Gayle Adams
    Native Washington D.C. diva Gayle Adams has had an interesting life so far. Prior to storming the club charts in the early 1980's she was a stand up comedienne and a race car driver!
     In 1979 Gayle came to the attention of up and coming producers Willie Lester and Rodney Brown, both of whom were in-house producers for Prelude Records. The duo had already scored success with former Harlette Sharon Brown ("Can You Handle It") and with soulster Bobby Thurston ("Check Out The Groove"). The duo convinced the powers that be at Prelude of Gayle's marketability and she was signed in early 1980.
     Work began immediately upon her debut recording. Her eponymously-titled release was an immediate hit. "Gayle Adams" yielded a double-sided 12" smash out of the box.
     The 12" single remixes of "Your Love Is A Lifesaver" backed with "Stretch'In Out" appealed to a massive audience. While the black urban market quickly took to them so too did the white gay and straight markets. Being a D.J. at the time I clearly remember the response that both songs received in my club.
     Though the album was definitely geared to break her to the club set first, it showcased her amazing versatility also. Just listen to "For The Love Of My Man" and you'll hear her soulful roots straining through.
     The other club favorites were "You Brought It On Yourself" and "Plain Out Of Luck." Both songs convey that energy that was lacking in most 1980 releases.
     Unfortunately Prelude was going through changes, as was the whole disco music industry at the time. Another 12" was not forthcoming from the album. Luckily Unidisc from Canada has re-issued the complete album with the 7" and 12" mixes as bonus tracks.
     A year later Gayle was back with what would be her biggest hit and only radio charter. By now it seems Gayle was based out of Memphis, Tennessee. At least verified information has it that her management company and her fan club were both located there at the time. Her recording was done in Springfield, Virginia though.
     The 12" single of "Love Fever" preceded the album. The song with it's urban funk appeal quickly shot up the club charts. It reached number 6 on Billboard's club-play singles chart and number 24 on the black singles chart.
     Another single was not forthcoming but the album did spark another club favorite with her rendition of the Four Tops' classic "Baby I Need Your Loving." The success of those two songs propelled the album to 55 on Billboard's Album charts. Once again Unidisc has re-released it with bonus tracks.
     With disco music in a turmoil in the early 1980's and Prelude at a loss on how to handle Gayle's success, it seems she was forced out of what could have been a more successful career. Lester and Brown left the ailing Prelude Records and formed their on label in late 1983. Mainline Records was Gayle's next home and the trio's collaboration produced one final hit with the club favorite "I'm Warning You."
     Both of her albums were well crafted and contained such notables as Al Johnson (look for his Columbia 12" single of "Second Wind") on keyboards and Kevin Toney (formerly of The Blackbryds) on synthesizers. Backgrounds were by Sass, protegees of the legendary Dexter Wansel. Sass had scored their own hit in 1977 with "I Didn't Mean It At All."
     After 1984 Gayle seems to have disappeared from the musical landscape. Perhaps she went back to driving race cars? In any event we'd love to know what she's been up to and if she's still active in the business in any way. We're pleased to include Gayle in The DiscoMuseum......thanks Gayle....."Your Songs Were A Lifesaver!"
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