Which 1977 song by The Emotions was the group’s only US Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit?

The Emotions’ 1977 song “Best of My Love” was the group’s only US Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit.

The song was written by Al McKay, Maurice White and Allee Willis, and produced by White and Charles Stepney for the Emotions’ album Rejoice. Its bright horn parts, rhythmic guitar and layered vocal harmonies helped define the polished soul and disco sound of the period.

“Best of My Love” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1977. It also reached No. 1 on the soul chart and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The record became one of the best-known recordings associated with the disco era.

The Emotions were not newcomers: they had recorded gospel and soul music since the 1960s and had earlier chart success. “Best of My Love” is called their one-hit wonder only in the narrow sense of being their sole US pop number one. Their broader R&B career included several other notable hits.