THE PERSUADERS
The Persuaders were best known for 1971’s “Thin Line Between Love and Hate.”
The original members were Douglas “Smokey” Scott, Willie Holland, James Barnes, and Charles Stodghill. They formed the Persuasions in New York City in 1969; all had previously sung with other groups. Their trademark sound involved close harmony, Scott’s rough but emotive lead vocals, and heavy orchestration.
In 1971, they signed with Atco Records and immediately hit paydirt. “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” was a cautionary tale of domestic discord. The lyrics warn, “The sweetest woman in the world could be the meanest woman in the world / If you make her that way.” By the end of the song, the man’s mistreatment has goaded the woman into putting him in the hospital, “Bandaged from feet to head / In a state of shock / Just that much from being dead.” The song clearly hit home for a lot of people. It spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Soul chart and went to #15 pop in the fall of 1971. There also were later versions by B.B. Seaton (1973), the Pretenders (1982), Annie Lennox (1995), and H-Town (1996). The latter version was used as the title song from the 1996 film comedy starring Martin Lawrence.
The Persuaders toured throughout 1972 on the strength of their hit single and identically titled debut album. After the tour, James Barnes left the group. Tragedy struck later in 1972 when Charles Stodghill took ill and died at Jacobi Medical Center in The Bronx. The year 1973 saw the release of the Persuaders’ self-titled second album and the addition of Thomas Lee Hill and John Tobias to replace Barnes and Stodghill. By the end of the year, both Tobias and Willie Holland had quit the group to be replaced by Joey Coleman and Richard Gant. Lead singer Scott was the only original member left.
During this time, the Persuaders had their second and final top ten Soul and top forty pop hit. “Some Guys Have All the Luck” would see later versions by the Shakers (1976), Junior Tucker (1980), Robert Palmer (1982), Rod Stewart (1984), Louise Mandrell (as “Some Girls Have All the Luck,” 1985), Maxi Priest (1987), Derrick Harriott (1988), Judge Dredd (2003), Camera Obscura, Jacob Miller (2004), and Matt Forbes (2017).
In 1974, the Persuaders recorded their third and final Atco LP, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, in Philadelphia. A cover version of the title cut was a major hit single for Gladys Knight & The Pips, hitting #1 on the Soul chart and #3 pop. By 1976, the Persuaders were on Calla Records, where they recorded their fourth and last album, It’s All About Love, also in Philadelphia. As personnel changes abounded within the group, the Persuaders continued into the 21st century with two different line-ups. One kept the original name, while the other was called the Persuaders Revue. Neither line-up contained an original member.
Following the 1972 death of Charles Stodghill, Douglas Scott died in 1994 and Willie Holland passed on February 13, 2016. James Barnes died as well, but his date of death is unknown.
Rock critic Dave Marsh included “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” in his 1989 book, The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.
Charted singles:
“Thin Line Between Love and Hate” (1971) R&B #1 (2 weeks), Pop #15
“Love Gonna Pack Up (And Walk Out)” (1971) R&B #8, Pop #64
“If This Is What You Call Love (I Don’t Want No Part of It)” (1972) R&B #27
“Peace in the Valley of Love” (1972) R&B #21, Pop #104
“Bad, Bold and Beautiful, Girl” (1973) R&B #24, Pop #105
“Some Guys Have All the Luck” (1973) R&B #7, Pop #39
“Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” (1974) R&B #29, Pop #85
“All Strung Out” (1974) R&B #32
“I Need Love” (1977) R&B #34
