C.J. and Co.<div hidden>C.J. & Co CJ and Co CJ & Co</div>
C.J. & Co. was a short-lived Detroit-based disco, soul, and funk group active from 1977 to 1979.
The group evolved from an earlier quintet called the Strides, which recorded in the 1960s without much success, and later as C.C. & Company, releasing the single "Day Dreamer" that peaked at #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975 on Sussex Records.
Producers Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore assembled the lineup in 1977, blending three male vocalists—Curtis "CJ" Durden, Cornelius Brown Jr., and Charles Clark—with two female singers, Joni Tolbert and Connie Durden.
The group signed with Westbound Records and released two albums: Devil's Gun (1977), which hit #60 on the Billboard 200 and #12 on R&B Albums, and Deadeye Dick (1978), which charted lower but had tracks peaking at #18 on the National Disco Action Top 40.
Their signature hit "Devil's Gun" reached #36 on the Hot 100, #2 on R&B, and #1 on Dance charts, marking it as a disco staple played at Studio 54's opening. A 1998 compilation USA Disco collected highlights from both LPs.
C.J. & Co. fused gritty Detroit soul with disco-funk, earning cult status for tracks like "Devil's Gun," though the group disbanded in 1979 with little known about surviving members' later activities.
Devil’s Gun
Written-By – B. Green, G. Shury, R. Roker
7:14
A2 We Got Our Own Thing
Written-By – Clark, Durden, Brown, Durden, Coffey, Tolbert, Theodore
9:30
B1 Free To Be Me
Written-By – Clark, Durden, Brown, Durden, Coffey, Tolbert, Theodore
5:03
B2 Get A Groove In Order To Move
Written-By – Clark, Durden, Brown, Durden, Coffey, Tolbert, Theodore
5:11
B3 Sure Can't Go To The Moon
Written-By – Clark, Durden, Brown, Durden, Coffey, Tolbert, Theodore
7:30
Label: Westbound Records – WB 6100
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
Released in 1977 on Westbound Records, C.J. & Co's Devil's Gun is a highly regarded Detroit disco-funk album, featuring top-tier production from Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore. The title track was a major club hit, notably opening Studio 54, and the album is praised for its strong, baritone-led vocals and infectious dance grooves.
The album is a mix of driving disco and funk, with some tracks leaning more into the "disco inferno" sound and others showcasing deeper, funkier grooves.
The title track, "Devil's Gun," was a massive success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 1 on the Dance/Disco chart. Other notable tracks include "We Got Our Own Thing" and "Sure Can't Go to the Moon," both of which also topped the dance charts.
The album features production from renowned Detroit musicians Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore, with some mixes by Tom Moulton. It was considered a standout in the 1977 disco scene, with a solid, high-energy, and sometimes dark, danceable sound.
Devil's Gun is highly recommended for fans of 70s disco-funk, featuring high-quality production and memorable, high-energy tracks. It's often highlighted for its strong, soulful vocals and, in some cases, its surprisingly effective, darker thematic elements, making it a must-listen for collectors of the era..
C.J. & Co CJ and Co CJ & Co