On November 6, Real Gone Music will release what’s sure to be the most definitive collection of The Jones Girls’ most beloved hits. remixes, and sought-after rarities.  We’re A Melody: The Essential Jones Girls brings together all of the sisters’ most successful singles for Philadelphia International Records and RCA. Though these weren’t the trio’s first recordings – they’d cut sides for GM, Music Merchant, Paramount, and Curtom dating back to 1970 – the songs from this period saw Brenda, Shirley, and Valorie step into a new spotlight with a series of well-deserved successes and collaborators including Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Dexter Wansel, and Cynthia Biggs.

The Jones Girls’ first PIR single, “You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else” kicks off the set.  It reached No. 5 on the R&B chart and peaked at No. 38 Pop.  It’s presented here in a rare 12″ remix version.  You’ll find a number of other cuts from their self-titled debut album, too, including “I’m At Your Mercy,” “Who Can I Run To” (the 12″ version), and, of course, “We’re A Melody.”

After a guest spot on producer Dexter Wansel’s “I’ll Never Forget My Favorite Disco” – fittingly presented in its full 12″ mix – the sisters returned with At Peace With Woman in 1980.  The top 10 R&B album spawned the hits “Dance Turned Into A Romance” (No. 22 R&B) and “I Just Love The Man” (No. 9 R&B) and also included a cover of Thom Bell and Linda Creed’s “Children of the Night.”  The sisters’ third PIR effort, 1981’s Get As Much Love As You Can, contained further successful singles, “(I Found) That Man Of Mine” (R&B No. 20) and “Nights Over Egypt” (R&B No. 23), which is presented here in a Mike Maurro remix.  The group moved to RCA for their next album, On Target, produced by Robert Wright and CHIC’s Fonzi Thornton.  It’s represented on this set by  “On Target,” “2 Win U Back” in a 12″ remix of “Knockin’,” and “What A Fool.”  They transitioned back to PIR and reunited with Gamble and Huff for Keep It Comin’ from 1984. which included the favorites “Why You Wanna Do That To Me,” “Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah,” and the title track.

The outtake “Baby Don’t Go Yet” makes its debut on a Jones Girls collection after having appeared on Harmless’ 2012 Philadelphia International Records: The 40th Anniversary Box Set and on a limited edition single.

We’re A Melody comes packaged with a 20-page booklet with rare photos and a new interview with Shirley Jones.  It’s a thorough look at the trio’s biggest hits, deepest cuts, and fan-favorite remixes.  So mark your calendars for this Philly soul and disco must-have from Real Gone Music in conjunction with BBR America.

We’re A Melody: The Essential Jones Girls arrives November 6.  You can find a complete track listing and links to order your copy below!

The Jones Girls, We’re A Melody: The Essential Jones Girls (Real Gone Music/BBR America, 2020) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop)

CD 1:

1. You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (12″ Version)
2. (I Found) That Man Of Mine
3. Dance Turned Into a Romance
4. Nights Over Egypt
5. I’ll Never Forget (My Favorite Disco) (12″ Version) – Dexter Wansel and The Jones Girls
6. Let’s Celebrate (Sittin’ On Top Of The World)
7. Better Things To Do
8. I Just Love The Man
9. I’m At Your Mercy
10. Get As Much Love As You Can
11. Baby Don’t Go Yet
12. We’re A Melody
13. At Peace With Woman
14. This Feeling’s Killing Me
15. Children Of The Night
16. You Made Me Love You

CD 2:

1. Keep It Comin’
2. On Target
3. You Can’t Have My Love
4. 2 Win U Back (12″ Version)
5. Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah
6. Knockin’
7. When I’m Gone
8. Life Goes On
9. Love Don’t Ever Say Goodbye
10. Why You Wanna Do That To Me
11. What A Fool
12. Who Can I Run To (12″ Version)
13. I Close My Eyes
14. Nights Over Egypt (12″ Mike Maurro Remix)

CD 1, Track 1 and CD 2, Track 12 from PIR 12-inch single 2Z8 3682, 1979
CD 1, Tracks 2-3 & 10 and CD 2, Track 9 from Get as Much Love as You Can, PIR LP FZ 37627, 1981
CD 1, Tracks 4, 6, 8, 13 & 15 and CD 2, Tracks 7 & 13 from At Peace with Woman, PIR LP JZ 36767, 1980
CD 1, Track 5 from PIR 12-inch single 2Z8 3692, 1979
CD 1, Track 7 and CD 2, Tracks 1, 3, 5 & 10 from Keep It Comin’, PIR LP FZ 38555, 1984
CD 1, Tracks 9, 12, 14 & 16 and CD 2, Track 8 from The Jones Girls, PIR LP JZ 35757, 1979
CD 1, Track 11 first released on Philadelphia International Records: The 40th Anniversary Box Set, Harmless HURTBOX001, 2012
CD 2, Tracks 2, 6 & 11 from On Target, RCA LP AFL1-4817, 1983
CD 2, Track 4 from RCA 12-inch single PD-13687, 1983
CD 2, Track 14 previously unreleased on CD, from Brookside 12-inch single BR04, 2016