The Temptations - Skys The Limit

​Today Marks The 55th Anniversary of The Temptations 14th Studio Album “Sky's the Limit” Originally Released on April 22, 1971.

“Sky's the Limit” is a 14th studio album from American soul, funk group the Temptations, released in 1971 on Gordy Records.

 

The album peaked #2 on the U.S. Billboard Top Black Albums chart, and at #16 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

 

Two songs were released as singles from the album "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)" and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)".

 

"Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)" reached #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, and at #33 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" peaked at #1 on both of the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

“Sky's the Limit” marked an end of an era for longtime friends Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams who were founding members of the Temptations.

 

Eddie Kendricks left to pursue a solo career after Paul Williams could no longer perform mainly to health issues.

 

The album was produced by Norman Whitfield.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Gonna Keep on Tryin' (Till I Win Your Love)

2. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)

3. I'm the Exception to the Rule

4. Smiling Faces Sometimes

5. Man

6. Throw a Farewell Kiss

7. Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)

8. Love Can Be Anything (Can't Nothing Be Love But Love)

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

The Isley Brothers - Showdown

​Today Marks The 48th Anniversary of The Isley Brothers’ 16th Studio Album “Showdown” Originally Released on April 22, 1978.

 

Showdown is sixteenth studio album by The Isley Brothers Released in April 1978, on their T-Neck label distributed by Epic Records .

 

The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard US Top R&B  Albums chart and at #4 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

 

The album released two hit singles "Take Me to the Next Phase” and “Groove with You “.

 

"Take Me to the Next Phase" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.

 

“Groove with You “ peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.

 

“Showdown” became another platinum album for the Isley Brothers. Though not released as a single, the smooth funk jam "Coolin' Me Out" was also a hit.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Showdown (Part 1 & 2)

2. Groove With You

3. Ain't Givin' Up No Love

4. Rockin' With Fire (Part 1 & 2)

5. Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1 & 2)

6. Coolin' Me Out (Part 1 & 2)

7. Fun and Games

8. Love Fever (Part 1 & 2)

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Prince & the Revolution - Around the World in a Day

​Today Marks The 41st Anniversary of Prince's Around The World In a Day, Originally Released on April 22, 1985 on Paisley Park Records.

“Around the World in a Day” is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Prince, and the third to feature his backing band The Revolution. It was released on April 22, 1985, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records.

 

The album peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Top Black Albums chart.

 

Three songs were released from the album in the United States, "Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life" and “America”. The song "Paisley Park" was released in the United Kingdom.

 

Each song was released with a B-side song that wasn’t featured on the album.

 

"Raspberry Beret" peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart.

 

The song "She's Always in My Hair" was released as the B-Side song.

 

"Paisley Park" was released in the United Kingdom as the album’s second single it reached #18 on the UK Singles chart.

 

The song "She's Always in My Hair" was released as the B-Side song in the United Kingdom.

 

"Pop Life" peaked at #7 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Cashbox Magazine charts.

 

The song "Hello" was released as the singles B-Side song.

 

“America” was the final U.S. single from the group's 1985 album, Around the World in a Day, It reached #35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and #46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

The song “Girl” was the B-Side song released with the single.

 

The album departed somewhat from the commercial sound of his previous release, the massively successful Purple Rain, the album instead saw Prince experimenting with psychedelic styles and more opulent textures.

 

In compliance with Prince's wishes, the record company released the album with minimal publicity, withholding accompanying singles until almost a month after the album's release.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Around the World in a Day

2. Paisley Park

3. Condition of the Heart

4. Raspberry Beret

5. Tamborine

6. America

7. Pop Life

8. The Ladder

9. Temptation

 

By Romie Rome For Musique Funkology.©

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.©