People's Choice was an American funk band formed in 1971 in Philadelphia by Frank Brunson and David Thompson. While they had several vocalists, their biggest hits were instrumentals.
Career Their debut single, "I Likes to Do It" on Phil-L.A. of Soul Records, got to #9 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart and #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. A short time later Leon Huff saw People's Choice in concert, and told Brunson that he wished the group had recorded "I Likes to Do It" for Philadelphia International Records. Huff (without Kenny Gamble on this occasion) signed the group in 1974, and it was with him that they had another hit single with "Do It Any Way You Wanna", a Philly dance classic. It sold over one million copies in three months, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in November 1975. This song was used in Fred Williamson's 1976 film Death Journey.
Brunson died on November 24, 2007, after a long illness.
Thompson died on June 3, 2025.
Former members Frank Brunson - keyboards, vocals (died on November 24, 2007, at age 78). David Thomson - drums (April 6, 1945 - June 3, 2025) https://www.earlefuneralhome.com/obituary/david-thompson Guy Fiske - guitar Roger Andrews - bass Marc Reed - vocals Clifton Gamble - piano, synthesizer Johnnie Hightower - guitar Bill Rodgers - piano, synthesizer Darnell Jordan - guitar Stanley Thomas - bass, vocals Valerie Brown - vocals
Discography Studio albums {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Record label |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"| US ! width="35"| USR&B ! width="35"| SWE |- | rowspan="1"| 1975 | align="left"| Boogie Down U.S.A. | 56 | 7 | 45 | rowspan="2"| TSOP |- | rowspan="1"| 1976 | align="left"| We Got the Rhythm | 174 | 38 | — |- | rowspan="1"| 1978 | align="left"| Turn Me Loose | — | — | — | rowspan="1"| Philadelphia International |- | rowspan="1"| 1980 | align="left"| People's Choice | — | — | — | rowspan="1"| Casablanca |- | rowspan="1"| 1982 | align="left"| Still in Love with You | — | — | — | rowspan="1"| TPC |- | rowspan="1"| 1984 | align="left"| Strikin''' | — | — | — | rowspan="1"| Mercury |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albumsGolden Classics (1996, Collectables)I Likes to Do It (2000, Jamie)Any Way You Wanna - People's Choice Anthology 1971-1981'' (2017, BBR)
Singles Year Title Peak chart positions US USR&B USDan BEL CAN NLD UK 1971 "I Likes to Do It" 38 9 — — — — — 1972 "The Wootie-T-Woo" — — — — — — — "Magic" — — — — — — — 1973 "Let Me Do My Thing" — 45 — — — — — 1974 "Love Shop" — — — — — — — "Party Is a Groovy Thing" — 45 — — — 14 — 1975 "Do It Any Way You Wanna" 11 1 3 6 34 2 36 "Nursery Rhymes (Part I)" 93 22 — — — — — 1976 "Here We Go Again" — 52 13 — — — — "Movin' in All Directions" — 52 — — — — — 1977 "Cold Blooded & Down-Right-Funky" — 83 — — — — — "If You Gonna Do It (Put Your Mind to It) (Part I)" — 76 — — — — — 1978 "Jam, Jam, Jam (All Night Long)" — — — — — — 40 "Turn Me Loose" — — — — — — — "Rough-Ride" — — — — — — — 1980 "My Feet Won't Move, But My Shoes Did the Boogie" — 77 — — — — — "You Ought to Be Dancin'" — — 8 — — — — 1981 "Hey Everybody (Party Hearty)" — — 80 — — — — 1982 "Still in Love with You" — — — — — — — 1984 "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
References
External links
soulfulkindamusic.net - Frankie Brunson / The Fashions Frankie Brunson Biography