Kleeer - Taste The Music

Today Marks The 42nd Anniversary of Kleeer’s 5th Studio Album “Taste The Music” Originally Released on May 7, 1982.

Taste The Music is the fifth album by New York City-based American band Kleeer released in 1982 on Atlantic Records.

The album reached #31 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #139 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

Two singles were released from the album "De Ting Continues'" and the album’s title track "Taste The Music".

The first single "De Ting Continues'" reached #74 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The album’s title track "Taste The Music" reached #31 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and at #55 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Track-listing

1. Taste the Music

2. I've Had Enough (Can't Take It Anymore)

3. De Ting Continues

4. Wall to Wall

5. I Shall Get Over

6. Fella

7. Swann

8. Affirmative Mood

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Rufus - Rags to Rufus

Today Marks The 50th Anniversary of Rufus’ Sophomore Album “Rags to Rufus” Originally Released on May 5, 1974.

“Rags To Rufus” is the second studio album by funk band Rufus, released on the ABC Records label in 1974.

The album peaked at #4 on both of the Billboard’s Pop and Black Albums charts.

Two singles were released from the album "Tell Me Something Good" and "You Got the Love".

"Tell Me Something Good" peaked at #1 on the US Cash Box Top 100, #3 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B charts.

Rufus won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975.

"You Got the Love" peaked at # on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Chaka Khan re-recorded "You Got the Love/Pack'd My Bags" medley for her 2007 album Funk This, with Tony Maiden on guitar.

“Rags to Rufus” sold over a million copies later going platinum. After this release, founding member Al Ciner, Dennis Belfield, and Stockert would leave; the lineup of the group by the time of their next album had changed drastically.

Track-listing

1. You Got the Love

2. I Got the Right Street (But the Wrong Direction)

3. Walkin' in the Sun

4. Rags to Rufus

5. Swing Down Chariot

6. Sideways

7. Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe

8. Tell Me Something Good

9. Look Through My Eyes

10. In Love We Grow

11. Smokin' Room

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

 

Curtis Mayfield - Sweet Exorcist

Today Marks The 50th Anniversary of Curtis Mayfield’s 5th Studio Album “Sweet Exorcist” Originally Released on May 5, 1974.

“Sweet Exorcist” is the fifth studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in May 1974 on Curtom Records.

The album peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Top Black Albums chart and at #39 on the US Billboard

Top LPs & Tapes chart.

Two singles were released from the album "Kung Fu” and the album’s title track "Sweet Exorcist”.

“Kung Fu” peaked at #3 on the US Billboard R&B chart and at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Sweet Exorcist” peaked at #32 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Track-listing

1. Ain't Got Time

2. Sweet Exorcist

3. To Be Invisible

4. Power to the People

5. Kung Fu

6. Suffer

7. Make Me Believe in You

8. Kung Fu (Single Edit)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

 

Midnight Star- Headlines

Today Marks The 38th Anniversary of Midnight Star’s 6th Studio Album “Headlines” Originally Released on May 5, 1986..

“Headlines” is the sixth studio album by Midnight Star released in 1986 on SOLAR Records.

The album peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #56 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Three singles were released from the album, "Headlines", "Midas Touch" and "Engine No. 9".

"Headlines" peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 music chart.

"Midas Touch" peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 music chart.

"Engine No. 9" peaked at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The album was certified gold in the United States by the RIAA selling 500,000 copies.

Headlines was the last album to include the Calloway brothers, who left to form Calloway.

Track-listing

1. Headlines

2. Midas Touch

3. Stay Here by My Side

4. Close to Midnight

5. Get Dressed

6. Engine No. 9

7. Close Encounter

8. Dead End

9. Searching for Love

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

Sly &The Family Stone - Stand!

Today Marks The 55th Anniversary of Sly &The Family Stone’s 4th Studio Album “Stand!” Originally Released on May 3, 1969.

“Stand!” is the fourth album by soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone, released in May 1969 on Epic Records.

The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Top R&B Albums chart and at #13 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums chart.

The album released two singles "Everyday People" and the album’s title track "Stand!" However the B-sides to both singles "Sing a Simple Song" and "I Want to Take You Higher" were equally popular as their lead singles.

"Everyday People" peaked at #1 on both of the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles and U.S. Billboard R&B Singles charts.

The B-Side single "Sing a Simple Song" peaked at #28 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles and at #89 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles chart.

“Stand!” reached #14 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart and #22 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles chart.

The B-Side single "I Want to Take You Higher" reached #24 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart and #38 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles chart.

The album sold 500,000 copies in 1969 and was certified gold in sales by the RIAA on December 4, 1969. By 1986 it had sold well over 1 million copies and was certified platinum in sales by the RIAA on November 21 of that same year. It then went on to sell over three million copies, becoming one of the most successful albums of the 1960s.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 118 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, 121 in a 2012 revised list, and number 119 in a 2020 reboot of the list.

In 2015, the album was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.

Track-listing

1. Stand!

2. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey

3. I Want to Take You Higher

4. Somebody's Watching You

5. Sing a Simple Song

6. Everyday People

7. Sex Machine

8. You Can Make It If You Try

9. Stand! (mono single version

10. I Want to Take You Higher (mono single version)

11. You Can Make It If You Try (mono single version)

12. Soul Clappin' II (previously unreleased)

13. My Brain (Zig-Zag) (previously unreleased instrumental)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

 

Curtis Mayfield - There’s No Place Like America Today

Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Curtis Mayfield’s 7th Studio Album “There’s No Place Like America Today” Originally Released on May 3, 1975.

“There's No Place Like America Today” is the seventh studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1975 on Curtom Records.

The album peaked at #13 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and at #120 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Two singles were released from the album “So in Love” and “Love to the People”.

“So in Love” peaked at #9 on the US Billboard R&B chart and at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Love to the People” was the second single from the album but failed to chart on the Billboard charts.

The album cover was based on a 1937 monochrome photograph by Margaret Bourke-White, titled At the Time of the Louisville Flood, on which the advertising slogan was "There's No Way Like the American Way".

The original photograph was published in the February 15, 1937 edition of Life magazine.

The album was featured in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2013, NME placed it at number 373 on the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.

Track-listing

No. Title Length

1. "Billy Jack"

2. "When Seasons Change”

3. "So in Love"

4. "Jesus"

5. "Blue Monday People"

6. "Hard Times"

7. "Love to the People”

8. "Hard Times" (Long Version)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

 

Tower of Power - Bump City

Today Marks The 52nd Anniversary of Tower of Power’s Sophomore Studio Album “Bump City” Originally Released May 3, 1972.

“Bump City” is the second album by the soul/funk group Tower of Power released on Warner Bros. Records in 1972.

The album reached #16 on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart and at #85 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Two singles were released from the album "You're Still A Young Man" and "Down To The Nightclub".

"You're Still A Young Man" peaked at #24 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Down To The Nightclub" reached #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Track-listing

1. You Got to Funkifize

2. What Happened to the World That Day?

3. Flash in the Pan

4. Gone (in Memory of Jacqueline Mesquite)

5. You Strike My Main Nerve

6. Down to the Nightclub

7. You're Still a Young Man

8. Skating on Thin Ice

9. Of the Earth

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.