The Formations

Philly soul band. They recorded just three singles at MGM Records. Their "At The Top of The Stairs" is a Northern Soul classic, so much so that it was reissued in the UK on the Mojo label in 1970 and made it up to No.28 on the UK charts. The Formations recording history (under their own name) starts with the release of ‘At the Top of the Stairs’ b/w ‘Magic Melody’ 45 on the local Bank label in 1967. The group had recorded a previous 45 backing a female vocalist (as Margie & The Formations) on the Coed label. Unfortunately, the lack of chart success would see the group drop the Formations name – keeping the same lineup, and work under no less than three different names (for five different labels) over the next five years. Later in 1969 they recorded ‘Gang War (Don’t Make Sense)’ for Gamble & Huff’s Neptune Records (5) imprint. By 1970 they changed their name to the Silent Majority (4) (recording 45s for Hot Wax (4)) and in 1972 they became Hot Ice (3) who recorded for Atlantic. Like the Formations, none of these groups met with any chart success.