Maurice White - Maurice White

Today Marks The 40th Anniversary of Maurice White’s Debut Solo Studio Self-titled Album “Maurice White” Originally Released on September 1, 1985.

“Maurice White” is the debut solo album by American singer and musician Maurice White released in 1985 on Columbia Records.

The album reached #12 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.

Three songs were released as singles from the album "Stand by Me" and "I Need You”, and "Lady Is Love".

"Stand by Me" peaked at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, and at #11 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

"I Need You" reached #20 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, and at #30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.

"Lady Is Love" reached #89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.

The self titled album was produced by Maurice White. Artists such as Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, Ricky Lawson of Yellowjackets, Paul Jackson Jr., Martin Page, Wayne Vaughn and Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions appeared on the album.

The album was reissued in 2001 with four bonus tracks entitled "Life" (Freedom mix), "Life", "Adventures of the Heart" and "Sam the Jam".

Track-listing

1. Switch on Your Radio

2. Jamboree

3. Stand by Me

4. Sea of Glass

5. I Need You

6. Believe in Magic

7. Lady Is Love

8. Invitation

9. The Sleeping Flame

10. Children of Afrika

11. Alpha Dance

12. Life (Freedom mix)

13. Life

14. Adventures of the Heart

15. Sam the Jam

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

KC & The Sunshine Band - The Sound of Sunshine

Today Marks The 50th Anniversary of KC & The Sunshine Band’s 3rd Studio Album “ The Sound of Sunshine” Originally Released on September 1, 1975.

“The Sound of Sunshine” is the third studio album by the American funk and disco group the Sunshine Band released in 1975 on TK Records.

The Sound of Sunshine, an instrumental album, was credited only to the Sunshine Band. Singer Harry Wayne Casey ("KC") did not perform on it as a vocalist, though he co-produced it with partner Richard Finch.

The album features an instrumental version of "Rock Your Baby", which had been a hit for George McCrae in 1974.

Track-listing

All tracks are written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch, except where noted.

1. Shotgun Shuffle

2. Rock Your Baby

3. Funky '75 (Harry Wayne Casey, Richard Finch, Clarence Reid)

4. S.O.S.

5. Miss B. (Theme)

6. Hey J

7. Just a Groove

8. Sunshine City

9. I Love You

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

James Brown - Sex Machine

Today Marks The 55th Anniversary of James Brown’s 25th Studio Album “Sex Machine” Originally Released on September 1, 1970.

“Sex Machine” is a double studio album released in 1970 by James Brown on King Records.

Four songs were released as singles from the album, "Lowdown Popcorn", “Brother Rapp (Parts 1 & 2)”, Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like a) Sex Machine and “Spinning Wheel.”

"Lowdown Popcorn" peaked at #16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #41 on on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

“Brother Rapp (Parts 1 & 2)” peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #32 on on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

“Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like a) Sex Machine”peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and at #15 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

“Spinning Wheel” was a minor hit in 1971 with an instrumental version of the song, It reached #90 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart.

The album showcases the playing of the original J.B.'s lineup featuring Bootsy and Catfish Collins, and includes an 11-minute rendition of the album's title song, different from the original recording of the title song which was released as a two-part single in 1970.

“Sex Machine” is often considered to be one of the greatest and most important funk records of all time, and arguably the high point of Brown's creative heyday from 1967 to 1971.

The album was ranked 1st in SPIN magazine's 25 greatest albums of all time in 1989, and 96th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.

“Sex Machine” was also voted the 34th greatest album of all time in a VH1 poll of over 700 musicians, songwriters, disc jockeys, radio programmers, and critics in 2003.

In Rolling Stone's 2020 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, it was ranked number 439.

Track-listing

1. Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine

2. Brother Rapp (Part I & Part II)

3. Bewildered

4. I Got the Feelin

5. Give It Up or Turnit a Loose

6. I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)

7. Licking Stick – Licking Stick

8. Lowdown Popcorn" (studio recording)

9. Spinning Wheel

10. If I Ruled the World

11. There Was a Time

12. It's a Man's Man's Man's World

13. Please, Please, Please

14. I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)

15. Mother Popcorn

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

Curtis Mayfield - Short Eyes

Today Marks The 48th Anniversary of Curtis Mayfield’s 13th Studio Album “Short Eyes” Originally Released on September 1, 1977.

“Short Eyes” is a studio album by Curtis Mayfield released in 1977 on Curtom Records.

“Short Eyes” is the studio soundtrack to Robert M. Young's 1977 film “Short Eyes” which was based upon the play of the same name by Miguel Piñero.

The "Short Eyes" soundtrack reached #59 on the U.S. Billboard Soul LP's charts.

"Do Do Wap is Strong in Here" reached #29 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart. This was the sole single released from the album soundtrack.

The film's soundtrack is notable for its funky material, and Curtis Mayfield also makes an appearance in the film, performing the opening number: "Do Do Wap is Strong in Here".

Dialogue from the film was sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan in their 2000 song "Let My Niggas Live".

Cassidy sampled “Short Eyes” for his song “It Is What It Is” on his album

“The Hustla's Home“ released in 2007.

Jay-Z sampled “Short Eyes” for his song “American Gangster” which is featured on his album of the same name released in 2007.

Ashanti sampled “Short Eyes” for her song “Turn It Up” which is featured on her album “Concrete Rose” released in 2004.

Jadakiss sampled "Do Do Wap Is Strong in Here" for his album “Kiss of Death” released in 2004.

Track-listing

1. Do Do Wap is Strong in Here

2. Back Against the Wall

3. Need Someone to Love

4. A Heavy Dude

5. Short Eyes/Freak, Freak, Free, Free, Free

6. Break It Down

7. Another Fool in Love

8. Father Confessor (Instrumental)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Chocolate Milk - Comin'

Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Chocolate Milk’s 3rd Studio Album “Comin’ “ Originally Released on September 1, 1976.

Comin’ is the third studio album by New Orleans, Louisiana Soul, Funk band Chocolate Milk released in 1976 on RCA Records.

Upon its release the album did not chart on the Billboard charts.

The title track "Comin'" from Chocolate Milk's album of the same name reached #56 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart in 1976.

The album was produced by Allen Toussaint, and Marshall Sehorn.

 Track-listing

1. Comin'

2. Something New

3. Do Unto Others

4. Feel The Need In Me

5. With All Our Love

6. Starbright

7. I Refuse

8. Island Love

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Bootsy Collins - What's Bootsy Doin'?

Today Marks The 37th Anniversary of Bootsy Collin’s’ 8th Studio Album “What's Bootsy Doin'?” Originally Released on September 1, 1988.

“What's Bootsy Doin'?” is a studio album by Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins released in 1988 on Columbia Records.

The album is Bootsy’s first solo album after a six-year hiatus from the music scene.

The album reunites Collins with former P-Funk players Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley and Gary "Mudd Bone" Cooper, and also features newcomers including Mico Wave and Godmoma.

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

Two songs were released as singles from the album, "Party on Plastic (What's Bootsy Doin'?)" and "1st One 2 the Egg Wins".

"Party on Plastic (What's Bootsy Doin'?)" reached #27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.

"1st One 2 the Egg Wins" was released as the album’s second single it failed to chart on the U.S. Billboard charts.

The album What's Bootsy Doin'? was also released in Japan in the form of a limited edition metal box, dubbed "Syber-Funk Model" the album also included was a booklet entitled "Cult Beat Shock" which gives an overview of other dance-oriented performers on the Columbia record label.

The album was produced by Bootsy Collins.

Track-listing

1. Party on Plastic (What's Bootsy Doin'?)

2. Subliminal Seduction (Funk-Me Dirty)

3. Leakin'

4. Shock-It-To-Me

5. 1st One 2 the Egg Wins (The Human Race)

6. Love Song

7. (I Wannabee) Kissin' U

8. *-ing the Love Gun

9. Yo-Moma-Loves-Ya

10. Save What's Mine for Me

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Average White Band - Show Your Hand

Today Marks The 52nd Anniversary of The Average White Band’s Debut Studio Album “Show Your Hand” Originally Released on September 1, 1973.

“Show Your Hand” is the debut studio album by Scottish funk band Average White Band, released in 1973 on MCA Records.

Upon its release the album went unnoticed and didn’t make the Billboard charts but it was reissued 1975 with a new title, “Put It Where You Want It”after the success of their second studio album “AWB” which was released in 1974.

The re-issued version finally made it to the Billboard Top 200, peaking at No. 39, and No. 69 in Canada.

On the 1975 MCA re-issue the song "The Jugglers" is replaced by "How Can You Go Home".

Track-listing

1. The Jugglers

2. This World Has Music

3. Twilight Zone

4. Put It Where You Want It

5. Show Your Hand

6. Back in '67

7. Reach Out

8. T.L.C.

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology