The Pointer Sisters

    The Pointer Sisters started out a a foursome in the 70’s featuring sisters Anita, Bonnie, June, and Ruth Pointer. But it was their 80’s output that gain them a firm place in our hall of fame. Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977for a solo career. The remaining sisters teamed up with producer Richard Perry and the rest is pop music history. From 1978-1990 the sisters amassed countless Gold and Platinum records from across the globe. While soulful slow jams like Fire and Slow Hand where sizable hits, its for their danceable singles that they are bets remembered.

Breaking out on the pop charts

Their first few albums with Perry saw the sisters adopt a more pop sound incorporating rock and a bit of disco. But it was 1984's Breakout that gave them their biggest break. Hit after hit was lifted from the LP including; Jump (For My Love); a remix of I'm So Excited; The Neutron Dance (which also featured in the movie Beverly Hills Cop); and I Need You.. 

The sisters showed no sign of slowing down and quickly issued a follow up Contact in 1985. The album is a mix of dance/pop and soulful mid-tempos. The lead single Dare Me was another huge dance and pop hit all over the globe, although the album was not such a big hit as Breakout. Further singles included the flops Freedom, Twist My Arm and Back In My Arms! Their next outing, Hot Together, was very similar mix and was a bit of a disappointment commercially. The lead single Goldmine is quite simply a lost dance classic in my opinion, a perfect Pointers single! The 12" mix is even better.

Declining years 

They contributed a track to the movie Beverly Hills Cop 2. The song Be There is another brilliant slice of soulful dance/pop but it wasn't a hit. It seemed by this point radio was switched off to the Sisters and their unique brand of soul/pop. Anita released her first solo album in 1987 too, it didn't do well.

Their next album, Serious Slammin'. was released in 1988 to little fanfare. The superb lead single He Turned Me Out, also on the soundtrack to the movie Action Jackson, didn't even make the Hot 100! It was a complete travesty! Further singles might as well have not been issued, the album tanked and they parted company with both their label and longtime producer Richard Perry.

June Pointer unleashed her second solo LP in 1989 headed up by the skanky lead single Tight On Time (I'll Fit U In). Sadly it wasn't a hit despite cutting edge production and solid material. The sisters signed with Motown for their next album, 1990's Right Rhythm. The album was pretty bad but the singles Friends Advice (remixed by Shep Pettibone) and Insanity (remixed by Steve 'Silk' Hurley) are just brilliant! Sadly they were humongous flops and Right Rhythm was the final album by any Pointer Sister on a major label.

Since they left Motown in 1991 the sisters have only recorded one album Only Sisters Can Do That, which did little to no business, and have mounted various successful tours. June Pointer left the group in 2004 after her drug abuse had gotten so bad that she could no longer be relied on to turn up to venues. Ruth’s daughter Issa has since taken her place. However, June continued to perform with her sister Bonnie. The new line-up of the Pointer Sisters released a solid live album and accompanying DVD together in 2005. 

In early 2006 they scored a number one hit and sell out tour in Belgium with the Pop Idol winner Natalia. After many years of drug abuse and a tabloid scandal when she was arrested for attempting to claw out her lover's eyes, June Pointer tragically passed away in April 2006 after suffering with cancer, she was 52. The multiple GRAMMY winning Pointer Sisters can be found touring casinos near you! Don't miss them!

- Jamie

He Turned Me Out (1988)