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Flashback Thursday: P.M. Dawn
Flashback Thursday: Sexy Soul Tour 2009, Houston, TX, October 29, 2009
They always say, better late than never. Back in October of this year, experienced the Sexy Soul Tour 2009 in Houston, Texas at Verizon Wireless Theatre, which featured Eric Benet, Mint Condition and Ledisi.
Though the theatre was only half-full, Ledisi’s rock and soul performance started the night promptly at 8:15pm. Sporting a dreadloc’d faux-hawk, multi-belt jacket, leather pants and six-inch stilettos, Ledisi churned out tune after tune from her latest hit album, Turn Me Loose and her debut, Lost and Found. Giving equal parts Baptist church and juke joint, her set was full-on high energy, sex appeal and soul-stirring testifying. The hits: “Knockin” “Everything Changes” “Turn Me Loose” “Higher Than This” “Alright” and a cover of “Happy Feeling” that would’ve had Frankie Beverly beaming with joy. But it was her over-the-top performance of “In The Morning” that had the audience on its knees. The only way to sort of describe it: it was somewhere between a Broadway show slash gospel stage-play slash lounge act slash Sunday morning in a Southern Baptist church. Yeah, that’s the best I could do.
Following Ledisi (which was a very hard thing to do!) was Minneapolis funksters Mint Condition, who actually held their own with several old and new tracks. Read: “You Got Me Swingin’ “I’m Ready” “Nothing Left To Say” “Moan” “What Kind of Man Would I Be,” a killer “Heartbreak Hotel” dedication to MJ, and the much-anticipated closing number, “Pretty Brown Eyes.” However, it was their mid-set band battle that wowed us the most. Jeffrey on keys jumped on sax, while lead singer Stokley hopped on rhythm guitar and then switched to a second set of drums to bang it out with the drummer. It was pure ROCKSTAR SHIT!
To be honest, no diss to Eric Benet as a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter but by the time he hit the stage, the crowd (and ME!) were definitely still in the mood for more dancing and singing – but all we got were mostly ballads in the form of ”Chocolate Legs” “Love, Patience and Time” “Spanish Fly” “I Wanna Be Loved” “Spend My Life With You” and “You’re The Only One.” I mean he is a balladeer, and it was nearing 11pm – so we collectively joined the movement.
Flashback Thursday: Diana Ross
When one thinks of the legendary ’60s female-group The Supremes, there’s only one name that jumps to the forefront of the mind: Diana Ross. And it isn’t any disrespect to Florence Ballard or Mary Wilson who were/are fantastic singers but Ms. Ross simply had/has that “It” factor.
Flashback Thursday: Whitney Houston
The name Whitney Houston is synonymous with numerous labels: singer, actress, mother, daughter, producer, Grammy winner, Guinness Book of World Record-Holder, chart-topping diva. Matter of fact, her first studio effort in seven years debuted at #1 on Billboard, selling over 300,000 units in its first week, according to Neilson/Soundscan. No matter the labels, Whitney’s unmistakable voice is back, and true fans are ecstatic!
So, I finally have I Look To You (Song BMG) in hand. The album is 11-tracks of a new, with a little bit of old yet a more vibrant Whitney Houston.
Fueled by the lead single and up-tempo jams such as the Alica Keys/Swizz Beats-produced track (and my favorite), “Million Dollar Bill,” and “Like I Never Left” featuring Akon, I Look To You is a confident project. But who would’ve imagined Donny Hathaway’s classic “A Song For You” could be morphed into a dance mix? Apparently, producing-duo Stargate did. Other standouts: “Nothin’ But Love,” “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” and “For The Lovers (my 2nd fave).”
Nonetheless, Whitney Houston’s most anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey will air this Monday and Tuesday, Sept 14 and 15 on Oprah’s season premiere.
Whitney Houston – I Look To You – The Official Music Video @ Yahoo! Video
Flashback Thursday: Jamiroquai
It was 1997. Bored. Flipping through the channels in my military dorm room in Tucson, Arizona I come across this insanely innovative music video – a cosmic groove with funky special effects and a skinny guy in a weird hat jamming along. I was sold! The video was “Virtual Insanity.” The group, Jamiroquai - a virtually unknown London-based acid jazz-funk-soul and disco outfit who turned MTV on its head with its quirky style. And it changed my so-so love for acid jazz into a bit of an obsession (hence, the Myspace and Twitter tags?). “Virtual Insanity” was the first single off their third album, Travelling Without Moving.
Flashback Thursday: Anita Baker
Flashback Thursday: Quincy Jones
With a career spanning six decades, I couldn’t even begin to tap into Quincy Jones’ legacy as a record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, icon, legend, activist, philanthropist, the list could go on and on. So I’ll go with the first album I ever heard by him: the jazz album, The Dude (1981).Flashback Thursday: Terence Trent D’Arby
Terence Trent Howard (aka Terence Trent D’Arby) was the “Prince of Pop” in the late 80′s and early 90′s with his album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby – which sold an unprecedented one million copies in three days.
The album was rock and soul and funk all wrapped up into a high-quality package. What I loved about it was that aside from the most popular singles “Sign Your Name” and “Wishing Well”, there were tracks that were simply good music: “If You Let Me Stay” “Let’s Go Forward” and one of my favorites “Dance Little Sister”.
Flashback Thursday: The Bar-Kays
Hailing from Memphis, the soul-R&B-funk group The Bar-Kays originally started out as studio-session musicians for Stax recording artists like Otis Redding in the 60′s and Issac Hayes in the 70′s – which is when their sound went more Sly and the Family Stone than Motown. Some of their funkiest hits were “Son of Shaft” “Don’t Stop Dancing (To The Music)” and “Montego Bay”.
But The Ballads Collection featuring a few of my favorites “Anticipation” and “Unforgettable Dream” is what we remember most (for me anyway).
Flashback Thursday: The Isley Brothers
What can be said about The Isley Brothers that hasn’t already been said? Iconic, timeless, Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and essentially one of the most often-sampled groups in hip hop history. A few known artists who have used their sound: Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Ice Cube and UGK.
Starting in the 50′s as a gospel group, but in the early 70′s becoming the funkier-outfit we know today, The Isley Brothers has essentially maintained a 40-plus year career in the often-funky recording industry. Though the group is on hiatus (resulting from Ron Isley’s 2007 prison sentence for tax evasion – it is what is!), we will always have these major hits to get us through to the next Isley Brothers album (’cause you know it’s coming):
“That Lady” (1973), “Summer Breeze” (1974), “For the Love of You” (1975), “At Your Best (You Are Loved)” (1976), “Footsteps in the Dark”, “Voyage to Atlantis” (1978), “Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time For Love)” (1980), “Between the Sheets”, “Choosey Lover” (1983), “Smooth Sailin’ Tonight” (1987), “Spend the Night [Ce Soir]” (1989), “Mission to Please You”, “Let’s Lay Together (1996), “Contagious”, “Secret Lover” (2001), “Busted” (2003), “Just Came Here to Chill” (2006).
My absolute favorites: “Said Enough feat. Jill Scott”, “Secret Lover”, “Groove With You”, “Caravan of Love” (Isley Jasper Isley), “Choosey Lover”, “Smooth Sailin’ Tonight”, “Spend the Night”, and “Voyage to Atlantis.”
Flashback Thursday: L.T.D.
Though L.T.D., which stands for Love, Togetherness and Devotion is most known for their most famous member, Jeffrey Osbourne (Mr. Woo Woo), this 70′s R&B, funk outfit garnered their first top 20 single with 1976′s “Love Ballad”. Flashback Thursday: The Brand New Heavies
As leaders of the London Acid Jazz scene (and inspiration for my Myspace and Twitter name, “AcdJzFnd”), funk band The Brand New Heavies led the 90′s with their brand of 70′s-inspired soul and funk.
With hit singles like “Never Stop” “Stay This Way” “Dream On Dreamer” and “Brother Sister”, the band is still bringing it into the new millenium. While their last CD Get Used To It dropped nearly three years ago, and is essentially still Brand New Heavies-sound – their slept-on tracks, “Sex God” and “Music” makes me wonder why people still sleep on The Brand New Heavies.
Flashback Thursday: Cameo
Cameo’s lead man Larry Blackmon may be most known for the red crotch-cup he rocked during the 80′s however, the band reigned with many popular R&B dance hits during the 70′s and 80′s: “Shake Your Pants” “Flirt” “Word Up” “Candy” “Back and Forth” “She’s Strange” and “Single Life”.Flashback Thursday: Teena Marie
Also known as Lady T, singer-songwriter-musician-producer-Rick James-protegee Teena Marie is one of a handful of “blue-eyed soul” singers to top R&B charts during the 80′s (maybe the only one). Mainly with chart-toppers like “Ooo La La La,” “Square Biz,” “If I Were Bell,” “I Need Your Lovin,’ and my all-time favorite, “Portuguese Love” (though it only peaked at #54 on the R&B charts). Nonetheless, be on the lookout for a new album release this year.Flashback Thursday: Evelyn "Champagne" King
Flashback Thursday: Freddie Jackson
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought to spotlight the king of 80′s love ballads: Freddie Jackson.Now he’s back on the scene, and performing two sold-out shows, Friday, February 13 and Saturday, Valentine’s Day at B.B. King’s Blue’s Club and Grill (237 W. 42nd St, New York, 212.997.4144).
Flashback Thursday: Rick James
James Ambrose Johnson Jr., otherwise known as singer, producer, songwriter and funk extraordinaire Rick James is most known for his super hits of the 80′s: “Super Freak,” “Give It To Me Baby,” “Bustin’ Out, “Cold Blooded” and “Fire and Desire” with protege Teena Marie. But he also produced “Party All the Time” by Eddie Murphy, recorded “Ebony Eyes” with Motown legend Smokey Robinson, as well as helped to launch the career of The Mary Jane Girls. 
Flashback Thursday: Mtume
Most known for their major R&B hit “Juicy Fruit,” funk and soul group Mtume are more popular than we thought.
Headed by percussionist James Mtume, the group has been sampled by a bevy of stars. Most notably on Biggie’s “Juicy” in ’95, and Keisha Cole’s “Let It Go” in ’07, but R&B songtress Teedra Moses and the son of soul Raphael Saadiq did a Juicy remix of her single “Be Your Girl,” in ’04. Other Mtume songs we may not have known, the adulterous “You, Me and He” from the album of the same name, which hit number-two on the R&B charts, and the fact that the group produced Stephanie Mill’s Grammy-award winning single “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”
Flashback Thursday: Mint Condition
In a day and age where Auto-tune prospers, and the art of live instrumentation is fading, Mint Condition picks up the slack.
Discovered by mega music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Prince, The Time, S.O.S. Band), the Minneapolis band has been rocking stages since the early 90′s with hit ballads like “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” and “Forever in Your Eyes” from their debut Meant to be Mint (1991); “What Kind of Man Would I Be” from From the Mint Factory (1993), while the uptempo “U Send Me Swingin” on Definition of a Band (1996) and “If You Love Me” from Life’s Aquarium (1999) rounds out their early catalog.
Now with their latest album, E-Life (2008) the band is still going strong. Known for blending musical styles like R&B, funk, rock and even Latin rhythms, they’ll be performing live this Sunday, January 18th at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 W. 42nd St, New York, 212.997.4144). Showtime at 8pm. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets: thirty-two in advance, thirty-five day of show.
To read my review of E-Life, click here.
Flashback Thursday: Atlantic Starr
For 80′s R&B band Atlantic Starr, most of their music lives on at old school dance parties our parents get down at. As one of the top urban bands back then, I heard my first Atlantic Starr song (“Circles”) at one of those parties…on 8-track, no less. (I’m an 80′s baby!)
Anyway, some of their best songs are available on the Best of Atlantic Starr album. Major hits like “Secret Lovers” “Send For Me” “When Love Calls” and “Touch A Four-Leaf Clover” are classic. Later hits like “Always,” which is still played at most black wedding receptions, and the lovely “Masterpiece” are still their biggest hit singles.
Flashback Thursday: Midnight Star
With the release of their most successful album, the double-platinum No Parking On The Dance Floor in ’83, synth-funk group Midnight Star brought us a slew of hits: the title track, “Wet My Whistle,” “Freak-A-Zoid,” and “Slow Jam” which was co-written by uber-romantic Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Over the years they also gave us major hits like “Operator” and “Midas Touch.”
Though they never officially broke up, they still pop up for the occassional performance.
Flashback Thursday: S.O.S. Band
Known for 80′s R&B hits like “Take Your Time (Do It Right),” “Tell Me If You Still Care,” “Just Be Good to Me,” “Weekend Girl,” and “The Finest” with Alexander O’ Neal, Atlanta-based outfit the S.O.S. Band – which stands for Sounds of Success, is still (I’m sure) rockin’ wedding receptions (and bedrooms) across the globe.Flashback Thursday: Rose Royce
Including “I Wanna Get Next to You” and “I’m Going Down” from the soundtrack, “Ooh Boy” and “Wishing on a Star” from their follow-up album, Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom and the R&B classic “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” from Rose Royce III: Strikes Again!, their third LP. Though not as popular in the U.S. these days, they are a mainstay in the UK.