Heavily influenced by Labelle and the Pointer Sisters, Stargard was a female R&B vocal group that was best known for providing the theme song from the 1977 film Which Way Is Up. Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson, and Janice Williams -- who comprised Stargard's original three-woman lineup -- didn't go for the type of breathy, sweet, girlish vocals that the Supremes and the Three Degrees were known for. Like Labelle and the Pointer Sisters, Stargard favored robust, aggressive belting and brought a gospel-like passion to its funk, soul, and disco.
Stargard signed with MCA in 197...