Hamilton Bohannon - Stop & Go

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Today Marks The 53rd Anniversary of Hamilton Bohannon’s Debut Studio Album “Stop & Go” Originally Released on April 1, 1973.

 

“Stop & Go” is the debut studio album by drummer/percussionist Hamilton Bohannon released in 1973 on Dakar/Brunswick Records.

 

The album consists of eight tracks, primarily instrumental with occasional soulful chorus vocals.

 

Tracklisting:

 

1. The Pimp Walk

2. Run It On Down Mr. DJ

3. Save Their Souls

4. Singing a Song for My Mother

5. It's Time for Peace

6. Happiness

7. The Stop and Go

8. Getting to the Other Side

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Graham Central Station- Now Do U Wanta Dance

​Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Graham Central Station’s 5th Studio Album “Now Do U Wanta Dance” Originally Released on April 1, 1977.

 

The album peaked at #12 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #67 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

 

The album released the hit single and album’s title track “Now Do-U-Wanta Dance"

 

The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot R&B  Songs charts.

 

Track-listing

 

All songs written by Larry Graham except where indicated.

 

1. "Happ-E-2-C-U-A-Ginn"

2. "Now Do-U-Wanta Dance"

3. "Last Train"

4. "Love and Happiness" (Al Green, Mabon Hodges)

5. "Earthquake"

6. "Crazy Chicken"

7. "Stomped Beat-Up and Whooped"

8. "Lead Me On" (Deadric Malone)

9. "Saving My Love For You"

10. "Have Faith in Me"

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Donald Byrd - Ethiopian Knights

​Today Marks The 54th Anniversary of Donald Byrd’s Studio Album “Ethiopian Knights” Originally Released on April 1, 1972.

“Ethiopian Knights” is an album by Jazz/Funk trumpeter Donald Byrd released in 1972 on Blue Note Records.

The album features performances by Donald Byrd with Thurman Green, Harold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Sample, and others, It’s widely regarded as a pivotal transitional album in his career. It marks his final departure from hard bop toward the heavy jazz-funk and fusion sound that would define his commercial peak with his next release, Black Byrd.

Standout Tracks:

The Emperor (15:14): A deep, "on-the-one" groove driven by electric bassist Wilton Felder and keyboardists Joe Sample and Bill Henderson III.

The Little Rasti (17:41): A psychedelic funk epic that begins with a shamanistic drum solo and develops into a loose, high-intensity jam.

Jamie (3:38): A shorter, more melodic ballad that serves as a transitional "cleanser" between the two long workouts.

Tracklisting:

A1 The Emperor 15:40

A2 Jamie 4:00

B1 The Little Rasti 17:44

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Heatwave - Central Heating

​Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Heatwave’s Sophomore Studio Album “Central Heating” Originally Released on March 31, 1978.

 

Central Heating is the second studio album by funk-disco band Heatwave. It was released in 1977 on the GTO label in the UK and in 1978 on the Epic label in the US.

 

The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs charts and at #10 on the Billboard Top LPs charts.

 

The two singles taken from the album were both hits. "The Groove Line" reached No 7 in the US and No 12 in the UK, while "Mind Blowing Decisions" also made No 12 in the UK.

 

The song "Star of a Story" appeared on George Benson's album Give Me the Night, a song written by Temperton, which was produced by Quincy Jones.

 

The album was the last Heatwave album to feature bassist Mario Mantese and guitarist Eric Johns, as well as the first to feature new member Roy Carter on guitar.

 

The album was also the final performance of Rod Temperton as an official member of Heatwave, although he would continue to write songs for the band after his departure until 1982.

 

The album was produced by Barry Blue.

 

Central Heating sold more than a million copies in its first two years of release.

 

The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2015 by Big Break Records.

 

Track-listing

 

 1. "Put the Word Out"

2. "Send Out for Sunshine"

3. "Central Heating"

4. "Happiness Togetherness"

5. "The Groove Line"

6. "Mind Blowing Decisions"

7. "The Star of a Story”

8. "Party Poops"

9. "Leavin' for a Dream" 

10. "Wack That Axe"

11. "The Groove Line" (12" Disco Version)

12. "Mind Blowing Decisions" (12" Disco Version)

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Prince - Sign “☮︎” the Times

​Today Marks The 39th Anniversary of Prince’s 9th Studio Album “Sign “☮︎” the Times” Originally Released on March 31, 1987.

 

“Sign “☮︎” the Times” is the ninth studio album by Minneapolis, Minnesota pop-funk musician Prince released in 1987 on Paisley Park/ Warner Bros Records.

 

The double album serves as the soundtrack to the American concert film of the same name, It was directed by, scored by, and starring Prince.

 

The album peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Soundtrack Albums chart, #4 on the U.S. Billboard Top Black Albums chart, and at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.

 

Four songs were released as singles from the album, the title track "Sign o' the Times", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "U Got the Look", and

 

"Sign o' the Times" peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"If I Was Your Girlfriend" reached #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and at #67 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"U Got the Look" peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.

 

"I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

Sign o' the Times is one of the most critically acclaimed albums in popular music, widely being regarded as Prince's best album, ahead of Purple Rain (1984).

 

“Sign “☮︎” the Times” was nominated for Album of the Year at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards.

 

The album is a frequent inclusion in lists of the greatest albums of all time and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017.

 

Tracklisting

All songs written by Prince, except where noted.

 

1. Sign o' the Times

2. Play in the Sunshine

3. Housequake

4. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker

5. It

6. Starfish and Coffee

7. Slow Love

8. Hot Thing

9. Forever in My Life

10. U Got the Look

11. If I Was Your Girlfriend

12. Strange Relationship

13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

14. The Cross

15. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night

16. Adore

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Aurra - Send Your Love

​Today Marks The 45th Anniversary of Aurra’s Sophomore Album “Send Your Love” Originally Released on March 31, 1981.

 

“Send Your Love” is the second studio album by the American R&B/funk band Aurra released in 1981 on Salsoul Records.

 

The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #103 on the Billboard 200 chart.

 

The album released two singles "Are You Single",

“Make Up Your Mind" and "Keep Doin' It".

 

"Are You Single"  peaked at #16 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #36 on the Billboard Dance Club Song chart.

 

The second single “"Keep Doin' It" peaked at #27 on the  Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and at #36 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

The album was produced by Steve Washington.

 

1. Nasty Disposition

2. Send Your Love

3. Kingston Lady

4. Forever

5. Are You Single

6. Keep Doin' It

7. Living Too Fast

8. Party Time

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©