Before they achieved stardom the world over with "It's Raining Men," Weather Girls Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes Armstead made waves in the thriving San Francisco music scene as Two Tons o' Fun (and, later, The Two Tons).  The powerhouse duo began working with gender- and genre-defying artist Sylvester at Fantasy Records, singing background and lead vocals on many of his most memorable recordings.  In 1980, they struck out on their own and teamed with legendary Motown veteran Harvey Fuqua (who had also helmed Sylvester's beloved Fantasy albums) for two remarkable LPs on his Honey Records imprint.  Fusing disco, dance, soul, funk, and R&B with roof-raising, gospel-tinged vocals, both Two Tons o' Fun and Backatcha put the extraordinary voices of Wash and Armstead out front.

Tomorrow, June 28, Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records will celebrate the Two Tons with a complete 2-CD anthology that serves as a companion to last year's Sylvester release, Disco Heat: The Fantasy Years 1977-1981.  Two Tons o' Fun's Get the Feeling: The Complete Fantasy/Honey Recordings, which arrives as Pride Month 2024 is coming to a close, brings together both of the Two Tons' albums - the first of which features Sylvester himself in the band and contributing the song "Taking Away Your Space" - plus a host of rare single versions, remixes, and extended versions.

Among the highlights are the top five Dance smashes "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven" and "I Got the Feeling" as well as such R&B and Dance hits as "I Depend on You" and "Never Like This."  Both albums have long been overlooked.  Their last CD reissue was more than thirty years ago in the U.K.; this collection marks both complete albums' U.S. CD debut, while most of the bonus tracks are also new to worldwide CD.  For the occasion, we've given the albums a considerable sonic upgrade: all tracks have been newly remastered from the original Fantasy Records tapes by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. The collection also contains a deluxe 24-page, full-color booklet designed by John Sellards with rare photos as well as liner notes by TSD's Joe Marchese featuring quotes from "Queen of Clubland" Martha Wash, who went on to be the voice of C+C Music Factory, Black Box, and Seduction; and the late Izora Rhodes Armstead, Sylvester, and Harvey Fuqua.  With the return of the floor-filling grooves of Two Tons o' Fun, only one exclamation is appropriate: Hallelujah!

Get the Feeling tomorrow from Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records.  it makes a perfect companion to the upcoming release from Fantasy and Craft Recordings of Sylvester's Live at the Opera House which extensively features the Two Tons!  You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below from both Amazon and directly from Real Gone!  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Two Tons o' Fun, Get the Feeling: The Complete Fantasy/Honey Recordings (Real Gone Music/Second Disc Records RGM-1810, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)

CD 1: Two Tons o' Fun (Fantasy-Honey LP F-9584, 1980) and bonus tracks

1. Do You Wanna Boogie, Hunh?
2. Just Us
3. I Got the Feeling
4. Gone Away
5. Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven
6. Make Someone Feel Happy Today
7. Taking Away Your Space
8. One-Sided Love Affair
9. Just Us (Single Version)
10. I Got the Feeling (Single Version)
11. Taking Away Your Space (Single Version)
12. Just Us (Disco Mix)
13. Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven (12" Version)
14. Do You Wanna Boogie, Hunh? (12" Version)
15. I Got the Feeling (The Patrick Cowley MegaMix)

CD 2: Backatcha (Fantasy-Honey LP F-9605, 1980) and bonus tracks

1. Never Like This
2. I Depend on You
3. Your Love Is Gonna See Me Through
4. It's True I Do
5. Can't Do It by Myself
6. Cloudy With a Chance of Rain
7. I've Got to Make It On My Own
8. I Been Down
9. Never Like This (Single Version)
10. I Been Down (Single Version)
11. I Depend on You (Single Version)

CD 1, Tracks 9-10 from Fantasy Honey single 888, 1980
CD 1, Track 11 from Fantasy Honey single 896, 1980
CD 1, Track 12 from Fantasy Honey promo 12" single D-152, 1980
CD 1, Tracks 13-14 from Fantasy Honey promo 12" Single D-156, 1980
CD 1, Track 15 from Fantasy 12" single D-218, 1981
CD 2, Track 9 from Fantasy Honey single 906, 1980
CD 2, Track 10 from Fantasy Honey single 911, 1980
CD 2, Track 11 from Italian Fantasy single IS 20270, 1981