Prince - Musicology

​Today Marks The 22nd Anniversary of Prince’s 28th Studio Album “Musicology” Officially Released in The United States on April 20, 2004.

“Musicology” is the twenty-eighth studio album by multi-talented musician Prince released in 2004 on NPG/Columbia Records.

 

The story of Musicology is centered on Prince’s massive commercial and creative "comeback" in 2004.

 

The album was first given to concertgoers at his Musicology Tour, from March 27 to September 9, 2004, in North America.

 

Prince executed a brilliant, controversial marketing strategy for the Musicology tour. He bundled a physical copy of the CD with every concert ticket sold, giving them to fans as they entered the venue.

 

Chart Impact: This tactic propelled the album to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, as every ticket sold counted as an album sale.

 

Policy Change: The move was so effective that it forced Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan to change their chart methodology to require an "opt-out" option for customers to count such sales in the future.

 

Track Highlights:

"Musicology": A heavy funk title track that name-checks legends like James Brown and Sly Stone.

"Call My Name": A lush, award-winning R&B ballad dedicated to his wife.

 

"Cinnamon Girl": A catchy pop-rock anthem that addresses social issues in a post-9/11 world.

"Reflection": A mellow, nostalgic acoustic closer that is a fan favorite for its vulnerability.

 

Reissue:

On 8 February 2019, The Prince Estate re-released the album with Sony’s Legacy Recordings (3121 and Planet Earth were also re-released on the same day).

 

 

Tracklisting

 

1. Musicology  (4:23)

2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance (4:45)

3. A Million Days  (3:49)

4. Life O' The Party [feat. Chance Howard and Candy Dulfer] (5:14)

5. Call My Name [feat. Stokey Williams, Chance Howard and Kip Blackshire] (3:56)

6. Cinnamon Girl [feat. Candy Dulfer, Rhonda Smith and Chance Howard] (3:56)

7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do? [spoken outro Ornella Bonaccorsi] (4:14)

8. The Marrying Kind  (2:49)

9. If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life (3:08)

10. On The Couch  (3:33)

11. Dear Mr. Man  (3:14)

12. Reflection  (3:03)”

 

Video 1; Musicology

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Rick James - Come Get It!

​Today Marks The 48th Anniversary of Rick James & the Stone City Band’s Debut Album “Come Get It!” Originally Released on April 20, 1978.

“Come Get It!” is the debut album by Rick James and the Stone City Band. The album was released in April 1978 on Gordy Records.

 

The album peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #13 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

 

Two singles were released from the album "You and I", "Mary Jane" and "Hollywood".

 

"You and I" peaked at # on the US Billboard R&B chart, #3 on the Billboard US Dance Club Songs chart and at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

"Mary Jane" peaked #3 on the US Billboard R&B chart and at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

The lyrics of the song are a thinly-veiled ode to James' love of marijuana aka "Mary Jane". During live performances of the song, James frequently had stage props that looked like giant joints and then would light up an actual joint.

 

Both singles "You and I" and "Mary Jane" propelled Come Get It! to double platinum status.

 

Though the song“Hollywood" was released as a single it failed to chart on any of the major Billboard charts.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Stone City Band, Hi!

2. You and I

3. Sexy Lady

4. Dream Maker

5. Be My Lady

6. Mary Jane

7. Hollywood

8. Stone City Band, Bye!

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

George Clinton - R&B Skeletons in the Closet

​Today Marks The 40th Anniversary of George Clinton’s 4th Studio Album “R&B Skeletons in the Closet” Originally Released on April 19, 1986.

“R&B Skeletons in the Closet” is the fourth solo album by Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton. It was released in April 1986 by Capitol Records.

 

The album reached #152 on the Billboard Hot Hip/R&B Albums chart.

 

The album released three singles “Do Fries Go with That Shake”, “Hey Good Lookin'” and “R&B Skeletons (In the Closet)”

 

“Do Fries Go with That Shake?” reached #13 on the Billboard's R&B chart.

 

Hey Good Lookin' reached #41 on the Billboard's R&B chart.

 

 “R&B Skeletons (In the Closet) was released as a single but didn’t make the charts.

 

The album's concept deals with black musical artists attempts to "cross over" to white audiences and losing their core black audience in the process. R&B Skeletons in the Closet expands on the dance-funk sound of Clinton's previous solo albums, and it also incorporates elements of electro and hip hop music.

 

The album was reissued on CD by Capitol Records in 1991, but went out of print shortly thereafter.

 

Track-listing

 

1.  Hey Good Lookin'

2. Do Fries Go with That Shake?

3. Mix Master Suite: a) Startin' From Scratch, b) Counter Irritant, c) Nothin' Left To Burn

4. Electric Pygmies

5. Intense

6. Cool Joe

7. R&B Skeletons (In the Closet)

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Joyce ‘Fenderella’ Irby - Maximum Thrust

​Today Marks The 37th Anniversary of Joyce "Fenderella" Irby’s Debut Studio Album “Maximum Thrust” Originally Released on April 19, 1989.

“Maximum Thrust” is the 1st studio album by Joyce "Fenderella" Irby released on Motown Records in 1989.

 

Joyce "Fenderella" Irby, formerly of KLYMAXX set out to release her solo debut"Maximum Thrust" The album is filled with dance laced r&b and poppy ballads.

 

Three singles were released from the album “Mr. D.J.”, “She's Not My Lover” and “I'll Be There”.

 

Mr. D.J  reached #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #23 on Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

 

The second single “She's Not My Lover” reached #63 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart .

 

The third single “I'll Be There”reached #70 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart .

 

Track-listing

 

1. Mr. D.J.

2. I'm Available

3. She's Not My Lover

4. I Love You

5. Let's Do It

6. Maximum Thrust

7. Guardian Angel

8. I'll Be There

9. Go-Go Girl

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

The Isley Brothers - Go All the Way

​Today Marks The 46th Anniversary of The Isley Brothers’ 18th Studio Album “Go All The Way” Originally Released on April 19, 1980.

Go All the Way is an album by the Isley Brothers, released in 1980 on their imprint T-Neck Records.

 

The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #8 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

 

Three singles were released from the album, “Go All The Way”, Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love) and "Here We Go Again (Parts 1 & 2)".

 

“Go All The Way” reached #40 on the Billboard U.S. Dance Songs chart.

 

"Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)" peaked #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and #39 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

"Here We Go Again (Parts 1 & 2)" peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

 

The album was certified platinum by the RIAA selling 1,000,000 copies.

 

The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Go All the Way (Parts 1 & 2)

2. Say You Will (Parts 1 & 2)

3. Pass It On (Parts 1 & 2)

4. Here We Go Again (Parts 1 & 2)

5. Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love) (Parts 1 & 2)

6. The Belly Dancer (Parts 1 & 2)

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology©