Loose Ends - Zagora

​Today Marks The 40th Anniversary of Loose Ends’ 3rd Studio Album “Zagora” Originally Released on May 7, 1986.

“Zagora” is the third studio album released by the English R&B band Loose Ends released in 1986 on Virgin Records.

 

The album peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Black LPs chart, and at #59 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape charts.

 

The album also went to #15 on the United Kingdom Official Albums Chart.

 

At total of five songs were released as singles from the album, "Stay a Little While, Child", "Slow Down", "Nights of Pleasure", "Ooh, You Make Me Feel", and "You Can't Stop the Rain".

 

"Stay a Little While, Child" reached #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, at #52 on the UK Singles charts.

 

"Slow Down" peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and at #27 on the UK Singles chart.

 

"Nights of Pleasure" reached #58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, at #42 on the UK Singles charts.

 

"Ooh, You Make Me Feel" reached #77 on the UK Singles chart.

 

"You Can't Stop the Rain" reached #32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.

 

Between the years 1991-2009 the album sold an additional 303,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen Soundscan 5 years after its initial release, the album remains uncertified with overall sales unknown.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Stay A Little While, Child

2. Slow Down

3. I Can't Wait (Another Minute)

4. Sweetest Pain

5. Ooh, You Make Me Feel

6. Who Are You?

7. You Can't Stop the Rain

8. Be Thankful (Mama's Song)

9. Nights of Pleasure

10. Let's Get Back to Love

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Kleeer - Taste the Music

​Today Marks The 44th Anniversary of Kleeer’s 5th Studio Album “Taste The Music” Originally Released on May 7, 1982.

Taste The Music is the fifth album by New York City-based American band Kleeer released in 1982 on Atlantic Records.

 

The album reached #31 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #139 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

 

Two singles were released from the album "De Ting Continues'" and the album’s title track "Taste The Music".

 

The first single "De Ting Continues'" reached #74 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

The album’s title track "Taste The Music" reached #31 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and at #55 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Taste the Music

2. I've Had Enough (Can't Take It Anymore)

3. De Ting Continues

4. Wall to Wall

5. I Shall Get Over

6. Fella

7. Swann

8. Affirmative Mood

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Rufus - Rags To Rufus

​Today Marks The 52nd Anniversary of Rufus’ Sophomore Album “Rags to Rufus” Originally Released on May 5, 1974.

“Rags To Rufus” is the second studio album by funk band Rufus, released on the ABC Records label in 1974.

 

The album peaked at #4 on both of the Billboard’s Pop and Black Albums charts.

 

Two singles were released from the album "Tell Me Something Good"  and "You Got the Love".

 

"Tell Me Something Good"  peaked at #1 on the US Cash Box Top 100, #3 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B charts.

 

Rufus won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975.

 

"You Got the Love" peaked at # on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

 

Chaka Khan re-recorded "You Got the Love/Pack'd My Bags" medley for her 2007 album Funk This, with Tony Maiden on guitar.

 

“Rags to Rufus” sold over a million copies later going platinum. After this release, founding member Al Ciner, Dennis Belfield, and Stockert would leave; the lineup of the group by the time of their next album had changed drastically.

 

Track-listing

1. You Got the Love

2. I Got the Right Street (But the Wrong Direction)

3. Walkin' in the Sun

4. Rags to Rufus

5. Swing Down Chariot

6. Sideways

7. Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe

8. Tell Me Something Good

9. Look Through My Eyes

10. In Love We Grow

11. Smokin' Room

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Parliament - Live: P-Funk Earth Tour

​Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Parliament’s Live Double Album “Live: P-Funk Earth Tour” Originally Released on May 5, 1977.

Live: P-Funk Earth Tour is a live double album by Parliament released in 1977 by Casablanca Records.

 

Live: P-Funk Earth Tour is a live double album by Parliament that documents the band's 1977 P-Funk Earth Tour.

 

The performances include songs from Parliament's albums through The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein as well as songs from the Funkadelic repertoire.

 

The album is made up of portions of two performances from January 1977 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena and the Los Angeles Forum.

 

The album's centerpiece is a sprawling, 15-minute extended jam of "Dr. Funkenstein," which allows the band to "stretch out" and showcases the elite musicianship of Bernie Worrell (keyboards), Bootsy Collins (bass), and the "Horny Horns" led by Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker.

 

Key Tracks: "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)," "Do That Stuff," and "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" are consistently praised as top-tier live renditions.

 

Original Packaging: The initial double-vinyl release was famous for including a 22x33" poster of George Clinton as Dr. Funkenstein and an iron-on T-shirt transfer with the slogan "Take Funk To Heaven in '77!".

 

Live: P-Funk Earth Tour was Parliament’s third album to be certified gold, reaching #6 on the Billboard R&B chart.

 

Tracklisting

 

Live: P.Funk Earth Tour [Disc 1]

 

1. P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)

2. Dr. Funkenstein's Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Medley

3. Do That Stuff

4. The Landing (Of The Holy Mothership)

5. Undisco Kidd (The Girl Is Bad!)

6. Children Of Production

7. Mothership Connection (Star Child)

 

Live: P.Funk Earth Tour [Disc 2]

 

1. Swing Down, Sweet Chariot

2. This Is The Way We Funk With You

3. Dr Funkenstein

4. Gamin On Ya!

5. Tear The Roof Off The Sucker Medley

6. Night Of The Thumpasorus People

7. Fantasy Is Reality

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Midnight Star - Headlines

​Today Marks The 40th Anniversary of Midnight Star’s 6th Studio Album “Headlines” Originally Released on May 5, 1986.

 

“Headlines” is the sixth studio album by Midnight Star released in 1986 on SOLAR Records.

 

The album peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #56 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

 

Three singles were released from the album, "Headlines", "Midas Touch" and "Engine No. 9".

 

"Headlines" peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 music chart.

 

"Midas Touch" peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 music chart.

 

"Engine No. 9" peaked at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

The album was certified gold in the United States by the RIAA selling 500,000 copies.

 

Headlines was the last album to include the Calloway brothers, who left to form Calloway.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Headlines

2. Midas Touch

3. Stay Here by My Side

4. Close to Midnight

5. Get Dressed

6. Engine No. 9

7. Close Encounter

8. Dead End

9. Searching for Love

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©