In 1969, Houston released her first album titled, "Sunshower". In 1971, she went on to sign with Motown Records, but she failed to score any big hits for some time. The most successful single during that time period was You've Been Doing Wrong For So Long whick peaked at #64 on the R&B chart in 1974.By mid 1976 Thelma started working on her 3rd album Any Way You Like It. The first single released turned out to be the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes tune Don't Leave Me This Way. In February of 1977 it hit #1 in the U.S. on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts as well as #1 on the Club Play Singles chart. Thelma's version incorporated some elements of the current disco style, and it became a popular hit in dance clubs, and has come to be regarded as one of the major songs of the disco era. The song won the 1977 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.