The Ritchie Family: African Queens [Full Album, Lyrics + Bonus] (1977)

The Ritchie Family's third album Life Is Music did not yield any big hits like Brazil and The Best Disco In Town had been, and after an unsuccessful side-project with The Lovers' Discomania in April 1977 (with vocals by The Sweetheart Of Sigma), Jacques Morali & Henri Belolo parted ways abruptly with Richard 'Richie' Rome. Cheryl, Cassandra & Gwendolyn were quickly back in the studio again. Unlike the previous albums, African Queens was recorded away from Philadelphia, the new Sigma Sound Studios in New York were used instead, "and the frothy pop sound of the Life Is Music album has been replaced, for the most part, with a more audacious powerhouse disco styling," wrote Billboard's Vince Aletti on July 9, 1977. "The vocals are rich and the music irresistibly grabbing. Clearly designed to match the hot, hedonistic mood of summer-in-the-city," "African Queens" should be one of the season's dominant albums." For the third summer in a row, The Ritchie Family found themselves on top of Billboard's Disco Charts again, but disappointingly the club success did not turn into pop hits. While African Queens proved another healthy seller in Europe, it only made #164 in the US charts, and neither of the single releases. Quiet Village and the title track, found pop success. Meanwhile, Morali & Belolo released their first album by an all-male group called Village People ... 

00:00 African Queens
04:32 Theme Of Nefertiti
06:20 Theme Of Cleopatra
07:34 Theme Of The Queen Of Sheba
09:20 African Queens (Reprise)
13:00 Summer Dance
18:26 Quiet Village
24:16 Voodoo

Bonus Tracks:
29:50 African Queens (TV Performance)
33:05 Quiet Village (TV Performance)
36:09 Voodoo (TV Performance)