Twentysomething
Penny Ford (aka
Pennye Ford) made her solo recording debut on
Lonnie Simmons' Total Experience records. Up to that point, the Cincinnati, OH, native had made quite a name for herself as a session vocalist. Working with staff producers/songwriters
Jonah Ellis,
Oliver Scott, and Total Experience signees Yarbrough and Peoples and
Jimmy Hamilton and Maurice Hayes of Prime Time,
Ford's debut was entertaining and displayed her powerful vocals. The first single was the mid-tempo groover "Change Your Wicked Ways." Other standouts were "I Feel the Music," "Dangerous" (both post-release 12" collectibles), the heart-tugging ballad "Never Let You Go," and "Don't You Know That I Love You."
Ford later shared vocals on
the Gap Band's "I Found My Baby" before having worldwide multi-platinum success with
Snap ("The Power"), singing with
Soul II Soul, and a mid-'90s Columbia LP, Penny Ford. During 1999,
Ford toured as background vocalist with
Barry White in support of his Staying Power CD. ~ Ed Hogan