Patrice Rushen - Prelusion

​Today Marks The 52nd Anniversary of Patrice Rushen’s DeBut Studio Album “Prelusion” Originally Released on May 21, 1974.

“Prelusion” is the debut studio album by Jazz pianist Patrice Rushen released in 1974 on Prestige Records.

 

Prelusion was mainly an instrumental jazz album which was her main focus as an artist before focusing on popular R&B recordings four years later after signing with Elektra Records.

 

The album showed great promise for Rushen in the instrumental jazz genre with songs like "Haw-Right Now", "Shortie's Portion", and "Puttered Bopcorn".

 

Jazz critics speculated on where her career in jazz might have gone had she not switched to R&B singing in 1978.

 

In 1998, Prelusion was reissued along with Rushen's second album, Before the Dawn, on a single 77-minute CD; unfortunately, "Puttered Bopcorn" was deleted due to space limitations.

 

Tracklisting:

 

All tracks composed and arranged by Patrice Rushen.

 

1. "Shortie's Portion" - 8:42

2. "7/73" - 12:42

3. "Haw Right Now" - 8:00

4. "Traverse" - 10:53

5. "Puttered Bopcorn" - 4:15

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Patrice Rushen - Now

​Today Marks The 47th Anniversary of Patrice Rushen’s 8th Studio Album “Now” Originally Released on May 21, 1984.

“Now” is the eighth studio album by jazz pianist Patrice Rushen released in 1984 on Elektra Records.

 

The album peaked at #7 on both the U.S. Billboard Jazz Album charts, and the U.S. Billboard Black LPs charts.

 

The album also reached #40 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes charts.

 

Two songs were released as singles from the album, "Get Off (You Fascinate Me)" and "Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)".

 

"Get Off (You Fascinate Me)" reached #26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles charts, and at #40 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs charts.

 

"Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)" peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles charts, #10 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs charts, and at #78 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

Tracklisting:

 

All tracks composed by Patrice Rushen and Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington; except where indicated.

 

1. “Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)" (Rushen) - 6:48

2. "Gone with the Night" - 4:40

3. "Gotta Find It" (Rushen, Roy Galloway) - 4:26

4. "Superstar" (Rushen, Romeo Williams) - 4:56

5. "Heartache Heartbreak" - 4:10

6. "Get Off (You Fascinate Me)" - 6:18

7. "My Love's Not Going Anywhere" (Rushen, Roy Galloway) - 4:18

8. "Perfect Love" - 4:54

9. "High in Me" (Rushen, Syreeta Wright) - 4:13

10. "To Each His Own" (Rushen, Lynn Davis) - 4:12

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Earth, Wind & Fire - Head to the Sky

​Today Marks The 53rd Anniversary of Earth, Wind & Fire’s 4th Studio Album “Head to the Sky” Originally Released on May 21, 1973.

“Head to the Sky” is the fourth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in May 1973 on Columbia Records.

 

The album peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #27 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

 

The album released two singles "Evil" and "Keep Your Head to the Sky".

 

"Evil" peaked at #19 on the U.S. Billboard Easy Listening chart and #25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

"Keep Your Head to the Sky" peaking at #23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #52 on the U.S. U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

The album has was certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

 

Issac Hayes called Head to the Sky one of Earth, Wind & Fire's five essential recordings.

 

Erykah Badu paid tribute to the album in the music video of her 2008 single "Honey".

 

Alex Henderson of Allmusic called Head to the Sky an "excellent" album.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Evil

2. Keep Your Head to the Sky

3. Build Your Nest

4. The World's a Masquerade

5. Clover

6. Zanzibar

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Chocolate Milk - Hipnotism

​Today Marks The 46th Anniversary of Chocolate Milk’s 6th Studio Album “Hipnotism” Originally Released on May 20, 1980.

“Hipnotism” is the sixth studio album by the New Orleans funk and soul group Chocolate Milk, released in 1980 on RCA Records.

 

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

 

The song “Hey Lover” was released as the lead single from the album it reached #40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles charts.

 

Musically, "Hipnotism" marks a shift in the band's career It moves away from their gritty, raw New Orleans funk origins toward a more polished, pop-oriented R&B and disco-influenced sound.

 

The album features several tracks that define the band's late-'70s to early-'80s transition.

 

Tracklisting:

 

1. I'm Your Radio

2. Hipnotism (Title Track)

3. Forever and a Day

3. Hey Lover

4. Body Rhythm

5. I Can't Believe (You Said) It's Over

6. Would It Be Alright?

7. Dawn

8. Showdown

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

The Pointer Sisters - Steppin'

​Today Marks The 51st Anniversary of The Pointer Sisters’ 3rd Studio Album “Steppin’” Originally Released on May 19, 1975.

Steppin' is the third studio album by The Pointer Sisters, released in 1975 on the ABC/Blue Thumb label.

 

The album reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's chart, and at #22 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

 

Two songs were released as singles from the album "How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)" and “Going Down Slowly”

 

"How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)" peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, and at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

“Going Down Slowly” reached #16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, and at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

The album Steppin', was more R&B Funk heavy than the quartet's previous albums.

 

The album was remastered and issued on CD in 2006 by Hip-O Select.

 

Track-listing

 

 1. How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)

2. Sleeping Alone

3. Easy Days

4. Chainey Do

5. I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues (A Medley In Tribute To Duke Ellington)

6. Save The Bones For Henry Jones

7. Wanting Things

8. Going Down Slowly

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Atlantic Starr - We're Movin' Up

​Today Marks The 37th Anniversary of Atlantic Starr’s 10th Studio Album “We're Movin' Up” Originally Released on May 20, 1989.

“We're Movin' Up” is the eighth studio album by White Plains, New York R&B band Atlantic Starr released in 1989 on Warner Bros. Records.

 

The album reached #26 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums charts, and at #125 on the U.S. Billboard Top Pop Albums charts.

 

Three songs were released as singles from the album, "My First Love “, "My Sugar" and "Bring It Back Home Again"

 

"My First Love" peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles charts.

 

"My Sugar" reached #27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles charts.

 

"Bring It Back Home Again" failed to chart in the United States.

 

The album was produced by brothers and band-members David Lewis and Wayne Lewis.

 

The band replace their second lead singer Barbara Weathers with new female vocalist Porsha Martin and keyboardist Jonathan Lewis also joined the band's lineup.

 

Tracklist

 

1. Under Your Spell

2. Bring It Back Home Again

3. I'm in Love with You

4. Don't Start the Fire

5. Love Ain't Fair

6. My First Love

7. Woman's Touch

8. Friends

9. We're Movin' Up

10. My Sugar

11. I Can't Wait

12. You Deserve the Best

 

By Romie Rome For Misique Funkology©