Barbara Roy (born April 20, 1947) – If You Want Me (1981)

Co-written by prolific singer/songwriter and guitarist Roy, the driving force behind Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, this hypnotic disco funk jam went to #3 on dance charts.

Watch full video on Twitter.

Barbara Roy is a singer/songwriter and guitarist with gospel roots who co-wrote most of the songs by her group Ecstasy, Passion & Pain.

Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Roy started out performing with her niece Brenda Gaskins as a duo called Brenda and Brenda. One of her other nieces is singer Jocelyn Brown who co-wrote the classic “Somebody’s Else Guy,” and was first inspired to become a professional singer by Roy’s success. Roy played guitar for Inez and Charlie Foxx of “Mockingbird” fame before forming Ecstasy, Passion & Pain in 1973.

Roy was the driving force behind the group as its lead singer, principal songwriter, and business manager. They released their self-titled debut album in 1974 on Roulette Records and had several moderate R&B hits in the mid-70s, most memorably “Touch And Go” (1976).

It was co-written by Philly soul heavyweights Allan Felder, Norman Harris, and Bunny Sigler and peaked at #4 on the disco charts. Produced, arranged and conducted by Bobby Martin, the extended 12” version was mixed by Tom Moulton.

Roy disbanded Ecstasy, Passion & Pain in 1977 after two failed singles. “Passion” barely made the R&B charts at #99, and “Dance the Night Away” failed to chart.

In 1981, she revived the group’s name and released the hypnotic disco funk jam “If You Want Me.”

Roy co-wrote the track with producer, arranger and songwriter Jorge Omar Barreiro and Roy Bermingham, the owner of New York-based Roy B. Records who has been described as a “flamboyant producer and promoter.”

On the strength of its irresistible groove and timeless lyrics that anyone who's ever felt neglected in a relationship could identify with, “If You Want Me” reached #3 on the dance charts.  Five years later, Roy went on to hit even bigger with the #1 dance smash “Gotta See You Tonight​.”  But “If You Want Me” was her masterpiece.

And it was also the track that inspired the start of Jointz Of The Day, and one of the first jams we ever posted on Twitter in April, 2019, exactly four years ago this month.

#disco #funk #soul #BarbaraRoy