First Choice is a female vocal trio that emerged from Philadelphia. Their significant breakthrough came with the hit song "Armed and Extremely Dangerous." The original lineup featured Rochelle Fleming, Joyce Jones, and Annette Guest, a native of Chester, PA, alongside a fourth member, Malanie McSears. Initially, the group was known as the Debonettes and performed throughout the Philadelphia area.
Rochelle Fleming and Annette Guest first sang together as part of a vocal quintet during their time as students at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. They began rehearsing at Guest's mother's home and participated in various talent shows and public events. Their journey took a pivotal turn when they reached out to WDAS Radio DJ Georgie Woods, who introduced them to Norman Harris, the manager of The Delfonics. By the time they entered the studio, the lineup had changed to include Fleming, Guest, Wardell Piper, and McSears. Their debut release was "This Is the House Where Love Died," a track written by Harris and Allan Felder. Released in 1972 under New York's Sceptor Records on the Wand imprint, the song did not achieve national chart success. Shortly thereafter, McSears left the group.
In 1973, First Choice signed with the Philly Groove label, which was distributed by Bell Records. Their next single, "Armed and Extremely Dangerous," marked their first major success, reaching number 11 on Billboard's R&B charts in early 1973 and also becoming a Top 20 hit in the U.K. During this period, Piper departed from the group and was succeeded by Joyce Jones.
"Armed and Extremely Dangerous" was released in the fall of 1973, followed by the single "Smarty Pants," which addressed the serious topic of unwanted pregnancy and peaked at number 25 on the R&B charts. This album also featured a rendition of Al Green's classic "Love and Happiness." The trio's subsequent single, "Newsy Neighbors," climbed to number 35 on the R&B charts in early 1974.
By 1977, Joyce Jones had left First Choice, and Ursula Herring took her place. The album "Delusions," released in the fall of 1977, is widely regarded as the trio's finest work, showcasing Fleming's distinctive vocals and a mix of dance tracks and heartfelt ballads. Fleming's voice has become one of the most sampled in soul, dance, and pop music, appearing on numerous dance records globally. Their next album, "Hold Your Horses," released in March 1979 on Gold Mind Records, featured the title track, which became a disco classic. That same year, Debbie Martin joined the group following Herring's departure. The trio ultimately disbanded around 1983.
In the 1980s, as the house music genre emerged, First Choice's disco-influenced tracks found new life in club scenes. Songs like "Love Thang" and "Let No Man Put Asunder" became staples in DJs' playlists, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences. The popularity of these tracks was further enhanced by remixes, including a notable 12-inch remix of "Let No Man Put Asunder" by DJ Frankie Knuckles, who incorporated it into his mixes at Chicago's The Warehouse and during his radio shows on WBMX-FM. In December 1994, "Delusions" was reissued on CD by the U.K. label Charly.
In 1987, Rochelle Fleming reformed First Choice with her cousin Laconya Fleming and Lawrence Cottel, resulting in the single "Love Itch" for Prelude Records. Throughout the 1990s, Fleming continued to record music in both the U.S. and Europe.
