The Coalitions story began with Philadelphian William
Anthony Anderson who under the Stage name Of “Little Tony Talent”
recorded “All That’s Good Baby/Your Too Young” for Juggy Murray’s Sue
Label in 1966. Tony recorded a second and final solo release the Van
McCoy penned and produced “Gotta Tell Somebody (About My Baby)/ Hooked
On You” a 1967 release on the New York based Vando label, which McCoy
co-owned with partner Jocko Henderson.
Tony who was still only fifteen at the time continued to enter local
talent shows in and around Philadelphia and after being beaten on a
couple of occasions by vocal groups, thought the best way forward was
to form a group of his own.So with high school friends Alan Williams,
Bruce Dunbar and Carl Smith, Tony formed a group known as the
“Deltones”.
Due to a conflict of names with another Philly harmony group “The
Delfonics” a change of name was soon to follow with the guys choosing a
name that they thought was more relevant to the times they were living
in, thus the name of “The Coalitions” was agreed on, at this juncture
Carl Smith left the group to be replaced by the late Dwight Mitchell.
The Coalitions first recording “Instead … How Are You/I Don’t Mind Doin’
It (Instrumental)” appeared on the local “Re Dun” label in 1974. This
release was picked up later in the same year by the nationally
Jamie/Guyden distributed Phil. LA Of Soul label (367) a second release
(371) of “Instead … How Are You” was issued in early 1975 this time
dropping the instrumental flipside in favour of a vocal outing “Later
Than You Think”. After the Phil. LA Of Soul adventure The Coalitions
entered a barren period recording wise during which time Bruce Dunbar
left the group. His position would later be filled by Bruce Fauntleroy,
with a fifth member Stephen Ferguson also joining the group.
In circa 1979 with a group line up of Tony Anderson (Talent), Alan
Williams, Bruce Fauntleroy, Milton Williams and Stephen Ferguson The
Coalitions began recording their “Colour Me Blue” album project.
Although after two years in the making the finished product was never
issued. Following a lead 45 featuring two of the tracks from the album
“The Memory Of You/On The Block” SJ512 which were released in 2011. You
now finally have before you the much anticipated “Colour Me Blue” album
which is available in both vinyl and CD format.