When Will I See You Again By The Three Degrees - Songfacts

Toggle navigation

• Home
• Categories
• Places
• Blog
  • Blogs Home
  • News
  • Lists
  • Features
  • Songwriter Interviews
  • Song Writing
  • Fact or Fiction
  • They're Playing My Song
  • Music Quiz
  • Songfacts Pages
  • Songwriting Legends
  • Songfacts Podcast
  • All Titles
  • Authors
    • Amanda Flinner
    • April Fox
    • Bruce Pollock
    • Carl Wiser
    • Corey O'Flanagan
    • Dan MacIntosh
    • Developer
    • Ed Pearce
    • Greg Prato
    • Jeff Suwak
    • Jess Grant
    • Laura Antonelli
    • Leslie Michele Derrough
    • Maggie Grimason
    • Nicole Roberge
    • Roger Catlin
    • Shawna Ortega
    • Stephanie Myers
    • Trevor Morelli
• Browse
  • Songs
  • Artists
  • Places
  • Years
  • Categories

Search

When Will I See You Againby The Three Degrees

Album: The Three Degrees (1974)Charted: 1 2 License This Song  artistfacts

Songfacts®:

• This was written by the Philadelphia songwriting and production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. It was released on their Philadelphia International Records and became the only #1 in the UK for the label.
• Three Degree Sheila Ferguson recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "The song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me."
• A few months earlier in their first recording for Philadelphia International Records, The Three Degrees supplied the vocals for the US #1 hit "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," which was the theme song for the TV show Soul Train. >> Suggestion credit: Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above

• More songs from The Three Degrees
• More songs written by Gamble and Huff
• More songs from 1974
• The Three Degrees Artistfacts

Your name as you would like it displayed Your Locaton Your Comment send your comment

Comments: 11

• Bay Area Bruce from Sunnyvale CalifFor years I thought this was a Diana Ross and the Supremes song……am I the only one who thought this way?
• Bob from New JerseyWhen I went to Yalta in the Ukraine on the BlackSea in the mid 1970’s, I met a beautiful Ukranian-Russian girl, Sveta, and every time I hear this song, it reminded me of her
• Forbes from NyWas When Will I See You Again used in a film or a tv show?
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenInteresting that the TD never made much of a splash after this, though they've lasted and lasted and I think, are still going in 2020 with two of the original members still in place.
• Tony from San DiegoSuch a sexy and smooth song. Got to love MFSB
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 8th, 1974, "When Will I See You Again" by the Three Degrees peaked at #2 (for 1 week) and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...It reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on August 17th, 1974 on the United Kingdom Singles chart...And on December 14th, 1974 it also peaked at #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...On Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart is reached #4...(The song that kept it out of the top spot on the Top 100 was "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas).
• Jeff from Indianapolis, InReminds me of a special girl. This was our song. Should have hung on to her and not let her go.
• George from Louisville, Ky Met a young lady right when this first came out. She played it for me at her place that night. And yes, I did see her again. Terri, if you're out there, I have never forgotten you.
• John from Nashville, TnThis was the Three Degrees second (and last) top 40 pop hit. The first was their version of the old Chantels classic "Maybe". It was released on Roulette Records and went to #30.
• Michael from Chicago, IlI've heard that the Three Degrees were invited to perform at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana - and, don't forget, the vocals on the 'SOUL TRAIN' theme, performed by MFSB, are also the Degrees ..
• Jonnie from St. Louis, MoWhat many people forget is that "The Three Degrees" was the group that was featured in the Nightclub Scene of the Academy Award Winning Classic Film "The French Connection" ! This was a few years BEFORE "When Will I See You Again" was recorded. (Watch for that scene the next time you see the film.)Jonnie King/St. Louis

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Gimme Three StepsLynyrd Skynyrd

Ronnie Van Zant wrote the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic "Gimme Three Steps" after making the mistake of dancing with a girl whose boyfriend was in the bar and probably had a gun. He asked for a 3-step head start.

Every Breath You TakeThe Police

Sting wrote "Every Breath You Take" at the same desk in Jamaica where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels.

1979Smashing Pumpkins

"1979" by Smashing Pumpkins is about Billy Corgan entering adulthood. A more accurate year would be 1983, but 1979 was easier to rhyme.

Y.M.C.A.The Village People

Village People lead singer Victor Willis, who co-wrote "Y.M.C.A.," insists it isn't a gay song - it's about hanging out with your buddies.

Tall Cool OneRobert Plant

After the Beastie Boys sampled a bunch of Led Zeppelin songs, Robert Plant did it himself on his 1988 solo hit "Tall Cool One," which sampled "Whole Lotta Love," "Black Dog" and "The Ocean."

Cotton Eye JoeRednex

"Cotton Eye Joe" is a folk song dating to the 1800s, but it became a hit when a Swedish act called Rednex did a psychokinetic version in 1994.

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Songfacts® Newsletter

A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs

What's your email? SUBSCRIBE

Information

• About Us
• Terms of Service
• Our Privacy Policy
• Google Privacy Policy
• Songfacts API
• Music History Calendar
• Song Licensing
• Affiliate Disclosure
• Contact Us
• Privacy Manager

Follow Us

• Facebook
• X (Twitter)
• YouTube

Contribution

• Message Boards
• Songfacts Writers

©2026 Songfacts, LLC