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Saturday, 13 December 2014

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My Record & CD Collection 14
Complete 12/LP Listing & Help Files

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MFSB - [The Gamble Huff Orchestra] - The Way I Feel Today 1978

Super Soul singer and strong sex symbol Calvin Richardson is preparing to drop his latest album, America's Most Wanted, later this month in the U.S., and the promotion company handling publicity for the album is giving you a chance to get a small piece of the album before you can buy the full thing.

Stanley Clarke - Time Exposure 1984

Stanley Clarke [Born:] June 30, 1951 in Philadelphia, PA) is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores.

He is best known for his work with the fusion band Return to Forever, and his role as a bandleader in several trios and ensembles.

These abtiffis include 'School Days' (1977), 'Modern Man' (1978), 'I Wanna Play For You' (1979), including 'Together Again', 'Rocks, Pebbles And Sand' (1980), including 'We Supply', Let Me Know You {1982), including 'Straight To The Top', 'Time Exposure' (1984), including Howard Hewetts lead vocal on 'Heaven Sent You', 'Find Out' (1985), featuring Robert Brookins, and 'Hideaway' featuring the late George Howard, Angela Bofill and Herbie Hancock.

Tracks:

01. Play The Bass 10 (0:45)
02. Are You Ready (For The Future) (3:15)
03. Speedball (3:09)
04. Heaven Sent You (5:56)
05. Time Exposure (4:45)
06. Future Shock (4:31)
07. Future (4:03)
08. Spacerunner (3:14)
09. I Know Just How You Feel (5:55)
10. Heaven Sent You (12'' Mix) (5:59)
11. Heaven Sent You (7'' Mix) (3:28)
12. Are You Ready (For The Future) (12'' Mix) (4:28)
13. Speedball (12'' Mix) (3:13)14. Future (12'' Mix) (6:14)

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The Chi-Lites - Changing For You 1983

Tracks:

1. Bottom’s Up
2. You Take The Cake
3. I Just Wanna Love You
4. Making Love
5. Changing For You ***
6. Touch Me
7. Bad Motor Scooter
8. I Love

The Chi-lites - Changing For You 1983

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The Blackbyrds - Action 1977

Tracks:

1. Supernatural Feeling
2. Lookin' Ahead
3. Mysterious Vibes
4. Something Special
5. Street Games
6. Soft and Easy
7. Dreaming About You

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Teena Marie - Star Child 1984

Starchild is the sixth album by Teena Marie, released in 1984. Following the relative commercial failure of her previous album, Robbery, Starchild became the highest-selling album of Marie's career. It peaked at #9 on the US Black Albums chart and #31 on the Billboard Albums chart.

Lead single "Lovergirl" became a major hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Marie's only top 30 hit on that chart). The track "My Dear Mr. Gaye" is a tribute to Marvin Gaye, who had been fatally shot by his father on April 1, 1984.

Tracks:

1. Lovergirl
2. Help Youngblood Get to the Freaky Party
3. Out on a Limb
4. Alibi
5. Jammin'
6. Starchild
7. We've Got to Stop (Meeting Like This)
8. My Dear Mr. Gaye
9. Light

Rest In Peace

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The BB&Q Band - On The Beat 1981

Tracks:

1. On The Beat 05:50
2. Time For Love 06:01"
3. Don't Say Goodbye 03:43
4. Starlette 04:54
5. Mistakes 04:36
6. Lovin's What We Should Do 05:03
7. I'll Cut You Loose

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T-Connection - T-Connection 1978

Tracks:

01. Funkannection [05:07]
02. Coming Back For More [03:31]
03. Funky Lady [03:59]
04. Don't Stop The Music [04:33]
05. Saturday Night [04:29]*
06. At Midnight [05:07]
07. Midnight Train [04:33]
08. Love Supreme [05:04]
09. At Midnight [12'' Disco Version] [09:44]
10. Saturday Night [12'' Disco Version] [06:53]**
11. At Midnight [Single Version] [03:37]
12. Saturday Night [Single Version] [04:02]

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Tashan - On The Horizon 1989

Tracks:

1. Black Man 05:23
2. How Ya Livin' 04:58
3. Keep Movin' On 04:19
4. Save The Family 05:11
5. Heaven
6. Tears Of Joy 05:31
7. Think About You 04:23
8. All The Time Lovin' 04:26
9. Great Feeling 04:58
10. Do You Wanna Know 05:27
11. Chages 06:16
12. On The Horizon 04:59
13. This One's For James

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Teena Marie - Irons In The Fire 1980

Teena Marie - I Need Your Lovin' 1982

With her third album, Irons in the Fire, Teena Marie did something that was rare for a female R&B artist -- she handled all of the producing and writing herself.

Marie took on a lot of responsibility, and she knew she had done the right thing when the album became both a commercial and artistic triumph. By now, it was common knowledge that Marie was white, something that didn't seem to matter much to the many black R&B fans who bought this recording.

Like so much of her work, the irresistible single "I Need Your Lovin'" became a major R&B hit, but didn't do much on pop radio. Interestingly, Marie was having the same problem as Maze & Frankie Beverly in that she could have a gold album without any help from pop audiences. But then, she obviously realized that she didn't need their support in order to be legit.

From the seductive "You Make Love Like Springtime" and the sweaty "First Class Love" to the moving title song, everything on this album is a gem. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks:

01. I Need Your Lovin' (Album Version)
02. Young Love
03. First Class Love
04. Irons In The Fire
05. Chains
06. You Make Love Like Springtime
07. Tune In Tomorrow
08. You Make Love Like Springtime (Reprise)
09. I'm A Sucker For Your Love
10. I Need Your Lovin' (1981/Live In Long Beach, CA)
11. Someday We'll Be Free
12. Deja Vu13. Square Biz

Rest In Peace

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The Chi-Lites - A Lonely Man 1972

The Chi-lites - Living In The Footsteps Of Another Man 1972

One of the most popular smooth soul groups of the early '70s didn't hail from Philadelphia or Memphis, the two cities known for sweet, string-laden soul. Instead, the Chi-Lites were from Chicago, a town better known for its gritty urban blues and driving R&B. Led by vocalist Eugene Record, the Chi-Lites had a lush, creamy sound distinguished by their four-part harmonies and layered productions.

During the early '70s, they racked up 11 Top Ten R&B singles, ranging from the romantic ballads "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl" to protest songs like "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People" and "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)."

All the songs featured Record's warm, pleading tenor and falsetto, and the majority of the group's hits were written by Record, often in collaboration with other songwriters like Barbara Acklin.

The Chi-Lites had been around for nearly a decade before they finally had a hit in the late '60s. Eugene Record, Robert Lester, and Clarence Johnson formed the doo wop group the Chanteurs in the late '50s, and they released one single on Renee Records in 1959. Shortly afterward, Creadel "Red" Jones and Marshall Thompson, who had sung with the Desideros, teamed with the trio to form the Hi-Lites. Over the next four years, the Hi-Lites released a number of singles on local labels.

In 1964, they changed their name to Marshall & the Chi-Lites, adding the "C" as tribute to their hometown Chicago. By the end of the year, Johnson left the group and the remaining quartet truncated their name to the Chi-Lites. Over the next four years, the group continued to perform and release independent singles, with Record slowly emerging as the group's lead singer, songwriter, and producer.

In 1968, the Chi-Lites signed with the large Chicago indie label Brunswick Records, and early the following year "Give It Away" became their first national hit single, reaching number ten on the R&B charts. Despite the moderate success of "Let Me Be the Man My Daddy Was," the group wasn't able to deliver another big hit until "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" climbed into the R&B Top Ten in early 1971, beginning a string of ten Top Ten hits that ran intermittently over the next four years.

The follow-up to "Are You My Woman?," "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People," was their first pop hit, setting the stage for a pair of slow, soulful ballads, "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl," which both reached number one on the R&B charts; the latter was a number-one pop hit, as well. in the spring of 1972. Shortly after the release of the hit "Stoned Out of My Mind," the Chi-Lites began to splinter in 1973, when Jones left the group and was replaced by Stanley Anderson, who was quickly replaced by Willie Kensey.

The revamped lineup had three Top Ten R&B hits -- "Homely Girl," "There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated at the Conference Table)," and "Toby" -- before they replaced Kensey with Doc Roberson. Shortly afterward, Brunswick became involved in serious financial problems, which prevented the label from promoting the group's record. Frustrated, Record left the band to become a solo recording artist for Warner Bros. The remaining trio, augmented by David Scott and Danny Johnson (who was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977), signed with Mercury, but none of their singles were hits.

The original lineup of the Chi-Lites re-formed in 1980, and the group began recording for Eugene Record's label, Chi-Sound. Although their first singles were more successful than their Mercury Records, they didn't have a genuine hit until 1982, when "Hot on a Thing (Called Love)" reached number 15.

The following year, they moved to Larc Records, where they had their final Top Ten hit with "Bottoms Up." Late that year, Creadel Jones retired and the group continued to tour as a trio throughout the remainder of the decade. Record left the group in 1990 to record as a solo artist. He was replaced by Anthony Watson. By the early '90s, Jones had re-joined the group, and this version of the Chi-Lites became a regular on the oldies and soul circuit during the '90s.

Tracks:

1. Oh Girl 3:48
2. Living In The Footsteps Of Another Man 2:57
3. Love Is 4:41
4. Being In Love 3:56
5. A Lonely Man 6:23
6. The Man & The Woman (The Boy & The Girl) 4:02
7. Ain't Too Much Of Nothin' 3:31
8. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) 5:06
9. The Coldest Days Of My Life 8:30

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Taste Of Honey - Ladies Of The Eighties 1982

A Taste of Honey was the name of an American recording act formed in 1971 by associates Perry Kibble and Donald Ray Johnson. They later went on to score one of the best known songs of the disco era. After their popularity waned during the early 1980s Johnson went on to record as a solo artist and release the album One Taste Of Honey which produced numerous minor hits.

In 2004, singers Hazel Payne (guitar) and Janice Johnson (bass) reunited for the first time in over 20 years to perform on the PBS specials Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion and My Music: Funky Soul Superstars.

Formed during 1971, A Taste of Honey hailed from Los Angeles, California. The members of the band consisted of Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, co-writer, bass), Carlita Dorhan (vocals, guitar), Perry Kibble (keyboards, co-producer, co-writer) and Donald Ray Johnson (drums). Long time friends, Kibble and Johnson (no relationship with Donald Ray) were the original members of the band.

Each had left a band to join forces and, after going through several drummers, they settled on Johnson, as well as replacing lead singer with Gregory Walker, who left the band just prior to the successful release of "Boogie Oogie Oogie" to join Santana. As Kibble recounted. Despite his misgivings for his son's musical aspirations,

Mr. Kibble (Perry's father) was instrumental in their future success as he had set up a rehearsal studio wherein the group could experiment with various sounds. Carlita Dorhan left the group in early 1976 and Hazel Payne was added.

Two ladies up front singing and playing bass and guitar, this innovation was unheard of in its time. Nonetheless, it created a trend for female bass and guitar players. Kibble had been the bassist in the band, which meant that he had to switch to keyboards. Learning a new instrument was nothing new to Kibble, he had already switched mid-way through a band tour in the late sixties from saxophone to bass.

When the bass player dropped out of the band, Kibble took two weeks to practice each of the tunes just so that he could stay on the road. Johnson, who was already playing bass when she met Perry, gives him credit for teaching her the fundamentals of playing bass.

In fact, Janice states that she learned more about bass from Perry than all of her other teachers combined. Perry had a way of helping the ladies to improve their musicianship, which proved to be important when they were being considered for a record deal.

The group began to improve their sound over a period of six years prior to being "discovered" by Capitol Records. Hitting major cities outside of Los Angeles (especially discos as these started to appear), they also began doing USO tours, with spots in Spain, Morocco, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Alaska and returning several times to Japan.

After one evening of failing to enthuse a military crowd, Johnson announced, "If you think that you're too cool to boogie, we've got news for you! Everyone here tonight is going to boogie, and you're no exception to the rule." Thinking the line would make great lyrics, Johnson wrote it down that night, while Kibble discovered a funky bass line, which was to be the driving force behind the 1978 disco hit Boogie Oogie Oogie.

The group knew they were on to something big as the song became a hit everywhere they performed it. They were on the road for several years, prior to signing a record deal, making sure not to saturate their hometown with their act as they had hoped for a new view from a record company A & R.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, while playing in a night club, they were spotted by producers Fonce and Larry Mizell who convinced Capitol Records' then vice-executive producer, Larkin Arnold, to give them an audition. Returning several times to hear them perform, Arnold finally decided to sign them to the label and negotiated a five album contract. The band, which had billed itself after Herb Alpert's song "A Taste of Honey," stuck with the name when asked by Arnold what they "called" themselves.

Their first single, "Boogie Oogie Oogie", from their debut album A Taste of Honey, tapped into the popular disco style and spent three weeks at number one (#1) on the Hot 100 in 1978. The single sold a record two million copies, which broke the record any single had had to date. The group was awarded two platinum records for the single and album; then they went on to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for the 20th Grammy Awards on February 15, 1979. This was the first song to achieve a double platinum single and the first Black group to receive a Grammy Award.

Their subsequent disco releases, such as "Do It Good" (#79 in 1979) from Another Taste and "Rescue Me" (1980) failed to attract attention, and by 1980 the group had reduced to a duo consisting of Johnson and Payne. Some of the band's music (Boogie Oogie Oogie and Distant) has had a recent revival as it has been sampled by many Hip Hop and Rap artists, most notably Ice Cube. Boogie Oogie Oogie can be heard world wide.

CD:

1. Sayonara
2. We've Got The Groove
3. I'll Try Something New
4. We've Got The Groove (Reprise)
5. Lie's
6. Diamond Real
7. Never Go Wrong
8. We've Got The Groove (Reprise)
9. Midnight Snack
10. Leavin' Tomorrow

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Switch - Am I Still Your Boyfriend 1984

Tracks:

1. I’m So Satisfied
2. Switch It Baby
3. It’s All Up to You
4. Lovers Don’t Hold Back
5. Keeping Secrets
6. Treason
7. Am I Still Your Boyfriend
8. Just Can’t Pull Away
9. I Won’t Give Up
10. Spend My Life With You
11. Forever My Love

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Steve Arrington - Hall Of Fame (Positive Power) 1984

Former Slave group main man Steve Arrington [Born:] March 5, 1956), is an American singer, songwriter, drummer, record producer, engineer and minister who grew up in Dayton, Ohio. Arrington played in various local bands before joining and touring with The Murphy's, a lounge band out of Toledo, Ohio, in 1975.

Approximately a year later, Arrington relocated from Ohio to San Francisco, California where he learned Latin percussion and drumming from Coke Escovedo and Pete and Shelia Escovedo. He joined the funk group Slave (founded 1975) on their third LP called, "The Concept" in 1978 originally to play percussion, then later becoming the drummer and a backing vocalist.

Eventually Arrington took over lead vocals on such hit songs as "Just a Touch of Love" (probably Slave's most well-known track), "Watching You" (which has been sampled by Snoop Dog, etc), and "Wait for Me". Arrington left Slave in 1983, forming Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame and had hit singles such as "Weak At The Knees" (which was sampled by Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, NWA, and more), and "Nobody Can Be You But You".

His most successful album was his 1985 solo work, Dancin' in the Key of Life, whose title track became a Top Ten R&B hit, while another single from the album, "Feel So Real" reached #6 in the UK national singles chart in May that year. He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best Male Artist of 1986.

In 1984, Arrington experienced a religious conversion, later becoming a minister and in 1990 left pop music until a re-emergence in October of 2009, when re-appeared on the music scene with the independent release of a new album called "Pure Thang", an collage of R&B, Funk, Rock, Jazz, Gospel, Pop, etc, with Arrington's classic vocal explosions.

Tracks:

1. 15 Rounds (5:30)
2. Money On It (4:33)
3. Sugar Momma Baby (5:16)
4. What Do You Want From Me (5:17)
5. Young And Ready (5:28)
6. Mellow As A Cello (5:30)
7. Hump To The Bump (6:39)
8. Positive Power (5:25)

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Steven Dante - Find Out 1988

Steven Dante (stage name of Steven Barrington Dennis) is a UK soul singer and songwriter who had several singles in the late 1980s on the Cooltempo label. His first and only solo album to date, Find Out, was released on Chrysalis in 1988.

He has also collaborated with several house producers, providing vocals for John "Jellybean" Benitez, D Mob, Lighthouse Family. "The Real Thing", released in 1987 with Jellybean, reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart and was a Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single.

Dante also wrote songs for Total Contrast and By All Means, and sang backup with Shara Nelson.

Tracks:

1. I'm Too Scared
2. Ready To Love
3. Imagination
4. Candy
5. The Real Thing (With Jellybean)
6. Love Follows***
7. Find Out
8. Taking Love To The Limit
9. It's Only Love
10. Ghosts
11. Don't Stop The Show
12. If It Makes You Feel Good
13. Bring Back My Heart

Steven Dante - Love Follows 1988

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Stephanie Mills - Tantalizingly Hot 1982

[Born:] Stephanie Mills, 22nd March 1957, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. Stephanie Mills is the fifth born of six children, and began singing as a child at Brooklyn's Cornerstone Baptist Church. By the age of 9 years, Stephanie appeared in her first play, which was followed two years later by winning an amateur talent night at New York's famous Apollo Theater. She went on to win the contest 5 further times.

The resulting success lead to her being cast in her first Broadway role, the orphaned child of a runaway slave, in the musical Maggie Flynn. The production role led to her being chosen as the opening act for the Isley Brothers. By 1973, Stephanie's musical recording career began with her signing to Paramount Records by Michael Barbiero.

Her first single 'I Knew It Was Love' was released on the imprint, in 1974, which the took her, firstly, to the Paramount label in 1974, and then on to the Motown label in 1976.

At Paramount her debut album was 'Moving In The Right Direction', whilst her Motown follow up featured a set of Burt Bacharach and Hal David songs, entitled 'For The First Time'. In 1975, Stephanie won the role of Dorothy in the African American version of the musical 'The Wiz'.

This led to a relationship with Michael Jackson, who was also involved in the production (he starred in the movie version, with Diana Ross taking over the role Stephanie had occupied on stage).

Stephanie's delivery of the song 'Home', from the show, became hugely popular, and became somewhat of a signature tune of hers. Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson recommended Stephanie to Berry Gordy, who signed her to the label. Stephanie left Motown in 1978 and signed to the 20th Century imprint, joining forces with the Mtume songwriting team Mtume and Lucas.

Her first LP for the label, 'Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin', was released in 1979, and went gold, going to number 12 R&B and number 22 pop on Billboard's charts.

The album featured the songs he singles 'Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin', 'Put Your Body In It' and 'You Can Get Over'. Her next LP, 'Sweet Sensation' (number three R&B, number 16 Pop, spring 1980), featured Stephanie's biggest hit to date, the Reggie Lucas produced 'Never Knew Love Like This Before'. The single became a number 12 R&B and number 6 Pop hit in 1980.

Stephanie briefly married former Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniels of the group Shalamar around this time. In 1981's 'Stephanie' featured a top hit for her and the late Teddy Pendergrass entitled 'Two Hearts', while her 1982 album was entitled 'Love Has Lifted Me', a series of songs from the Motown vault. In 1983 , 'Merciless', featured her hit cover of Prince's 'How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?, along with the number 3 dance chart hit 'Pilot Error'.

Stephanie then relocated to the Casablanca imprint, releasing 'Tantalizingly Hot', 'Merciless', and 'I've Got the Cure'.The latter album was produced by David 'Hawk' Wolinski, formerly with the group Rufus. 'If I Were Your Woman' saw another label change to MCA Records in 1987, the title track peaking at number one R&B, number 30 Pop in that summer. The song was originally a hit for Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1971.

Other songs from the album included 'I Feel Good All Over' (a song her label mate Patti LaBelle didn't want to record) and 'You're Puttin' a Rush on Me'. Stephanie recorded two duets with the late Robert Brookins in 1986, co-penning and producing his album 'Let It Be Me'.

In 1989, Stephanie released the album 'Home' (the title track of which featured Take 6 on a reworking of her signature tune from the musical 'the Wiz').

The album included the songs 'The Comfort of a Man' and another song penned by Angela Winbush entitled 'Something in the Way You Make Me Feel', which peaked at number five R&B, number 82 Pop in the summer of 1989. Following a festive set of songs entitled 'Christmas', her final release for the label was the album 'Something Real', which featured the songs 'All Day All Night' and 'Never Do Wrong'.

During the 1990's, Stephanie was married, for a while, to the radio program manager Michael Saunders, with the wedding ceremony performed by Minister Louis Farrakhan. Stephanie released a live gospel recording in 1995 on GospoCentric Records entitled 'Personal Inspirations'.

The set featured a re-working of her song 'I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love', following which Stephanie took time out from recording to care for her son. She returned to the stage in 1997, playing the lead in a major production of Stephen Schwartz's 'Children of Eden' in New Jersey. In 2000, Stephanie released 'Winners'. which featured a collection of older material. The same year she released a 12" single entitled 'Latin Lover' in a garage music style.

In 2004, Stephanie released 'Born For This!' for the U.K. based Expansion Records label, which featured the single 'Can't Let Him Go'. Stephanie toured in the latter half of the decade, making an appearance in the 2007 gospel TV series 'Sunday Best' and featured in a live interview on 'The Yolanda Adams Morning Show'. Stephanie now has her own record label (JM Records).

Albums:

1. Moving In The Right Direction (Paramount Records 1975)
2. For The First Time (Motown Records 1976)
3. Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin? (20th Century Records 1979
4. Sweet Sensation (20th Century Records 1980)
5. Stephanie (20th Century Records 1981)
6. Tantalizingly Hot (Casablanca Records 1982)
7. Love Has Lifted Me (Motown Records 1982)
8. Merciless (Casablanca Records 1983)
9. I've Got The Cure (Casablanca Records 1984)
10. Stephanie Mills (MCA Records 1985)
11. If I Were Your Woman (MCA Records 1987)
12. Home (MCA Records 1989)
13. Christmas (MCA Records 1991)
14. Something Real (MCA Records 1993)
15. Personal Inspirations (Gospo-Centric Records 1995)
16. Winner (PolyGram Records 2000)
17. Born For This (Expansion Records 2004)

Tracks - Producers & Performers:

1. Last Night - Producer - James Mtume , Reggie Lucas
2. Still Lovin' You - Producer - James Mtume , Reggie Lucas
3. Keep Away Girls - Producer - Ashford & Simpson
4. You Can't Run From My Love - Producer - James Mtume , Reggie Lucas
5. True Love Don't Come Easy - Producer - James Mtume , Reggie Lucas
6. 'Ole Love - Producer - Stephanie Mills
7. Your Love Is Always New - Producer - James Mtume , Reggie Lucas
8. I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You - Producer - Ashford & Simpson

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Tashan - Chasin' A Dream 1986

[Born:] Thomas Jerome Pearse, 30th April 1962, Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.A. Tashan is an exceptional first-rate soul and R & B vocalist. He is a far superior vocalist than many of his current soul contemporaries, although he does not receive the respect that his vocal abilities obviously deserve.

Tashan's sound is, sometimes considered, too earthy and raw for the Urban Contemporary mainstream, yet not Southern and bluesy enough for the Southern market. However, despite these musical obstacles, he is held in very high regard amongst soul purists, especially in the U.K. As a child, Tashan's mother enrolled him in a local dance studio, with the intention of grooming him for stardom.

His mother took him out of school from time to time to take him into New York for various auditions, with Tashan becoming part of a group called Estelle and Alphonse's Dance Studio, performing before live audiences, which included impressions of Louis Armstrong! Tashan's mother was the musical director of the families local church senior music group, whilst, at the same time,Tashan was singing in the Junior Choir from the age of 7.

When he turned 13 years of age, he gave up the music group, which led to the development of his musical skills...skills that led to his career break with Def Jam Records. Tashan is also well-versed in hip-hop and rap, via his New York upbringing, with his Def Jam LP's including some fine duets with Alyson Williams.

He started off his recording career in the mid-'80's by writing and producing 'Yours for a Night', which was recorded by rappers Whodini (a group with which he still has close contacts). Tashan was signed to Def Jam / Columbia in 1985 and 'Chasing A Dream' was released in 1986. That outing was well received by the critics, with 'You've Got The Right Attitude', a duet with Alyson Williams, being popular with the soul purists.

Tracks:

1. Strung Out On You
2. Got The Right Attitude
3. Chasin' A Dream
4. Ooh Wee Baby
5. Read My Mind
6. So Much In Love
7. I Don't Ever
8. Love Is
9. Thank You Father
10. If Words Can Express
11. Read My Mind - Long Version Remix
12. Chasin' A Dream - Special Mix
13. Read My Mind - Short Version Remix
14. Chasin' A Dream - 7 Inch Version

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Terri Wells - Just Like Dreaming 1984

Tracks:

1. I'm Givin' All My Love
2. Just Like Dreamin'
3. Falling Leaves
4. Can't Stop
5. I Already Know
6. I'll Be Around
7. Who's That Stranger
8. You Make It Heaven

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Teena Marie - It Must Be Magic 1981

No white artist has sung R&B more convincingly than Teena Marie, whose big, robust vocals are so black-sounding that when she was starting out, some listeners wondered if she was a light-skinned African-American. Marie grew up in west Los Angeles in a neighborhood that was nicknamed "Venice Harlem" because of its heavy black population.

The singer/songwriter/producer was in her early twenties when, around 1977, she landed a job at Motown Records. It was at Motown that she met her mentor and paramour-to-be, Rick James, who ended up doing all of the writing and producing for her debut album of 1979, Wild and Peaceful. That LP, which boasted her hit duet with James, "I'm Just a Sucker for Your Love," didn't show Marie's picture -- so many programmers at black radio just assumed she was black.

When her second album, Lady T, came out, much of the R&B world was shocked to see how fair-skinned she was. But to many of the black R&B fans who were eating her music up, it really didn't matter -- the bottom line was she was a first-rate soul singer whose love of black culture ran deep.

By her third album, 1980's gold Irons in the Fire, Marie was doing most of her own writing and producing. That album boasted the major hit "I Need Your Lovin'," and Marie went gold again with her next album, It Must Be Magic (which included the major hit "Square Biz").

It Must Be Magic turned out to be her last album for Motown, which she had a nasty legal battle with. Marie got out of her contract with Motown, and the case ended up with the courts passing what is known as "The Teena Marie Law" -- which states that a label cannot keep an artist under contract without putting out an album by him or her.

CD:

1. It Must Be Magic
2. Revolution
3. Where's California
4. 365
5. Opus III [Does Anybody Care]
6. Square Biz - (Long Version)
7. The Ballad Of Cradle Rob & Me
8. Portuguese Love
9. Yes Indeed!
10. Square Biz - [Instrumental, 12'' B-side]
11. Someday We'll All Be Free [Previously Unreleased, Live]
12. Deja Vu [We've Been Here Before][Previously Unreleased, Live]

Rest In Peace

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Starpoint - Its All Yours 1984

Formed 1969 in New York, U.S.A. Lead singer who had an outstanding voice was Renee Diggs [Born:] 23rd July 1954, [Died:] 18th March 2005, Maryland, U.S.A.). Ernesto McKenzie Phillips (b. Ernesto McKenzie Phillips, [Born:] 1954, Crownsville, U.S.A. [Died:] 25th March 2004, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.).

Originally they called themselves Licyndiana (made up from the first few letters of each of the group's sister's Christian names!), but soon changed it because no one could understand or pronounce it. After building a reputation on the club scene, they were signed by Casablanca (after three previous outings) in 1982 for 'All Night Long', including 'Bring Your Sweet Lovin' Back' and 'Get Your Body Up'.

Their follow-up was 'It's So Delicious' for the Boardwalk label in 1983. From here they switched to Elektra where they have scored chart success in America without making a major impression in the UK. Their Elektra albums have been 'It's All Yours' (1984), 'Restless' (1985), including 'Objects Of My Desire' and 'Emotions', 'Sensational' (1987) and 'Have You Got What It Takes' (1990).

Tracks:

1. It's All Yours
2. Am I Still The One
3. Satisfy Me Lover
4. Send Me A Letter
5. Breakout
6. This Is So Right
7. Use Me
8. Always On My Mind

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The Blackbyrds - Better Days 1980

The original Blackbyrds were formed in 1973 by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd.

The line Up:

Allan Curtis Barnes [Born:] 1949, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.) (reeds)
Barney Perry [Born:] 1953, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.) (guitar)
Kevin Kraig Toney [Born:] 1953 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.) (keyboards)
Joseph Hall, III [Born:] 1954, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.) (bass)
Pericles Jacobs, Jr. [Born:] 1951, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.) (percussion)
Keith Killgo [Born:] 1954, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.) (drums)

Albums:

1. The Blackbyrds (Fantasy 1974)
2. Flying Start (Fantasy 1974)
3. Cornbread, Earl And Me (Fantasy 1975)
4. City Life (Fantasy 1975)
5. Unfinished Business (Fantasy 1976)
6. Action (Fantasy 1977)
7. Better Days (Fantasy 1980)

Tracks:

1. Dancin' Dancin'
2. Lonelies For Your Love
3. Better Days
4. Do It Girl
5. Without Your Love
6. Do You Wanna Dance
7. Love Don't Strike Twice
8. What's On Your Mind
9. Don't Know What To Say
10. What We Have Is Right

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Stephanie Mills - Sweet Sensation 1980

Tracks:

1. Sweet Sensation
2. Try My Love
3. I Just Wanna Say
4. Wish That You Were Mine
5. D-A-N-C-I-N'
6. Still Mine
7. Never Knew Love Like This Before
8. Mixture of Love