When Will I See You Again

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"When Will I See You Again" was a popular song by The Three Degrees, released in 1974.

Written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, "When Will I See You Again" was one of the most successful recordings in the "Philly Soul" sound. It sold 28 million copies in total internationally. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and disco chart in the USA and number four on the Billboard Black singles chart. In the UK it fared even better spending two weeks at the top in August 1974. Although the band never had a number one single in their own name in the USA, they had hit the top in April that year providing the vocals on MFSB's TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia).

Sheila Ferguson later recalled in the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "The song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me."

[edit] Trivia

They performed the song at Prince Charles' 30th birthday party at Buckingham Palace in 1977.
The song was featured in the Philly based musical Me and Mrs Jones. It was also referenced in Kill Bill 2.
In Summer 2006 the song was used ironically in a television advertisement by the UK's Food Standards Agency warning against the dangers of food poisoning at barbecues.
Billy Bragg recorded a cover of the song on his Must I Paint You A Picture? compilation.