's fourth album and third for Ariola, was released in the U.K. in 1982, but Mercury opted not to release it stateside.  Delegation stayed true to their roots on the LP, hardly acknowledging the musical changes happening around them.  Still, their brand of danceable R&B was still relevant as evidenced by the album's "I Figure I'm Out of Your Life."  Though Delegation's recording (one of seven songs from Deuces on In Love's Time) didn't chart, it inspired Arnie's Love to cover the song as "I'm Out of Your Life" - resulting in a U.K. Club chart-topper.  The lithe rhythms of "What Took You So Long," the soulful soft rock of "Tell Her," or straight smooth balladry of "If You Were a Song" would also have fit comfortably on the radio of the period.

In Love's Time finds room for the group's 1983 Epic single "It's Your Turn," the most recent track on the set.  All of this transporting music has been compellingly sequenced by producer Wayne A. Dickson more for feel than chronology, though the first disc is heavy on songs from The Promise of Love and Eau de Vie, while the second disc primarily concentrates on the final two albums.  With superb, remastered sound and deluxe annotation by Stephen "SPAZ" Schnee, In Love's Time is the ideal introduction to the enticing music of Delegation.  BBR's reissue of The Promise of Love is likewise top-notch, with remastering from Nick Robbins and liner notes from Christian John Wikane.  Delegation still tours today led by Ricky Bailey.  (You can visit The Delegation Band's website here!)  But if you don't have a chance to catch the group live, these reissues are all but guaranteed to "Bring the House Down."

Delegation, In Love's Time: The Delegation Story 1976-1983 (Big Break CDBBRD 0172, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. Heartache No. 9 (12" Version)
2. Put a Little Love on Me (12" Version)
3. Oh Honey (12" Version)
4. Where is the Love We Used to Know
5. The Promise of Love
6. Darlin' (I Think About You)
7. Honey, I'm Rich
8. You've Been Doing Me Wrong
9. Welcome to My World
10. We Can Make It
11. Someone Oughta Write a Song (About You Baby) (Single Version)
12. Mr. Heartbreak
13. Blue Girl
14. Let Me Take You to the Sun
15. Sho Nuff Sold on You
16. Stand Up (Reach for the Sky)

CD 2

1. It's Your Turn (12" Version)
2. You and I
3. In the Night
4. Turn on to City Life
5. 12th House
6. In Love's Time
7. I Figure I'm Out of Your Life
8. I Wantcha' Back
9. What Took You So Long
10. Singin' (12" Version)
11. Dance, Prance, Boogie
12. Dance-Time USA
13. Tell Her
14. If You Were a Song
15. No Words to Say
16. Feels So Good (Loving You So Bad)
17. Gonna Bring the House Down

CD 1, original version of Tracks 1-2 and Tracks 6, 9, 13, 15-16 & CD 2, Track 2 from Eau de Vie, Ariola ARL 5035, 1979
CD 1, original version of Track 3 and Tracks 12-14 from The Promise of Love (U.S.), Shadybrook SB-010, 1979
CD 1, Tracks 4-5, 8, 10-11 from The Promise of Love (U.K.), State ETAT 14, 1977
CD 1, Track 7 from State single STAT 75, 1978
CD 2, Track 1 from CBS (U.K.) 12-inch single TA 3832, 1983
CD 2, Tracks 3-6, 8, 11, 16 & original version of Track 10 from Delegation, Ariola ARL 5062, 1981
CD 2, Tracks 7, 9, 12-15 & 17 from Deuces High, Ariola ARL 5070, 1982

Delegation, The Promise of Love: Expanded Edition (Big Break CDBBRX 0366, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. The Promise of Love
2. You've Been Doing Me Wrong
3. We Can Make It
4. Heaven is by Your Side
5. Back Door Love
6. Where is the Love (We Used to Know)
7. Soul Trippin'
8. You and Your Love
9. Someone Oughta Write a Song (About You Baby)
10. Steppin' Out of Line
11. Oh Honey
12. Mr. Heartbreak
13. Let Me Take You to the Sun
14. Love is Like a Fire
15. Honey I'm Rich
16. Baby You're My Mystery
17. It Only Happens (When I Look at You)
18. Oh Honey (12" Version)

Tracks 1-10 from State Records ETAT 14, 1977
Tracks 11-15 from U.S. edition, Shadybrook SB-010, 1977
Track 16 from State single STAT 55, 1977
Track 17 from State single STAT 25, 1976
Track 18 from State 12-inch single STAT 82, 1978