Side Effect (band)
| Company type | Ensemble / Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Augie Johnson |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Disco, jazz-funk music |
Side Effect was a U.S.-based ensemble specializing in disco and jazz-funk, active from 1972 through 1982. Originating in Los Angeles, California, the group was founded by Augie Johnson, who served as its leader. Side Effect gained recognition for their fusion of R&B, funk, soul, and jazz styles.
Career
Established in May 1972 by Augie Johnson along with Lometta Johnson, Jim Gilstrap, Gregory Matta, and Louis Patton, Side Effect started performing at clubs around Los Angeles before securing a contract with Avenue of America-Gas Records. Their initial album Effective did not enter the charts, leading to changes in the lineup, including the substitution of female lead vocalist Lometta Johnson with Sylvia Nabors. The band then collaborated with At-Home Productions, headed by Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders, which helped them obtain a deal with Fantasy Records.
Their 1975 release, the self-titled album Side Effect, also failed to chart. However, the third album What You Need, featuring new lead singer Helen Lowe (who later became gospel artist Helen Baylor), reached number 26 on the R&B charts. Subsequent albums Goin' Bananas and Rainbow Visions, now with vocalist Sylvia St. James succeeding Lowe, experienced moderate success on the charts. After producing four albums under Fantasy Records, Side Effect transitioned to Elektra Records.
With Elektra, they released After the Rain in 1980, which introduced 19-year-old vocalist Miki Howard. Despite this, both this album and the following releases Portraits and All Aboard did not achieve significant commercial success. Howard departed in 1986 to embark on a solo career. The group briefly reunited in 1987 under the name Augie's Side Effect, issuing the single "I Love You" through Striped Horse Records.
Augie Johnson, the group's founder, died on October 11, 2014, at age 66. Louie Patton, co-founder of the band, passed away on June 16, 2020, aged 71; he is survived by his family.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B | |||
| 1973 | Effective | — | — | GAS Records |
| 1975 | Side Effect | — | — | Fantasy Records |
| 1976 | What You Need | 115 | 26 | |
| 1977 | Goin' Bananas | 86 | 53 | |
| 1978 | Rainbow Visions | 135 | 57 | |
| 1980 | After the Rain | — | 70 | Elektra |
| 1981 | Portraits | — | 52 | |
| 1982 | All Aboard | — | — | |
| 1995 | "N" Effect | — | — | Dog House Records |
| "—" indicates album did not chart | ||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
US Dance | ||
| 1976 | "Always There" | 56 | 20 |
| 1977 | "Finally Found Someone" | 85 | — |
| "Keep That Same Old Feeling" | 22 | — | |
| "S.O.S." | 88 | — | |
| 1978 | "It's All in Your Mind" | 18 | — |
| 1979 | "She's a Lady" | 68 | — |
| 1980 | "Georgy Porgy" | 77 | — |
| "Superwoman" | 64 | — | |
| 1981 | "Make You Mine" | (26) | (73) |
| (1987) | "I Love You" | (—) | (—) |