Parliament - Chocolate City

​Today Marks The 51st Anniversary of Parliament’s 3rd Studio Album “Chocolate City” Originally Released on April 8, 1975.

 

Chocolate City is the third album by the funk band Parliament, released in 1975 on Casablanca Records.

 

The album reached #18 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.

 

The album was very popular in the capitol city, selling 150,000 copies alone there.

 

Two singles were released from the album, the album’s title-track “Chocolate City” and “Ride On”.

 

 “Chocolate City", the title track and first single, reached #24 on the Billboard Black Singles chart and #94 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

 

 "Ride On" the second single reached #64 on the Billboard Black Singles chart.

 

Other tracks on the album reflecting the influence of Washington are "Let Me Be" drawing from 1970s D.C. gospel and "I Misjudged You" a homage to The Unifics, a Washington R&B ballad group.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Chocolate City

2. Ride On"

3. Together

4. Side Effects

5. What Comes Funky

6. Let Me Be

7. If It Don't Fit (Don't Force It)

8. I Misjudged You

9. Big Footin'

 

A 2003 CD reissue of Chocolate City contained three bonus tracks, including alternate mixes of "If It Don't Fit (Don't Force It)" and "I Misjudged You" and the previously unreleased song "Common Law Wife".

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology©

Rick James - Street Songs

​Today Marks The 44th Anniversary of Rick James' Classic Album "Street Songs" Originally Released on April 7, 1981.

 

Street Songs is the fifth album by American musician Rick James, released in April 1981 via Gordy Records.

 

The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #3 on the Billboard 200.

 

Three singles were released from the album, "Give It to Me Baby", “Super Freak” and “Ghetto Life”.

 

"Give It to Me Baby", the lead song and single from the album, became James' second number one single on the R&B chart. It peaked at #1 on both the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the Billboard Dance Club Songs charts.

 

The fifth song on the album, "Super Freak", was also one of James' biggest hits. The song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

 

“Ghetto Life” reached #38 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #102 barely making the Billboard Hot 100.

 

Although the song "Fire and Desire" (a duet he performed with singer Teena Marie) was not originally released as a single, the song itself received much airplay on R&B radio stations and has since become a classic hit (James and Marie would reunite to perform the song at the 2004 BET Awards a few months before James' death).

 

A Deluxe Edition was released in 2001 containing an additional 17 mixes and live versions of the album tracks.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Give It To Me Baby

2. Ghetto Life

3. Make Love To Me

4. Mr. Policeman

5. Super Freak

6. Fire And Desire

7. Call Me Up

8. Below The Funk (Pass The J)

 

By Romie Rome For Musique Funkology.©

The Temptations - Reunion

​This Month Marks The 44th Anniversary of The Temptations’ 28th Studio Album “Reunion” Originally Released on April 7, 1982.

 

“Reunion” is a studio album by the Temptations released in 1982 on Gordy Records.

 

The album peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's chart, and at #37 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

 

Two songs were released as singles "Standing On the Top” and

 

 "Standing On the Top” peaked at #6 on U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles, and at #66 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"More On the Inside" reached #82 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

The album was released during the 1982 Temptations Reunion tour, which reunited David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the Temptations after a decade-long absence.

 

The album also features then-current Temptations Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, and founding members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin.

 

Rick James penned the album’s lead single “Standing On the Top” in which he’s featured alongside singing with the Temptations.

 

The song is also featured on Rick James’ 1982 album “Throwin' Down” however James’ version on his album is a short version of 3:51 where the Temptations version is 9:50 long.

 

The Reunion album was their first album to reach the top 40 since Wings of Love (1976).

 

The Reunion tour, which began in April 1982 was only partially successful, because of turmoil with in the group

Otis Williams fired David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks in February of 1983 .

 

Berry Gordy executively produced the album with tracks produced by multiple producers including Smokey Robinson, Rick James, Berry Gordy himself and Ron Miller.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Standing on the Top

2. You Better Beware

3. Lock It in the Pocket

4. I've Never Been to Me

5. Backstage

6. More On the Inside

7. Money's Hard to Get

8. Like a Diamond in the Sky

9. Don't Hold it In

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology©

Prince - For You

​Today Marks The 48th Anniversary of Prince’s Debut Album “For You” Originally Released on April 7, 1978.

 

For You is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Prince. It was released by Warner Bros. Records on April 7, 1978.

 

The album reached #21 on the US Billboard Top Black Albums chart and at #163 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

 

The album released two singles "Soft and Wet" and "Just as Long as We're Together".

 

“Soft and Wet” peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #92 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

 

The B-side of the track was the album track, "So Blue".

 

"Just as Long as We're Together" reached #91 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

The B-side of the track was the album track, "In Love". The single peaked at number 91 on the R&B chart and did not enter the pop charts.

 

All tracks on the album were produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince.

 

Track-listing:

 

 1. "For You"

2. "In Love"

3. "Soft and Wet"

4. "Crazy You"

5. "Just as Long as We're Together" 

6. "Baby"

7. "My Love Is Forever"

8. "So Blue"

9. "I'm Yours"

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology©

Cheryl Lynn - In The Night

​Today Marks The 45th Anniversary of Cheryl Lynn’s 3rd Studio Album “In The Night” Originally Released on April 6, 1981.

 

“In the Night” is the third studio album by Soul/Funk singer Cheryl Lynn released in 1981 on Columbia Records.

 

The album reached #14 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's chart, and at #104 just beneath the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes charts.

 

The song "Shake It Up Tonight" was released as the album’s lead single, it peaked at #5 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles, and the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs charts. The song also reached #70 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) a month after its release.

 

Tracklisting

 

1. Shake It Up Tonight

2. Show You How

3. In the Night

4. Hurry Home

5. I'm on Fire

6. With Love on Our Side

7. If You'll Be True to Me

8. What's on Your Mind

9. Baby

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©