T-Connection - Everything Is Cool

​Today Marks The 45th Anniversary of T-Connection’s 5th Studio Album “Everything Is Cool” Originally Released on February 9, 1981.

 

“Everything Is Cool” is the fifth studio album by Nassau, the Bahamas funk band T-Connection released in 1981 on Capital Records.

 

Upon its release the album failed to chart in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

 

Two songs were released as singles from the album "Groove City", "Everything Is Cool".

 

“Groove City" reached #47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

"Everything Is Cool" peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

Other album standouts were "Take It To The Limit," "Heaven In Your Eyes," and "We've Got A Good Thing".

 

The album is generally considered to be a, "must-have" for fans of 1970s and 1980s funk, disco, and soul, with many listeners finding it to be a, "pleasurable listening experience".

 

Tracklisting

 

1. Groove City

2. Spend The Night With Me

3. Spinnin'

4. Paradise

5. Everything Is Cool

6. Give Me Your Love

7. Heaven In Your Eyes

8. We've Got A Good Thing

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

T-Connection - Pure & Natural

​Today Marks The 44th Anniversary of T-Connection’s 6th Studio Album “Pure & Natural” Originally Released on February 8, 1982.

“Pure & Natural” is the sixth studio album by Nassau, the Bahamas funk band T-Connection released in 1982 on Capital Records.

 

Upon its release the album failed to chart in the United States on the Billboard charts.

 

Three songs were released as singles “A Little More Love", “Party Night" and "Girl Watching".

 

"A Little More Love" reached #37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

 Both “Party Night" and "Girl Watching"  failed to chart in the United States as well as the United Kingdom.

 

The album represents a refined, "pure" disco-funk sound, often described as a near-lost 80s gem that successfully blends dance-floor rhythms with Caribbean flair.

 

Tracklisting

 

1. Girl Watching

2. Party Night

3. A Little More Love

4. Slippin' Away

5. Might As Well Dance

6. Rushing Through The Crowd

7. The Best Of My Love

8. Goombay Time

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Mandrill - Beast from the East

​Today Marks The 51st Anniversary of Mandrill’s 7th Studio Album “Beast from the East” Originally Released on February 7, 1975.

 

“Beast from the East” is the seventh studio album by Brooklyn, New York soul -funk band Mandrill released in 1975 on United Artists Records.

 

Upon its release the album failed

 to chart on the U.S. Billboard charts.

 

The album bridges the gap between 70s disco-funk trends and Mandrill's progressive, Afro-Latin roots, featuring heavy funk, Caribbean influences, and complex, shifting arrangements.

 

Standout tracks include "Livin' It Up," "Ratchet," the "Aqua Magic" instrumental (noted for cascading piano), and the "Panama".

 

The album was recorded during a lineup change where only the Wilson brothers and Claude Cave remained as founding members.

 

Tracklisting

 

1. Disco Lypso

2. Honey-Butt

3. Livin' It Up

4. Love Is Happiness

5. Ratchet (Como Se Va La Cosa)

6. Dirty Ole Man

7. Panama

8. Aqua-Magic

9. Synthia Song

10. Peaceful Atmosphere

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Bernie Worrell - Funk of Ages

​Today Marks The 36th Anniversary of Bernie Worrell’s 2nd Studio Album “Funk of Ages” Originally Released on February 6, 1990.

“Funk of Ages” is the second solo studio album by funk keyboardist Bernie Worrell released in 1990 by Gramavision Records.

 

The album moves beyond pure P-Funk, incorporating reggae and rock, with a notable appearance by David Byrne on the track "Sing".

 

The album includes contributions by numerous guest musicians, including Sly and Robbie, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Vernon Reid, and Phoebe Snow.

 

P-Funk bandmates Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Gary Cooper, Doug Duffey, and Michael Hampton also contributed.

 

Despite a large, varied cast of guests and disparate genres, the album is noted for holding together well, often described as a "funky, wide-ranging diversion".

 

The album’s standout tracks include the reggae-tinged "You Hit the Nail on the Head" and the closing, punchy "The Moment".

 

“Funk of Ages” is regarded as a testament to Worrell's ability to stretch musically outside of his traditional P-Funk roles.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Sing

2. B.W. Jam

3. Funk-A-Hall-Licks

4. Ain't She Sweet

5. Y-Spy

6. Real Life Dreams

7. Beware of Dog

8. Straight Ahead

9. Don't Piss Me Off

10. Volunteered Slavery/Bern's Blues/Outer Spaceways

11. At Mos' Spheres

12. Real Life Dreams On

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Sugarfoot - Sugar "Kiss"

​Today Marks The 41st Anniversary of ‘Sugarfoot’s Debut Studio Album “Sugar "Kiss" Originally Released on February 4, 1985.

 

Sugar "Kiss" is the debut studio album by the Ohio Players’ frontman Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner released in 1985 on Warner Bros. Records.

 

After a few failed attempts to rekindle their success that they had during the 70’s The Ohio Players released three albums in the 80’s that barely got noticed, the band’s frontman Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner went solo in 1985 with Sugar Kiss.

 

The album was produced by Zapp’s frontman Roger Troutman  many of the musicians who were involved in the project were Ohio Players fellow bandmates Billy Beck, James “Diamond” Williams and Clarence "Chet" Willis. Roger Troutman also included a few members of Zapp to participate in the project.

 

Though the album was very synth heavy it didn’t capture the rawness that earlier Ohio Players or Zapp albums fans were used to which is probably why the album failed to chart.

 

Two songs were released from the album “Fire "85"” and “Kiss” both songs failed to chart on the Billboard charts. Another popular song on the album was the ballad “I Will Be Your Star”.

 

Tracklisting

 

1.  Kiss

2. I'm Your Sugar

3. Call Me

4. You Better Love Somebody

5. Fire "85"

6. I Choose You

7. I Will Be Your Star

8. Until The Moment We Met

9. Girl, I Need You

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Ohio Players - Angel

​Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of The Ohio Players’ 9th Studio Album “Angel” Originally Released on February 4, 1977.

 

“Angel” is the sixth studio album by the Ohio Players released in 1977 on Mercury Records.

 

The album peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs chart, and at #41 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs chart.

 

Three singles were released in support of the album: "Body Vibes," "O-H-I-O," and "Merry Go Round."

 

"Body Vibes” reached #19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

"O-H-I-O" peaked at #9  on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, and at #45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"Merry Go Round" reached #77 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

The song "O-H-I-O" would prove to be a concert favorite, with the band and crowd chanting in unison the letters.

 

The band grew from seven to eight members with the addition of Clarence "Chet" Willis on rhythm guitar.

 

The New York Times deemed the album "a basic kind of rambling funk."

 

All tracks were composed by Billy Beck, James "Diamond" Williams, Marshall Jones, Marvin "Merv" Pierce, Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks, Clarence Satchell, and Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner.

 

Track-listing

 

 1. Angel

2. Merry-Go-Round

3. Glad to Know You're Mine

4. Body Vibes

5. Don't Fight My Love

6. Can You Still Love Me?

7. O-H-I-O

8. Faith

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©