Niteflyte II (1981)
Formed in 1977 when Sandy Torano and vocalist Howard Johnson met by chance in a Florida club. Johnson was something of an unknown but Torano had already released one album that year ‘Hit It Again’ with the group Tornader which saw release on Polydor. I have never heard the album myself, but it included guest appearances by Johnny Winter and the Brecker Brothers so on paper it looks interesting and might be worth investigating at some point. Anyway, with the formation of Nightflyte the group released two albums, the first self titled in 1979 yielding the top 40 hit ‘If You Want It’ and the follow up ‘Nightflyte II’ released in 1981, which didn’t do as well, but I believe is the better record. (www.glorydazemusic.com)
Great jazzy soul from Niteflyte — their second album, and even harder to find than the first! The album’s got a lean, groovy feel that’s totally great — a bit like some of the mainstream work of the time, but a bit hipper overall in the rhythms, with a quality that’s often a fair bit more jazz-influenced than most of the group’s contemporaries. But the work’s still pretty soul-based overall — tight, catchy, and featuring some great duo vocals that slink nicely amidst the grooves. (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. You Are
2. You’re Breaking My Heart
3. Anyway You Want It
4. Sexy Dancer
5. Shoot From The Hip
6. Alicia’s Song
7. I Knew It Couldn’t Happen
**Listen**
Niteflyte – Niteflyte II (1981)
Julio 31, 2009 a 11:11 pm (R&B, Soul Funk)
Niteflyte – Niteflyte (1979)
Julio 31, 2009 a 8:30 pm (Funk, R&B, Soul Funk)
Niteflyte (1979)
A beautiful album of jazzy modern soul tracks — and quite possibly the best album by this legendary combo! There’s a joyous, upbeat feel here that’s totally great — miles from mainstream soul of the time, in a way that’s always made the record a favorite for fans of the Free Soul scene — who’ve kept it strong for years. Lead vocals are by Sandy Torano and Howard Johnson — but the backing vocals are great too, and feature Phyllis Hyman — used in subtle ways to flesh out the sound nicely — and the instrumentation is often funky, but has a warmer, jazzier undercurrent too. (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. All About Love
2. If You Want It
3. Sunshine
4. Make It Right
5. Get On The Fun
6. Tryin’ To Find
7. I Wonder
8. Easy Come
9. No Two Alike
**Listen**
Kenny G – The Moment (1996)
Julio 30, 2009 a 10:48 pm (Smooth Jazz)
The Moment (1996)
Although The Moment followed four years after Kenny G’s blockbuster Breathless, the saxophonist didn’t change his approach at all during his time off. Kenny G remains a sweet, melodic instrumentalist, who works entirely in lush, slick adult contemporary pop settings. His playing has improved somewhat in those four years — he soars and dives with effortless skill, and his vibrato remains fleet and elegant — yet after The Moment is finished, you wish that he had tried some new musical territories. That said, it is true that The Moment ranks second to only Breathless in terms of sheer consistency in Kenny G’s catalog, thanks to the sustained vision of producer Babyface. Of particular note are the two vocal collaborations (Babyface’s “Everytime I Close My Eyes,” Toni Braxton’s “That Somebody Was You”), which are the best duets to yet appear on any of Kenny G’s records. (Thom Owens, AMG)
Tracks:
1. The Moment
2. Passages
3. Havana
4. Always
5. That Somebody Was You
6. The Champion’s Theme
7. Eastside Jam
8. Moonlight
9. Gettin’ on the Step
10. Every Time I Close My Eyes
11. Northern Lights
12. Innocence
**Listen**
Grover Washington Jr. – Winelight (1980)
Julio 30, 2009 a 2:25 pm (Jazz, Soul)
Winelight (1980)
Grover Washington, Jr., has long been one of the leaders in what could be called rhythm & jazz, essentially R&B-influenced jazz. Winelight is one of his finest albums, and not primarily because of the Bill Withers hit “Just the Two of Us.” It is the five instrumentals that find Washington (on soprano, alto, and tenor) really stretching out. If he had been only interested in sales, Washington’s solos could have been half as long and he would have stuck closely to the melody. Instead he really pushes himself on some of these selections, particularly the title cut. A memorable set of high-quality and danceable soul-jazz. (Scott Yanow, AMG)
Tracks:
1. Winelight
2. Let It Flow (For Dr. J)
3. In The Name Of Love
4. Take Me There
5. Just The Two Of Us
6. Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)
**Listen**
Fatback Band – NYCNYUSA (1977)
Julio 29, 2009 a 9:00 pm (Disco, Funk, R&B)
NYCNCUSA (1977).
Review:
NYCNYUSA is an improvement over 1976’s lackluster Night Fever, but not by much. It suffers from the same problem that plagues many of the albums in the Fatback catalog: While the group has no problem generating solid grooves, they often have trouble translating them into enough solid songs to sustain an album. Inconsistent material continues to be a problem on NYCNYUSA: “Spank the Baby” layers a chant that is inane even by disco standards over a repetitive jam while “Duke Walk” sinks the pleasant quality of its pop-reggae feel with a dull arrangement that lacks any interesting twists and turns. Another problem track is “Cosmic Woman,” which fails to make to good on the promise of its interesting title due to uninspired lyrics and a humdrum groove. Despite these inconsistencies, the album does manage to produce some strong tracks: the title track pays affectionate tribute to the band’s birthplace with a nice combination of carefully layered harmony vocals and a catchy tune full of pop hooks, while “Love Street” effectively layers exuberant horns over a forceful bassline to create an effective fusion of soul grooves and pop hooks. Fatback also scored an R&B chart hit with “Double Dutch,” which pits dance instructions against a pulsating groove to create another in the group’s long line of trademark dance-craze songs. In short, NYCNYUSA is too inconsistent for the casual track but offers a few worthwhile tracks that might please the Fatback fanatic. (All Music Guide -Donald A. Guarisco).
Tracks:
1. Double Dutch
2. Soul Finger (Gonna Put On You)
3. Spank the Baby
4. Duke Walk
5. NYCNYUSA
6. Love Street
7. A Changed Man
8. Cosmic Woman
Funkadelic – The Very Best Of Funkadelic 1976-1981 [1998]
Julio 29, 2009 a 8:58 pm (Funk)
The Very Best Of Funkadelic 1976-1981 [1998]
Finding a quality Parliament best-of to start with is simple. In fact, the most difficult part is narrowing down your choices. Conversely, finding a quality Funkadelic best-of to start with is daunting. First of all, the group split its 11-year career between two labels, Westbound and Warner Bros., which makes assembling a career-spanning best-of a problem. If you want a compilation documenting the group’s early years at Westbound, you have few options, none of which are comprehensive or easy to find with the exception of Ace’s Finest. The group’s Warner Bros. years aren’t much easier to find documented. There are some single-disc best-ofs that have surfaced over the years, but they’re inadequate. “(Not Just) Knee Deep” itself spans the course of 15 minutes, and many of Funkadelic’s better moments such as “One Nation Under a Groove” aren’t short songs either, meaning you only get a small sample of songs on a 75-minute single-disc best-of. So if you really want to hear what Warner Bros.-era Funkadelic was all about, it’s recommended to find something more extensive or just buy the four Warner Bros. LPs. In terms of double-disc best-ofs, there’s no better choice than either Funk Gets Stronger or The Very Best of Funkadelic, which are near facsimiles. The latter includes all the group’s hits from the Warner Bros. era in unedited format, while focusing its attention primarily at the flawless Hardcore Jollies and One Nation Under a Groove albums rather than the less engaging Uncle Jam Wants You and Electric Spanking of War Babies. Because the band included live versions of “Cosmic Slop” and “Maggot Brain” on its Warner Bros. albums, you luckily get those pre-Warner Bros. classics here too. But what you don’t get is any Westbound material predating the four Warner Bros. albums. In other words, this isn’t exactly the one-stop you might hope it is. (Jason Birchmeier, AMG)
Tracks:
CD1
1. One Nation Under a Groove
2. Cholly (Funk Gettin Ready to Roll)
3. Comin’ Round the Mountain
4. Cosmic Slop (Live)
5. Electro-Cuties
6. Uncle Jam
7. Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer Version)
8. The Electric Spanking of War Babies
CD2
1. (Not Just) Knee Deep
2. Smokey
3. Freak of the Week
4. Into You
5. Oh, I
6. Soul Mate
7. Icka Prick
8. Maggot Brain (Live)
*Gracias a Funkystar por esta compilación
Rafael Cameron – Cameron (1980)
Julio 29, 2009 a 8:52 pm (Disco Funk, Soul)
Cameron (1980).
Review:
Renewing a partnership with Brass Construction’s Randy Muller that was forged when the two played in the early-’70s group Panharmonics, Rafael Cameron released his solo debut on Salsoul in 1980. Backed by an uncredited Funk Deluxe (the instrumental alias of funk band Skyy, who were also produced by Muller), Cameron unleashed an exuberant, joyful fusion of funk underpinned by disco-inflected soul. Cameron brought a vivacity to the genre that had been missing in the onslaught of sub-disco bands that had glutted the marketplace. Both “Magic of You,” which gave Cameron a Top 20 hit, and “Together” are lengthy dance grooves, divided into movements that break the pace but keep the flow. “Funkdown,” meanwhile, is a throwback to classic funk that would have been as at home in the early ’70s as it is here. It also lets both Cameron and Funk Deluxe really strut their stuff. But despite “Funkdown”’s brilliant edge, it was the heavily disco-fied “Let’s Get It Off” that became a club hit, as much for its subtle raunch as for its effortless, spangly beats. But Cameron wasn’t done yet, and proved he was as easy on the downbeat as the up, rounding the whole thing out with the marvelous, tender ballad “Feelin’s,” which landed him a third hit. The only problem with this outstanding LP is one of timing. Cameron slid this nugget into the Top 20 as the decade was ticking over. Too late for the dying disco movement and too early for the next wave of clubbers, it would have its flash, only to be forgotten in the long run.(Amy Hanson – All Music Guide).
Tracks:
1. Magic Of You
2. Funkdown
3. Together
4. Let’s Get It Off
5. Can’t Live Without Ya
6. Feelin’s
7. All That’s Good To Me (Instrumental)-Bonus Track
**Listen**
Gap Band – The 12″ Collection And More (1999)
Julio 29, 2009 a 12:06 am (Funk)
12″ Collection And More (1999).
Review:
Although they are best known as funk band, the Gap Band was successfully marketed to a disco audience during their heyday via 12″ remixes of their songs. Most of these versions were confined to the discotheques, but this has been remedied with the release of The 12 Collection and More. This handy volume allows casual Gap Band fans get a new perspective on this group’s grasp of the groove by compiling five 12″ remixes and throwing in three album-length long versions to flesh the set out. The 12″ versions reveal a band that approached the remix of a song as a method of redefining it: “Outstanding” cranks up the percussion to show off the hidden danceable edge to that slow jam, and “Early in the Morning” pushes the interplay between rhythm guitar and bass to the song’s forefront and proves that the group’s ability to craft complex, hypnotic grooves was just as important to their success as their knack for capitalizing on then-current soul music trends. However, the most impressive of the 12″ mixes is “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” which transforms the original tune into a 13-minute epic, complete with new percussion breaks and a lengthy instrumental break featuring war-battle sound effects overdubbed atop the song’s churning, synth bass groove. The full-length album versions aren’t as revelatory as the 12″ mixes, but fit in with them nicely: the highlight in this arena is the eight-plus minutes of “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get up and Dance (Oops!),” which shows off the relentlessness of the song’s hooks (the “oops, upside your head” chant, some surprising acoustic guitar riffs) to their fullest. The 12 Collection could have added a few more rarities (the non-sound effects version of “Beep a Freak” and the legendary “munchkin version” of “Jam the Motha” are missing in action) but this collection remains a solid portrait of the Gap Band’s gifts in the 12″ arena. In the end, The 12 Collection and More will be of greater interest to the devoted fan than a casual listener, but it makes a great supplement to a greatest hits collection for those who want to go beyond the hits.(Donald A.Guarisco – All Music Guide).
Tracks:
01. You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Original 12″ Mix)
02. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) (Original 12″ Mix) (Full-Length LP Version)
03. Early In The Morning (Original 12″ Mix)
04. Party Train (Original 12″ Special Dance Mix)
05. Outstanding (Original 12″ Mix)
06. I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops!) (Original 12″) (Full-Length LP Version)
07. Shake (Original 12″ Disco Version)
08. Humpin’ (Original 12″) (Full-Length LP Version)
Pointer Sisters – Break Out (1983)
Julio 28, 2009 a 10:20 pm (Pop, R&B)
Break Out (1983)
By the time the Pointer Sisters unleashed their 1983 Break Out LP, they had racked up six Top Ten singles spread between the pop and R&B charts. Break Out would prove to be their new wave breakthrough, peppering both charts with five further songs — half the album — while the LP itself spent over a year on the charts. Astute performers, the Pointer Sisters had embraced the 1980s’ penchant for synthesized sonics wholeheartedly and used them to fine effect across songs that were upbeat and slick, space-age dance grooves that brought a new dimension to the trio’s sound. Both “Jump (For My Love)” and “Automatic” were massive hits during early 1984, as both injected the sisters’ trademark harmonies with fresh grooves that culminated in an appealing blend of old and new. “Neutron Dance,” meanwhile, with Ruth Pointer’s rich lead vocal laying over an extraordinarily snappy and nearly frenetic melody, did double duty, also featuring in the film Beverly Hills Cop. Using those three songs as a springboard, Break Out powers on through one groover after another with few surprises, although “Dance Electric” combines a synthesizer straight out Human League territory with a blistering guitar solo and “Easy Persuasion” emerges as a smoky ballad of sorts. Although Break Out is a far cry from the Pointer Sisters’ earliest intentions, it still charms and pleases. It’s a vital part of the early-’80s tapestry, a sonic signpost for the ultimate feel-good generation. (Amy Hanson, AMG)
Tracks:
1. Jump
2. Automatic
3. I’m So Excited
4. I Need You
5. Neutron Dance
6. Dance Electric
7. Easy Persuasion
8. Baby Come and Get It
9. Telegraph Your Love
10. Operator
**Listen**
T-Connection – Pure & Natural (1982)
Julio 28, 2009 a 9:20 pm (Disco Funk, Funk)
Pure & Natural (1982)
A near-lost 80s groover from T-Connection — recorded after their more famous albums for TK, but every bit as nice! By this point, the group have really sweetened their sound in a nice way — and are working in a Capitol Rare-styled 80s groove that’s filled with rolling basslines, spacey keyboards, and mature vocals that get past the ensemble funk mode of their earliest records. There’s plenty of catchy clubby numbers on the set — and titles include “Girl Watching”, “A Little More Love”, “Slippin Away”, “Rushing Through The Crowd”, “Might As Well Dance”, and “Goombay Time”. (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. Girl Watching
2. Party Night
3. Little More Love
4. Slippin’ Away
5. Might as Well Dance
6. Rushing Through the Crowd
7. The Best of My Love
8. Goombay Time
**Listen**
Prince And The Revolution – Parade (1986)
Julio 28, 2009 a 4:38 pm (Funk, Pop, Psychedelic Soul, Rock)
Parade (1986).
Review:
Undaunted by the criticism Around the World in a Day received, Prince continued to pursue his psychedelic inclinations on Parade, which also functioned as the soundtrack to his second film, Under the Cherry Moon. Originally conceived as a double album, Parade has the sprawling feel of a double record, even if it clocks in around 45 minutes. Prince & the Revolution shift musical moods and textures from song to song — witness how the fluttering psychedelia of “Christopher Tracy’s Parade” gives way to the spare, jazzy funk of “New Position,” which morphs into the druggy “I Wonder U” — and they’re determined not to play it safe, even on the hard funk of “Girls and Boys” and “Mountains,” as well as the stunning “Kiss,” which hits hard with just a dry guitar, keyboard, drum machine, and layered vocals. All of the group’s musical adventures, even the cabaret-pop of “Venus de Milo” and “Do U Lie?” do nothing to undercut the melodicism of the record, and the amount of ground they cover in 12 songs is truly remarkable. Even with all of its attributes, Parade is a little off-balance, stopping too quickly to give the haunting closer, “Sometimes It Snows in April,” the resonance it needs. For some tastes, it may also be a bit too lyrically cryptic, but Prince’s weird religious and sexual metaphors develop into a motif that actually gives the album weight. If it had been expanded to a double album, Parade would have equaled the subsequent Sign ‘o’ the Times, but as it stands, it’s an astonishingly rewarding near-miss.(Stephen Thomas Erlewine – All Music Guide).
Tracks:
01. Christopher Tracy’s Parade
02. New Position
03. I Wonder U
04. Under the Cherry Moon
05. Girls and Boys
06. Life Can Be So Nice
07. Venus De Milo
08. Mountains
09. Do U Lie?
10. Kiss
11. Anotherloverholenyohead
12. Sometimes It Snows in April
**Listen**
The Temptations – Reunion (1982)
Julio 27, 2009 a 7:28 pm (Funk, R&B, Soul, Soul Funk)
The Temptations – Reunion (1982)
Reunion is a very good Temptations album that could have been great. Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were originally rumored to produce this reunion of Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin with the current crop of Temptations. However, the two sides couldn’t get the deal done. So Motown rationed out the production assignments to in-house producers, Rick James, Smokey Robinson, and others. Seven voices sang on these tracks besides Kendricks and Ruffin; they were: Dennis Edwards, Glen Leonard, Richard Street, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams — a mini-choir. Considering the voices on hand, they should have spread the leads around. Of the seven tracks, Dennis Edwards sings six and David Ruffin one, the very ordinary “You Better Beware,” twritten by money man Barrett Strong. Ruffin’s vocal sounds rough and appears to strain trying to reach some notes. Punk-funker Rick James’ epic “Standing On the Top” production is the most popular track here, with its dead-on beat, blaring horns, and multiple voices; Rick James himself joins the Tempts on this festive song. Kendricks’ bluesy falsetto lines on the fade are like cherries topping a sundae. Relishing the opportunity to produce Dennis Edwards, Smokey writes two beauties for the churchy belter: the introspective, engaging “Backstage” and the understated “More On the Inside,” the second release from this set. Kerry Gordy, one of Berry Gordy sons, co-wrote two in-your-face cold-blooded stompers, the so-true “Money Hards to Get” and the frantic “Lock It In the Pocket,” both excellent and both left for dead on the album. Edwards displays his balladry ability on a stunning rendition of “I’ve Never Been to Me” originally done by Charlene. Not a bad album, but the product doesn’t equal the sum of the voices and producers. Why wasn’t Eddie Kendricks given a lead? Or Richard Street and the Kendricks-sounding Glen Leonard? Fans would have loved to hear the two falsettos featured on a song, or Kendricks and Ruffin co-leading as they did on “You’re My Everything” and the lesser-known but just as brilliant “Born to Love,” from The Temptin’ Temptations. While we’re playin’, a gospel jam would have been a rip-snortin’ inclusion (or conclusion); with seven voices, the results would have been breathtaking. (Andrew Hamilton, AMG)
Tracks:
1. Standing on the Top
2. You Better Beware
3. Lock It in the Pocket
4. I’ve Never Been to Me
5. Backstage
6. More on the Inside
7. Money’s Hard to Get
8. Like a Diamond in the Sky
9. Don’t Hold It In
**Listen**
Delegation – Deuces High (1982)
Julio 27, 2009 a 6:56 pm (Funk, R&B, Soul Funk)
Deuces High (1982)
Ricky Balley founded Delegation in the United Kingdom in 1975, a three-man group who changed members frequently with Balley the only constant. Balley, a native of Jamaica, moved to Britain with his parents as a teen, settling in Birmingham where he formed his first group, the Five Star Cadets. The short-lived group provided invaluable experience and helped Balley when he was putting Delegation (Balley, Len Coley, and Roddy Harris) together. They caught the ears of songwriter/producer Ken Gold who masterminded The Real Thing. Gold got them a deal with State Records, their first release “The Promise Of Love,” in 1976, flopped despite receiving excellent reviews and airplay. A second release “Where Is The Love” found its way onto the charts and the group started crisscrossing Europe gigging constantly. They hit again with “You’ve Been Doing Me Wrong,” but Harris quit, his place taken by Ray Patterson.
The years 1978 and 1979 showed promise, they hit with a remake of Ray Parker’s “Honey I’m Rich,” “Oh Honey,” and released their first LP, The Promise Of Love. More changes occurred when Coley left and was replaced by Bruce Dunbar. They hit a dry spell in England, but in 1979 “Oh Honey” soared to #5 on the R&B chart in the States, and charted Pop. A change of labels found them with Ariola who released Eau De Vie a good seller in Europe. Delegation came out in 1981 and spawned two more hits; a third album Dueces High appeared in 1982.
Personnel continued to change, Dunbar quit and Kathy Bryant joined, becoming Delegation’s first female member. They changed labels, releasing It’s Your Turn, on Epic which stiffed everywhere but France. They release The Mix on Scorpio Records, a segue compilation of five of their biggest hits. The band soldiered on until the early 90’s. Rap artists Coolio and The Ghetto Boys sampled “Oh Honey” which helps keep the Delegation’s name alive. Balley and Gold formed Euro-Jam Records to repackaged Delegation recordings and record up and coming artists. Collectables Records has release Golden Classics Edition, a greatest hits compilation. (Andrew Hamilton, AMG)
Electro soul at its best — a rare early 80s album from Delegation, and one of their best from the period! The album’s produced with lots of great touches on bass and keyboards — in a style that’s certainly more electric than that used on some of the group’s earlier albums, but which also comes off with a high degree of class, and is one of the rare examples where such presentation actually increases the power of the music. (DGA, Inc)
Tracks:
1. What Took You So Long
2. I Figure I’M Out Of Your Life
3. If You Were A Song
4. Gonna Bring The House Down
5. Tell Her
6. Dance Like Fred Astaire
7. No Words To Say
8. Would You Like To Start A Song With Me
9. Dance Time U.S.A.
Bonus Track
10. Darnlin I Think About You (The 1990 Mix)
**Listen**
*Gracias a Kunio por el aporte
Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl (1988)
Julio 26, 2009 a 1:58 am (Dance, Pop)
Forever Your Girl (1988).
Review:
Singer/dancer/choreographer Paula Abdul hit the big time with the third single, “Straight Up,” off this album, which sparked a string of hits that carried through to her follow-up. Despite having a slight voice, her voice is distinct and perfectly suited to this synthesized type of late-’80s dance-pop. “Cold Hearted” is insistent and catchy, “Forever Your Girl” is sweet and accessible, and “Opposites Attract” gives Abdul a chance to spar with the Wild Pair. There is some filler — “Next to You,” for example — that hasn’t aged as well as the better material, but overall this is a consistent album with some great dance-pop songs. Unfortunately, as Abdul and her material matured, her audience waned.(Bryan Buss – All Music Guide).
Tracks
1. The Way That You Love Me
2. Knocked Out
3. Opposites Attract
4. State Of Attraction
5. I Need You
6. Forever Your Girl
7. Straight Up
8. Next To You
9. Cold Hearted
10. One Or The Other
**Listen**
Caldera – Caldera (1976)
Julio 26, 2009 a 12:43 am (Funk Jazz, Fusion)
Caldera (1976).
With Wayne Henderson of Crusaders fame handling the production, Caldera showed a great deal of promise on its self-titled 1976 debut album. The Latin jazz-fusion unit isn’t afraid to take chances on such imaginative pieces as Jorge Strunz’s “El Juguete” and Eduardo del Barrio’s “Exaltation” — chances that pay off in a major way. Though one can tell that Caldera’s members were well aware of such explorers as Return to Forever, Weather Report, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it’s also clear that they were major Earth, Wind & Fire fans and had absorbed a wide variety of Latin music. Strunz and del Barrio were hardly the only fusionists who incorporated Latin rhythms in the 1970s — Chick Corea, George Duke, Wayne Shorter, Al DiMeola, and Joe Zawinul were all well aware of the musical innovations of Latinos, but Caldera was unique in the sense that the band represented a real melting pot of Latinos bringing different ideas to the table. And on this LP, those ideas work magnificently.(Alex henderson-All Music Guide).
Tracks:
1. Guanacaste
2. Coastin’
3. Exaltation
4. Synesthesia
5. Out of the Blue
6. El Juguete
**Listen**
Herbie Hancock – Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (1979)
Julio 25, 2009 a 1:00 am (Disco Funk, Funk Jazz)
Herbie Hancock – Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (1979).
Herbie Hancock’s electric records up until this point were marked by intelligence and adventure, even at their most earthy. But no, this one doesn’t have an ounce of either. Herbie falls hook, line and sinker for the disco fad and submerges his personality underneath the plastic vocals and four-on-the-floor disco beat. Hancock’s own gauzy vocals through a Sennheiser vocoder are embarrassing, and even his synthesizer work sounds coarse and gimmicky. This time, even the purists were right; this is of no interest to jazz listeners and it isn’t even good disco.(All Music Guide – Richard S. Ginell).
Tracks:
1. You Bet Your Love
2. Trust Me
3. Ready Or Not
4. Tell Everybody
5. Honey From The Jar
6. Knee Deep
Herbie Hancock – Monster (1980)
Julio 24, 2009 a 10:30 pm (Funk, Funk Jazz)
Monster (1980)
Despite the PR hype about this being Herbie Hancock’s first “rock” album, Monster is really another disco album, though more varied in texture, somewhat more subtle in execution, and blessedly rid of those vocoder vocals, though not of the real ones. “Saturday Night,” despite the distinctive presence of Carlos Santana, sets the album’s dancefloor tone. The rock element is supposedly supplied by Hancock on the newly-developed Clavitar, where, try as he might to articulate like a guitarist, the sound is still that of a mutated synthesizer. Alphonze Mouzon is wasted on drums, and guitarist Wah Wah Watson has a field day on his eponymous specialty. Most annoying (and defining) track — “Go for It”. (Richard S. Ginell, AMG)
Tracks:
1. Saturday Night
2. Stars in Your Eyes
3. Go for It
4. Don’t Hold It In
5. Making Love
6. It All Comes Around
**Listen**
Skyy – Skyyport (1981)
Julio 24, 2009 a 3:48 pm (Disco Funk)
Skyyport (1981)
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, producer Randy Muller was best known for two things: being a member of Brass Construction and working with Skyy. Both bands favored a funk/disco approach that brought many dancefloors to life, but there were some major differences between the two East Coast outfits. For one thing, Skyy had three female vocalists. Plus, Skyy was a lot more consistent. While Brass Construction recorded its share of albums that were uneven or disappointing, Skyy was usually reliable — more often than not, one could safely assume that the latter would deliver a first-rate party album. Skyyport is no exception. This 1980 release was the band’s third album, and the party people who had acquired Skyy’s two previous albums were not disappointed. The LP gets off to an impressive start with the hit “Here’s to You” (written by Muller), and they keep the creative momentum going with equally infectious funk dance numbers like “Superlove” (another hit single that Muller wrote) and “Take It Easy.” So, if Brass Construction and Skyy both had Muller’s input, why was the latter so much more consistent? It all came down to chemistry — he had a more consistently productive relationship with Skyy, which is interesting when you consider that Muller was actually a member of Brass Construction. Though he co-produced Skyyport and other band releases with Skyy’s Soloman Roberts, Jr. and did a lot of writing for the band, he was never an actual member. One of the Skyyport offerings that he didn’t write is the ballad “For the First Time,” which Roberts contributed. Although ballads weren’t the group’s forte, the tune is pleasant enough. However, it is the up-tempo funk/dance numbers that ultimately define Skyyport and make it one of Skyy’s best releases. (Alex Henderson, AMG)
Tracks:
1. Here’s To You
2. I Can’t Get Enough
3. Superlove
4. No Music
5. Easy
6. Sun Won’t Shine
7. For The First Time
8. Arrival
**Listen**
Skyy – Skyway (1980)
Julio 24, 2009 a 2:24 pm (Disco Funk)
Skyway (1980)
The second album from the Brooklyn-based octet featured two releases: “High” and “Skyyzoo.” The former is a moderately-paced groove showcasing the unison vocals of the Dunning sisters. Lightly arranged with an unruffled rhythm track and some guitar licks, the strings and horn complement this laid-back dance number. The single peaked at 13 after 16 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts.
The follow-up, “Skyyzoo,” was more of a antic-driven number. With its hyped vocals and various music gadgets, the song was an invitation to the dancefloor. It peaked at 32 on the charts after 11 weeks. The remainder of the album falls in line with these two singles save the ballad “Who’s Gonna Love Me.” and “Music. Music,” which swings the way of rock with its heavy electric guitar and slashing vocals. (Craig Lytle, AMG)
Tracks:
1. High
2. Skyyzoo
3. Dance
4. Don’t Stop
5. Love Plane
6. You Got Me Up
7. Who’s Gonna Love Me
8. Music, Music
9. Skyyzoo (12″ Mix Salsoul by Larry Levan)
**Listen**
Cameo – The 12 ” Collection & More (1999)
Julio 23, 2009 a 11:26 pm (Funk)
The 12 ” Collection & More (1999).
Review:
This collection of 12″ tracks features remixes of Cameo funk classics, including “Candy,” “Shake Your Pants,” “Rigor Mortis,” “Attack Me with Your Love,” and, of course, “Word Up.” Most of the remixes are simply extended groove sessions slipped into the originals, but many Cameo fans will savor the tracks; casual fans may find this to be overkill. The compilation also includes two versions of “She’s Strange” and a previously unreleased mix of “Back and Forth.”(Gina Boldman – All Music Guide).
Tracks:
01. I Just Want To Be (Original 12″ Extended Mix)
02. Word Up (Original 12″ Club Mix)
03. Shake Your Pants (Original 12″ Club Mix)
04. She’s Strange (Original 12″ Club Mix)
05. Candy (Original 12″ UK Mix)
06. Back And Forth (12″ Larry Blackmon Mix)
07. Single Life (Original 12″ UK Mix By Larry Blackmon)
08. Attack Me With Your Love (Original 12″ Club Mix)
09. Rigor Mortis (Original 12″ Mix)
10. Room 123 (She’s Strange) (Original 12″ Rap Version)
**Listen**
