Chocolate Milk - Chocolate Milk

​Today Marks The 50th Anniversary of Chocolate Milk’s 2nd Self-titled Studio Album “Chocolate Milk” Originally Released on February 1, 1976.

 

“Chocolate Milk” is the second studio album by New Orleans, Louisiana funk band Chocolate Milk released in 1976 by RCA Records.

 

The song "How About Love" was released as the lead single from the album.

 

"How About Love"reached #79 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles charts.

 

The album was produced by legendary New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint, the album is a mix of gritty funk, soul, and R&B, sometimes featuring a smoother, pop-oriented sound alongside raw, danceable, and "deep" funk tracks.

 

Track-listing

 

1. Never Ever Do Without You

2. How About Love

3. Spread A Little Love

4. You've Got Your Spell On Me

5. Let The Music Take Your Mind

6. Crazy About You

7. Party Happy

8. Running Away

9. Pluck It

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Skyy - Skyway

​Today Marks The 46th Anniversary of Skyy’s Sophomore Album “Skyway” Originally Released January 30, 1980.

 

Skyway is the second album by New York City based group Skyy released in 1980 on Salsoul Records.

 

The album peaked #17 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #61 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

 

The album released two singles "High" and "Skyyzoo".

 

“High” reached #13 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and #26 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

 

"Skyyzoo" reached #32 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and #41 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

 

Track-listing

 

 1. "High"

2. "Skyyzoo"

3. "Dance"

4. "Don't Stop"

5. "Love Plane"

6. "You Got Me Up"

7. "Who's Gonna Love Me”

8. "Music, Music"

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©

Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band

​Today Marks The 50th Anniversary of Bootsy's Rubber Band ‘s Debut Studio Album “Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band” Originally Released on January 30, 1976.

 

“Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band” is the debut studio album by American funk and soul band Bootsy's Rubber Band released in 1976 by Warner Bros. Records.

 

The album peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's chart and at #59 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

 

Three songs were released from the album "I'd Rather Be With You", "Stretchin' Out (In A Rubber Band)", and "Psychoticbumpschool".

 

"I'd Rather Be With You" reached #25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

"Stretchin' Out (In A Rubber Band)" reached #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

"Psychoticbumpschool" reached #69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

The song "I'd Rather Be with You" has been sampled several times by notable recording artists such as Tupac Shakur, Beyoncé, Childish Gambino and N.W.A.

 

The song was covered by P-Funk artist Dawn Silva on her album “All My Funky Friends”.

 

N.W.A did a revamped version of the song on their studio album called “I’d Rather Fuck You” on their album “Niggaz4Life”.

 

Track-listing

 

1.  Stretchin' Out (In a Rubber Band)

2. Psychoticbumpschool

3. Another Point of View

4. I'd Rather Be with You

5. Love Vibes

6. Physical Love

7. Vanish in Our Sleep

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

One Way - Love Is... One Way

​Today Marks The 45th Anniversary of One Way’s 2nd Studio Album “Love Is... One Way” Originally Released on January 30, 1981.

 

“Love Is... One Way” is the second studio album by American R&B and funk band One Way released in 1981 on MCA Records.

 

The album reached #18 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's chart and at #157 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

 

Two songs were released as singles from the album "My Lady", and "Push”.

 

“My Lady” reached #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

“Push” reached #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

 

The album was produced by One Way and executively produced by Al Perkins.

 

Track-listing

 

1.  Love Is...

2. My Lady

3. All Over Again

4. Get It Over

5. Push

6. I Didn't Mean To Break Your Heart

7. Be Serious

8. Wait Until Tomorrow

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

The J.B.'s - Doing It to Death

​Today Marks The 53rd Anniversary of The J.B.'s 2nd Studio Album “Doing It to Death” Originally Released on January 29, 1973.

 

“Doing It to Death” is the second studio album by The J.B.'s, released in 1973 by People Records.

 

The album includes a ten-minute version of the #1 R&B hit "Doing It to Death", which is led by Danny Ray's introduction to simulate his MC in concerts.

 

The introduction, like many Brown's produced live albums, such as Live at the Apollo, Live at the Apollo, Volume II and Revolution of the Mind were sampled on hip hop and electronic music.

 

The album also includes the R&B classics "More Peas," another funky tune praised for their undeniable groove.

 

Aside from the album’s title track, the primary song on the 1973 album influenced by the Watergate scandal is "You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks And I'll Be Straight”.

 

Though it's initially an J.B.'s album James Brown is heavily featured with his classic shouts, grunts, and direction, even playing organ.

 

Musical highlights include Fred Wesley's trombone, Maceo Parker's sax, and Janes Brown providing additional keyboard work, creating rich textures.

 

Many music critics note Brown's extensive presence might overshadow the band, but generally, it's seen as a perfect example of his powerful funk machine at work.

 

The album is viewed as a sampling goldmine because of Its breakdowns and grooves were heavily sampled by hip-hop top producers during the 1980s.

 

"Doing It to Death" ultimately became The J.B.'s best-selling studio album alongside their debut studio album “Food for Thought”, released in 1972.

 

Tracklist

All songs were written and arranged by James Brown.

 

1. Introduction to the J.B.'s

2. Doing It to Death Parts 1 & 2

3. You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks and I'll Be Straight

4. More Peas

5. La Di Da La Di Day (from the Motion Picture Slaughter's Big Rip-Off)

6. You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks and I'll Be Straight

7. Sucker

8. You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks and I'll Be Straight

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Shalamar - Friends

​Today Marks The 43rd Anniversary of Shalamar’s 6th Studio Album “Friends” Originally Released on January 29, 1982.

 

“Friends” is the sixth studio album by R&B group Shalamar, released in 1982 on SOLAR Records.

 

The album peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's charts, and at #35 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes charts.

 

Four songs were released as singles from the album, "I Can Make You Feel Good", "A Night To Remember", "There It Is", and the album’s title track "Friends".

 

"I Can Make You Feel Good" reached #33 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, #102 just beneath the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"A Night To Remember" peaked #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles charts, and at #44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

 

"There It Is"        peaked at #5 in the United Kingdom on the UK singles chart. The song failed to chart in the United States on the U.S. Billboard charts.

 

"Friends" reached #12 in the United Kingdom on the UK singles chart. The song failed to chart in the United States on the U.S. Billboard charts.

 

The album was certified gold in the United States by the RIAA selling

500,000^ copies.

 

In 2002, Friends was re-released by Sanctuary Records in the United Kingdom in a double-CD package with Shalamar's previous album Go for It.

 

Tracklist

 

1. A Night to Remember

2. Don't Try to Change Me

3. Help Me

4. On Top of the World

5. I Don't Wanna Be the Last to Know

6. Friends

7. Playing to Win

8. I Just Stopped By Because I Had To

9. There It Is

10. I Can Make You Feel Good

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©