Stay With Me Tonight (1983).
At this point, some fans might have been hoping that Jeffrey Osborne would return to his former group, L.T.D.. If Jeffrey Osborne cast doubt on that proposition, Stay With Me Tonight made it so that even L.T.D. fanatics didn’t want to see it happen. Unlike many R&B acts who either went solo and/or did pop-ish work, Osborne earned raves for retaining his quirky nature with his vocal inflections and ticks intact. The smooth, first single, “Don’t You Get So Mad,” picks up where Jeffrey Osborne and “I Really Don’t Need No Light” left off. Osborne’s best-sung up-tempo George Duke production, “Stay With Me Tonight,” clicks from the synths and the Simmons drums to the off-center backing vocals. The best ballad from the album is also one of Osborne’s strongest songs. With a strong string arrangement from George DelBarrio, “I’ll Make Believe” has Osborne all but living the poignant lyrics and giving them more meaning by accenting the right words and phrases. “We’re Going All the Way” is nearly as good. Tracks like “Other Side of the Coin,” “When Are You Comin’ Back,” and “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right” can’t help but come off as filler given the excellent songs surrounding them. The best songs here more than make up for any so-so tracks and this is more than recommended.(AMG)
Tracks:
01. Don’t You Get So Mad
02. We’re Going All the Way
03. Stay With Me Tonight
04. Greatest Love Affair
05. Plane Love
06. Other Side of the Coin
07. I’ll Make Believe
08. When Are You Comin’ Back?
09. Forever Mine
10. Two Wrongs Don’t Make It Right
**Listen**
Jeffrey Osborne – Stay With Me Tonight (1983)
Noviembre 30, 2008 a 11:57 pm (Pop, Soul)
Pockets – Take It On Up (1978)
Noviembre 30, 2008 a 2:42 am (Disco, Funk, Soul)
Take It It On Up (1978)
Pockets were a group from Baltimore who moved to Los Angeles in the mid seventies. Once established in the city of Angels, they had the good fortune of an association with Earth, Wind And Fire.
They signed with Columbia Records, the musical home of Earth, Wind And Fire, and released their debut album Come Go With Us in 1977, which immediately created interest on the soul scene and included ‘Come Go With Me’ and ‘Pasado’.
Working closely with Maurice and Verdine White (EWF), they consolidated on their initial success with another highly acclaimed album Take It On Up in 1978. Once again the album found favour with soul fans and contained many superb tracks, including ‘Heaven Only Knows’, ‘Happy For Love’ and ‘Tell Me Why’.
Tracks:
1. Heaven Only Knows
2. Take It On Up
3. Tell Me Why
4. Got To Find My Way
5. Happy For Love
6. Funk It Over
7. You And Only You
8. Sphinx
9. Lay Your Head (On My Shoulder)
10. In Your Eyes
**Listen**
Al jarreau – L Is For Lover (1986)
Noviembre 26, 2008 a 10:36 pm (Jazz, Pop, Soul)
L Is Fore Love (1986).
While Al Jarreau’s jazz following probably ignored this 1986 studio release in droves, they missed a gem, a perhaps surprisingly scintillating collaboration with one of the leading dance-music producer/guitarists of the time, Nile Rodgers (late of Chic). Not only did Rodgers and Jarreau assemble some strong tunes from many sources, Rodgers took advantage of Jarreau’s rhythmic capabilities, for some of the material is too deliciously complicated for any old R&B soulster to pull off. Hear the way Jarreau brilliantly threads his way through the rhythmically complex hornet’s nest of “Says” in English and French, or savor the sheer ecstatic energy of the chorus of “Pleasure” and the rapid-fire list of cities in the title track; this is first-class pop recordmaking. While the quality of material tails off in the second half of the program, the great tracks early on mark the aesthetic peak of Jarreau’s R&B output of the ’80s. Unfortunately, record buyers begged to differ, for other than the minor R&B hit single status of the title track, this album could not reverse AJ’s sales slide. (AMG).
Tracks:
1. Tell Me What It Gotta Do
2. L Is For Lover
3. Says
4. Pleasue
5. Golden Girl
6. Across The Midnight Sky
7. We Got (Telepathy)
8. Give A Little More Lovin’
9. No Ordinary Romance
10. Real Tight
**Listen**
Jeffrey Osborne – Jeffrey Osborne (1982)
Noviembre 26, 2008 a 10:07 pm (Pop, Soul)
Jeffrey Osborne (1982).
As vocalist for the group L.T.D., Osborne’s booming voice led hits like “Love Ballad,” “Where Did We Go Wrong,” and “Shine On.” The group enjoyed constant success and offered a catalog of well-executed and classic albums including 1977’s Something to Love and Togetherness from 1978. In 1982 it came as a complete shock when Osborne made his solo bid. Unlike countless other acts who did the same thing, his self-titled release proves that it was a great decision. Producer George Duke offered Osborne an up-to-the-minute sound with a collection of great studio players ranging from drummer Steve Ferrone to bassist Louis Johnson. That being said, a few of the tracks here don’t play to Osborne’s strengths as a committed and slightly quirky vocalist. “New Love” and “Eeenie Meenie” are so proficient yet by the numbers anyone could have sung them. The best tracks on this album give him the needed challenges that make him soar. The first single, the moody and rhythmic “Really Don’t Need No Light,” co-written by Osborne and David “Hawk” Wolinski, benefits from a string arrangement from George Del Barrio. The ballad “You Were Made to Love” not only perfectly captures Duke’s uncluttered and precise production style, it also plays to Osborne’s emotionality. The last track, “Congratulations,” is a great tearjerker that has Osborne’s reserve and intellect making it that much better. This is an impressive solo debut from one of R&B and pop’s best vocalists. (AMG).
Tracks:
1. New Love
2. Eenie Meenie
3. I Really Don’t Need No Light
4. On The Wings Of Love
5. Ready For Your Love
6. Who You Talkin’ To?
7. You Were Made To Love
8. Ain’t Nothin’ Missin’
9. Baby
10. Congratulations
**Listen**
Stargard – What You Waitin’ For (1978)
Noviembre 26, 2008 a 9:44 pm (Disco, Funk)
What You Waitin’ For (1978)
It was a very sad day for R&B when, in early 1977, Labelle broke up. Inevitably, Patti LaBelle wanted a solo career, but even so, Labelle’s breakup was a bitter pill for R&B lovers to swallow. And when Stargard was burning up the R&B charts with “Theme From ‘Which Way Is Up’” in late 1977 and early 1978, some people tried to fill the void by hyping Stargard as “the next Labelle.” But while Debra Anderson, Rochelle Runnells, and Janice Williams were heavily influenced by Labelle and the Pointer Sisters and shared Labelle’s love of wild, outrageous space costumes, Stargard was an appealing group in its own right.
The trio showed no signs of a sophomore slump on its second album, What You Waitin’ For, which was produced by Mark Davis. The title song (a funk gem that was written by Norman Whitfield and was also recorded by Rose Royce) became a Top Ten R&B hit, and Stargard is equally exciting on album tracks that range from the melancholy ballad “Blue Rain” to gutsy funk items like “Never Take You Back,” “Sensuous Woman,” and the Parliament-influenced “Starbob.” This LP ends on a surprising note with the moody “Chameleon Lady,” which is the most jazz-minded thing that ever came from Stargard – a group that was best known for funk and soul. It’s regrettable that the title song was this LP’s only major hit; two or three of the album’s other songs should have been big hits as well. But be that as it may, What You Waitin’ For is excellent from start to finish.
Tracks:
1. Sensuous Woman
2. Blue Rain
3. Disco People
4. What You Waitin’ For
5. Never Take You Back
6. Starbop
7. Love Me Back
8. How Come I Can’t See You
9. Chameleon Lady
**Listen**
* Gracias Waldo
George Benson – 20/20 (1984)
Noviembre 25, 2008 a 11:38 pm (Jazz, Pop, Soul)
20/20 (1984).
Even the reviewers who trashed this album are right in a way. It is very soul/pop/light jazz oriented and to me that is just fine. Benson does that type of music so much better than most artists. The first 5 songs (or 1st side of the original album) are flawless. “Hang Around You” is a wonderful song which got airplay on lightrock radio. This song should have been a major hit. It is light and breezy and Benson sounds like he is enjoying himself. He displays his jazz chops on “Beyond the Sea” very nicely. “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love” is a wonderful ballad which I like even better thanmore… the Glen Medeiros version which was a hit. The 2 album openers are uptempo numbers and yes are very synth oriented but they are very enjoyable songs.
The title track “20/20″ is the only flawed track on the album, though it isn’t bad. His voice sounds a little sped up and the song is mildly overproduced. His lovely duet with Roberta Flack is a joy to hear as is the haunting “New Day.” For his guitar fans, he also gives us a good instrumental.
Yes, the album mostly focuses on Benson’s vocals and fans of his guitar work will be disappointed. Of course, I love hearing him play guitar, but also enjoy his singing as well.
Really, even though I love Stevie Wonder, I thought that this album was better than what Wonder himself was doing at the same time.
A must to avoid for jazz purists, but should be a delight to soul/pop fans like myself. A nice album to relax to.
Tracks:
1. No One Emotion
2. Please Don’t Walk Away
3. I Just Wanna Hang Around You
4. Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You
5. Beyond The Sea (La Mer)
6. 20/20
7. New Day
8. Hold Me
9. Stand Up
10.You Are The Love Of My Life
**Listen**
Shalamar – Friends (1982)
Noviembre 25, 2008 a 11:23 pm (Soul Funk)
Friends. (1982).
This is one of the best albums ever made featuring all 4 UK hits – There It Is, Friends, I Can Make You Feel Good and the Shalamar Anthem A Night to Remember. There are also some really good ballads and duets. This is 80s disco and Shalamar at their best.
Tracks:
01.Night to Remember
02.Don’t Try to Change Me
03.Help Me
04.On Top of the World
05.I Don’t Wanna Be the Last to Know
06.Friends
07.Playing to Win
08.I Just Stopped by Because I Had To
09.There It Is
10.I Can Make You Feel Good
**Listen**
Shotgun – Kingdom Come (1980)
Noviembre 24, 2008 a 9:43 pm (Funk Disco)
Kingdom Come (1980)
A Detroit funk group whose enthusiasm didn’t pay off in hit singles. Trumpeter Richard Sebastian, saxophonist Greg Ingram, keyboardist/lead guitarist Billy Talbert, guitarist Ernest Latimore, bassist Larry Austin, drummer/vocalist Tyrone Steels, and percussionist Leslie Carter made entertaining songs in the best Ohio Players/Slave/Cameo mode but never could land the elusive hit. They also toured with Rick James while recording for ABC, MCA, and Montage in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Tracks:
1. Inspiration
2. In & Out Of Love
3. Bad Baby
4. Party Right Here
5. Sky Is The Limit
6. Introduce Me
7. Falling In Love
8. You’re My Woman
9. I Believe In You/Wanna Have A Good Time
**Listen**
Al Jarreau – High Crime (1984)
Noviembre 24, 2008 a 7:48 pm (Funk, Pop)
High Crime (1984)
Alwyn Lopez Jarreau, hijo de un sacerdote, obtuvo su primer experiencia como artista al cantar en el coro de la iglesia. Después de obtener su maestría en psicología, Jarreau trabajó como asistente social, pero al final decidió mudarse a Los Ángeles y probar suerte en un show business tocando en pequeños clubes en la Costa Oeste. A mediados de los años sesenta grabó un LP titulado “1965″ pero siguió siendo un desconocido, y no volvió a ingresar al estudio por diez años.
En 1975 firma con el sello Reprise, propiedad de Frank Sinatra y su carrera musical da un salto de calidad y popularidad vertiginoso. Su primer LP para Reprise se titula: “We Got By” , obteniendo elogios por su sofisticada voz al ser comparado con Billy Eckstine y Johnny Mathis. Después de grabar “Glow” en 1976, Jarreau lanzó “Look to the Rainbow”, un disco doble en vivo que llegó al Top 50 en los rankings de álbumes de EE.UU. Con “Breakin’ Away”, grabado en 1981 ingresó al Top 10, que incluía los éxitos : “We’re in This Love Together” y “Breakin’ Away”. Después de grabar: “Lis for Lover”, en 1986 con el productor Nile Rodgers, Jarreau tuvo un éxito con el tema del programa televisivo Luz de Luna, pero su éxito como cantante pop estaba declinando y sus siguientes obras, como “Heaven and Earth” de 1992 y “Tenderness” grabado dos años después en 1994 tuvieron más éxito con el público adulto que con la juventud.
Siempre al margen de las criticas que le llovían por su exceso de comercialidad en su música, denostado por los amantes del jazz que veían en él a un impostor que adulteraba la esencia del jazz, Jarreau ha pasado a la historia de la música por ser el primer cantante que ha logrado ganar cinco premios Grammys, tres de ellos en tres estilos distintos: Jazz, Pop y Rhythm & Blues respectivamente.
High Crime, no es un album “hit” pero si contiene un numero notable de canciones de diferentes estilos, desde el pop y lleno de vitalidad “Imagination” hasta el funk con “Sticky Wicket”. Un coleccionable de todas maneras.
Tracks
1. Raging Waters
2. Imagination
3. Murphy’s Law
4. Tell Me
5. After All
6. High Crime
7. Let’s Pretend
8. Sticky Wicket
9. Love Speaks Louder Than Words
**Listen**
Earth Wind & Fire – System Of Survival (12″ Mixes) (1987)
Noviembre 22, 2008 a 3:23 pm (Funk)
System Of Survival (12″ Mixes) (1987)
In 1987, CBS Records convinced Philip Bailey and Maurice White that a reunion of Earth Wind & Fire would be beneficial for all parties. All but Al McKay, Larry Dunn, Freddie White, Johnny Graham, and Roland Bautista would return. New to the group was guitarist/vocalist Sheldon Reynolds. Their comeback hit, “System of Survival” [#1 on the Billboard R&B charts], was penned by a then-unknown songwriter, Skylark. A 1987 Earth, Wind & Fire reunion (featuring new member, lead and rhythm guitarist Sheldon Reynolds) brought about the double-platinum album Touch the World, an album that brought forth the aforementioned number one R&B and dance hit “System Of Survival”.
Tracks:
1. System Of Survival
2. System Of Survival (With Narration – 7″ Version)
3. System Of Survival – Dub 1 Mix (Everybody Get Up/House Party Mix)
4. System Of Survival (Percapella)
**Listen**
Ohio Players – Angel (1977)
Noviembre 21, 2008 a 11:57 pm (Funk)
Angel (1977).
There are three elements that can always be found on the Ohio Players’ albums that were released during their heyday: funky tracks, hyped ballads and sexually suggestive album covers. This LP is no different, featuring three releases in “Body Vibes,” “O-H-I-O” and “Merry Go Round.” The first and last peaked at 19 and 77 respectively on the Billboard R&B charts. The second of the three is an uptempo cut, in which the song’s title is the only lyric; it is repeated in a whispery chant in the verse and the word itself is sung throughout the chorus. This formula proved successful as the single cracked the Top Ten at number nine inside of 18 weeks. It was also the last Top Ten single for the Dayton, Ohio funk aggregate. “Angel,” the title track, and “Can You Still Love Me” were not released, but are classic Ohio Players compositions. “Angel” is a mid-tempo number honed with dancing rhythms and piercing horns that Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner shrouds with his trademark baritone, complemented by superb background vocals. Bonner maintains that same vocal appeal on “Can You Still Love Me,” leaving room for falsetto-flavored background vocals that are creatively arranged.(AMG).
Tracks:
1. Angel
2. Merry-Go-Round
3. Glad To Know You’re Mind
4. Don’t Fight My Love
5. Body Vibes
6. Can You Still Love Me?
7. O-H-I-O
8. Faith
**Listen**
War – All Day Music (1971)
Noviembre 21, 2008 a 2:58 pm (Funk, Funk Jazz, Soul Funk)
All Day Music (1971)
As controlled as their self-titled debut was loose, War’s sophomore effort, All Day Music, appearing a little over six months later in November 1971, was packed with subtly understated grooves. A hit with the fans, the LP peaked in the Top Ten, ultimately spending a massive 39 weeks on the charts. Side one is a gorgeous slab of mellow grooves and jazzed funk highlighted by both the title track and “Get Down,” while “That’s What Love Can Do” is an outstanding, textured, sleepy love affair revolving around the band’s superior vocal harmonies and a tenor sax solo. The light, spare rhythm is like a warm treacle binding. With just three songs picking up the second half, War steps up the pace across the Latin-influenced jam “Nappy Head,” the funky, bass-laden “Slipping Into the Darkness,” and the all-out electric blues jam that rips through the prototype “Baby Brother.” The latter was recorded live on June 30, 1971, at California’s Hollywood Bowl and would, in revised and seriously edited form, be reborn as the monster “Me and Baby Brother” on War’s Deliver the Word opus. Not nearly as fiery (with the exception of “Baby Brother,” of course) as either their live performances or later albums, All Day Music is still one of this band’s best-ever efforts. At times mellow enough to border on horizontal, the songs are filled with such texture and such rich intent that even in the band’s quietest breath there is a funky resonance that fulfills Lee Oskar’s vision fully. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. All Day Music
2. Get Down
3. That’s What Love Will Do
4. There Must Be a Reason
5. Nappy Head (Theme from Ghetto Man)
6. Slippin’ into Darkness
7. Baby Brother
**Listen**
Funk Inc. – Urban Renewal (1995)
Noviembre 21, 2008 a 2:25 pm (Funk, Funk Jazz, Jazz)
Urban Renewal (1995)
In 1995 – 21 years after Funk, Inc.’s breakup – organist and Jimmy Smith disciple Bobby Watley decided to assemble a new edition of his gritty soul-jazz quintet. Two original members – conga player Cecil Hunt and Watley himself — were joined by saxman Teddy Patterson, guitarist Doug Swanigan and drummer Phil Brines. Watley unveiled his new Funk with Urban Renewal, a solid effort that, like such classics as Chicken Lickin’ and Hangin’ Out, effectively combines the immediacy of soul and funk with the spontaneity of jazz. Before its demise, the original Funk had deteriorated quite a bit by smothering itself with overproduction; but that’s not a problem here. From the earthy, down-home blues themes of “Sneaky” and “Get Some More” to a commanding interpretation of Herbie Mann’s “Memphis Underground,” Renewal makes it clear that accessibility and artistic integrity aren’t mutually exclusive. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Ants In Your Pants
2. Urban Renewal
3. Spasms
4. Sneaky
5. Thang
6. Days And Nights In St Ignace
7. Still Called The Blues
8. Get Some More
9. 6th Street Stroll
10. Memphis Underground
**Listen**
Tower Of Power – Souled Out (1995)
Noviembre 20, 2008 a 11:28 pm (Funk, Funk Jazz, Modern Funk)
Souled Out (1995)
Brent Carter (vocals); Carmen Grillo (guitar, background vocals); David Mann (alto & tenor saxophones); Emilio Castillo (tenor saxophone, background vocals); Stephen “Doc” Kupka (baritone saxophone); Bill Churchville (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone); Barry Danielian (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nick Milo (Hammond B-3 organ, Minimoog, keyboards); Francis Rocco Prestia (bass); Herman Matthews (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Jeff Lorber (guitar, Clavinet); Brandon Fields (saxophone); Lenny Castro (percussion).
Producers: Emilio Castillo, Jeff Lorber.
Tracks:
1. Souled Out
2. Taxed To The Max
3. Keep Comin’ Back
4. Soothe You
5. Do You Wanna (Make Love To Me)
6. Lovin’ You Forever
7. Gotta Make A Change
8. Diggin’ On James Brown
9. Sexy Soul
10. Just Like You
11. Once You Get A Taste
12. Undercurrent
**Listen**
Stevie Wonder – Original Musiquarium I (1982)
Noviembre 20, 2008 a 11:25 pm (Funk, Soul)
Original Musiquarium I (1982).
Released in 1982, the double-album Original Musiquarium I summarizes Stevie Wonder’s classic period of the ’70s, concentrating primarily on the hits, but adding a few album tracks to hint at the depth of his albums, as well as four new songs (one for each side, all pleasant, none particularly remarkable). Though there could be some dispute about the album tracks, this does wind up as an excellent overview of Wonder’s period of greatest activity, and it’s a terrific listen to boot — any record that sports such hits as “Superstition,” “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” “Living for the City,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Higher Ground,” “Sir Duke,” “Boogie on Reggae Woman,” and “I Wish” is guaranteed to be a great listen, and it is. Wonder remains a quintessential album artist, but this record is a terrific snapshot of the highlights.
Tracks:
01. Superstition
02. You Haven’t Done Nothin’
03. Living for the City
04. Front Line
05. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
06. Send One Your Love
07. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
08. Ribbon in the Sky
09. Higher Ground
10. Sir Duke
11. Master Blaster (Jammin’)
12. Boogie on Reggae Woman
13. That Girl
14. I Wish Wonder
15. Isn’t She Lovely
16. Do I Do
**Listen**
Last Flight Essence Featuring Jaco Pastorius (1984)
Noviembre 19, 2008 a 11:13 pm (Jazz Fusion)
Essence Featuring Jaco Pastorius (1984).
Essence was a one-night stand. Recorded in a matter of hours on November 11, 1984, Last Flight comprises three lengthy, loosely structured studio jams. Drummer/percussionist Carlos Cervantes is credited as composer, but, interestingly, his performance is fairly dull and limited. Pianist Michael Gerber is the real standout on these instrumental cuts, along with Jaco Pastorius and flutist Yaco Grau. (Grau performed with Pastorius on Francisco Mondragon Rio’s Natural, recorded just six months after Last Flight.)
Pastorius lays down some hot bass licks on “Universe Is My Home, Pt. 1,” stepping up for a frenetic solo near the close, at times accompanied by flute. The 27-minute piece includes a brief foray into “Reza,” a Jaco favorite. Pastorius also tosses in a few familiar riffs on the final track, “Galeon,” on which Delmar Brown’s synth finally cuts through to the fore. The CD wasn’t released until 1989, two years after Pastorius passed away. It is available only as a Japanese import, and rarely surfaces. As the Pastorius estate has never given permission for its release, nor receives any funds from its sale, Last Flight is considered a bootleg. (AMG).
Tracks:
1. The Universe Is My Home, Part. 1
2. The Universe Is My Home, Part. 2
3. Galeon
**Listen**
Peaches & Herb – Reunited (1992)
Noviembre 19, 2008 a 10:25 pm (Disco, Soul)
Reunited (1992)
Though soul/pop Peaches and Herb was billed as a duo, their group member rotation is more similar to a group’s. The original Peaches, Francine Hurd Barker, a Washington, D.C., native, earned the childhood nickname “Peaches” because of her genteel manner. She sang in neighborhood groups and in her teens she became the lead singer for a group named the Keynotes. Starting her own group, the Darlettes, they auditioned for and were signed to D.C.-area label Date Records, where their name was changed to the Sweet Things. Herb Fame, born Herbert Feemster on October 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., began singing in church at seven and continued singing through the years in neighborhood groups. After high school graduation, Herb began working at a record store. His friend, Howard University student Freddie Perren, worked at another record store, Sabin’s right around the corner. One day in January 1965, producer Van McCoy came into the store Herb worked in to ask about doing in-store promotion for a group he was working with called the Sweet Things. He and Herb began having conversations that lead to Herb auditioning for and signing with Date Records as a solo artist. While in New York recording the two acts, the Sweet Things and Herb Fame, separately, McCoy decided to use some leftover recording time to record Herb and Francine as a duo. The original A-side, “We’re in This Thing Together,” failed to generate much interest. Then a disc jockey at St. Louis, MO, radio station KATZ flipped the single over and began playing the B-side, “Let’s Fall in Love.” It became Peaches and Herb’s first hit single; it was a remake of a number one pop hit for Eddy Duchin from 1934 that went to number 11 R&B in December 1966. The follow-up, “Close Your Eyes” written by Chuck Willis, hit number four R&B, number eight pop in April 1967. As the hits continued, the duo earned the nickname the Sweethearts of Soul. Next came “For Your Love” (number ten R&B, July 1967), “Love Is Strange” (a remake of Mickey & Sylvia’s 1956 hit), and “Two Little Kids,” written by Chicago soul stalwarts Barbara Acklin, Eugene Record, and Carl Davis. The duo released two hit albums in 1967 Let’s Fall in Love” and For Your Love. This same year, Francine “Peaches” Barker tired of the rigors of touring and she was replaced with a succession of “Peacheses” including Marlene Mack, thus initiating a practice that goes on to this day. Voted one of the top soul duos of the day by Cashbox Magazine, Peaches and Herb continued to have hits: “The Ten Commandments of Love”; Gamble & Huff wrote and produced “United,” a 1966 R&B hit for the Intruders; and “When He Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters),” a number ten R&B hit from spring 1969. The single “It’s Just a Game, Love” (from the Jim Brown movie The Split), which stalled at number 50 R&B and number pop in summer 1970, was Peaches and Herb’s last charting single on Date. Despondent over the act’s failing chart success, Herb abruptly quit Peaches and Herb and got a job with the Washington, D.C. Police Department in July 1970. Then in 1976, Herb decided to re-enter the music business. He found his “new” Peaches in fellow D.C. resident and former model Linda Greene through a mutual introduction by Van McCoy. The duo charted again in June 1977 with “We’re Still Together” on MCA Records from a self-titled album produced by Van McCoy. The following year, they signed with Herb’s old friend, songwriter/producer Freddie Perren’s production company MVP Productions. Perren had produced and co-written million-selling hits by the Jackson 5, the Miracles, and the Sylvers, among others. Through him, the duo inked a deal with Polydor Records. Their first Polydor single, “Shake Your Groove Thing,” went gold peaking at number four R&B and number five pop in late 1978. The creamy ballad “Reunited” seemed an unlikely follow-up to the disco-oriented “Shake.” The naysayers watched in shock as “Reunited” earned platinum status, holding on to the number one spot for four weeks on both the R&B and pop charts during spring 1979. Both are on the platinum album 2 Hot (released October 1978). The majority of their Polydor hits were written by Perren, Dino Fekaris, Kenny St. Lewis, and Melvin Ragin. Though there were other hits on Polydor, none came close to the success of their early- to mid-’60s Date singles. Though Herb Fame believes it can happen again and employs a new “Peaches” to keep the name current while he holds down a job in the Washington, D.C. police department.
Tracks:
1. Shake Your Groove Thing
2. All Your Love (Get It Here)
3. Four’s A Traffic Jam
4. We’ve Got Love
5. Reunited
6. Easy As Pie
7. Roller Skatin’ Mate (Part 1)
8. The Love Stealers
9. I Pledge My Love
10. Funtime (Part 1)
11. Freeway
12. Surrender
**Listen**
Graham Central Station – Ain’t No ’bout It (1975)
Noviembre 19, 2008 a 10:09 pm (Funk)
Ain’t No ’bout It (1975)
On their third album, Graham Central Station created an album full of trademark infectious pop-soul grooves, but one that lacked the consistently strong work that defines a true classic. However, that doesn’t mean that Ain’t No ’bout-A-Doubt It is less than listenable: in fact, it contains some of the group’s finest songs. The album’s all-time funk classic is the opening track “The Jam,” a “Dance to the Music”-styled funk workout that intersperses a dazzling group groove with individual solos for each player. “Water” is another strong funk tune, an insistently rhythmic song that blends thump-popping basslines with backwards tape loops to create an intriguing blend of funk and psychedelia. Ain’t No ‘Bout-A-Doubt It also produced a number one R&B smash in “Your Love,” which marries the group’s talent for funky grooves to an old-fashioned love song with a melody that harkens back to doo wop. However, not everything on Ain’t No ‘Bout-A-Doubt It is as strong as these highlights: “It Ain’t Nothing but a Warner Bros. Party” is a lightweight jam with throwaway lyrics, and the group’s rote version of the Ann Peebles classic “I Can’t Stand the Rain” fails to add anything memorable to the song. All in all, Ain’t No ‘Bout-A-Doubt It lacks the strong material to make it memorable, but its high points make it a worthwhile listen for funk enthusiasts. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. The Jam
2. Your Love
3. It’s Alright
4. I Can’t Stand the Rain
5. It Ain’t Nothing But a Warner Brothers Party
6. Ole Smokey
8. Water
9. Luckiest People
**Listen**
*Gracias Guido por este aporte
Kool & The Gang – Kool & The Gang (1969)
Noviembre 19, 2008 a 10:00 pm (Funk)
Kool & The Gang (1969)
Kool & the Gang’s funky debut was an unexpected hit, with a first single (self-titled) climbing both the pop and R&B charts. Subsequent singles “The Gang’s Back Again,” “Let the Music Take Your Mind,” and “Funky Man”, followed the first into the charts, and there were plenty of other standout tracks: “Raw Hamburger,” “Chocolate Buttermilk,” and “Kool’s Back Again.” Though barely over a half an hour long, Kool and the Gang is a blast of a record containing strong elements that would become the band’s trademarks: smooth melodies, suave rhythms, and brassy horns. This is one of Kool & the Gang’s jazzier albums and a strong debut worth checking out, though less accessible than any of their later pop recordings. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Kool & the Gang
2. Breeze & Soul
3. Chocolate Buttermilk
4. Sea of Tranquility
5. Give It Up
6. Since I Lost My Baby
7. Kool’s Back Again
8. The Gang’s Back Again
9. Raw Hamburger
10. Let the Music Take Your Mind
**Listen**
J.R. Funk And The Love Machine – Good Lovin’ (1981)
Noviembre 18, 2008 a 12:03 am (Funk)
Good Lovin’ (1981).
All songs published by: REVENUE MUSIC and O. M. Music (ASCAP)
“The Love Machine” is: Sarita Butterfield, Jinji Nicole & Bernadine
Mastered at: Frankford Wayne, New York
Recorded and mixed at Right Track Studios except
“Good Lovin’” mixed at Sigma Sound
LP Brass Records.
Tracks:
1. Come And Get It
2. Make Your Body Move
3. From The Giddy Up
4. Good Lovin’
5. I Just Hope You Understand
6. Feel Good Party Time
**Listen**
