Midnight Star - The Beginning

Today Marks The 44th Anniversary of Midnight Star’s Debut Album “The Beginning”  Originally Released on March 11, 1980.

The Beginning is an album by Midnight Star. It was released in 1980 on SOLAR Records.

Two singles were released from the album “Make It Last" and "You're the Star".

“Make It Last" reached #85 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

“You're the Star” was released as the second single but failed to chart on any of the Billboard charts.

Track-listing

1.  Keep The Spirit High

2. You're The Star

3. Follow The Path

4. Set Me On Fire

5. Make It Last

6. Searching For Love

7. Two In Love

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. 

 

Mass Production – In The Purest Form

Today Marks The 45th Anniversary of Mass Production’s 4th Studio Album “In the Purest Form” Originally Released on March 7, 1979.

“In the Purest Form” is an album by American funk/disco musical group Mass Production released in 1979 on Cotillion Records.

The album reached #43 on the Billboard Hot R&B Albums chart.

Two singles were released from the album “Can't You See I'm Fired Up” and “Firecracker”

"Can't You See I'm Fired Up" reached #43 on the Billboard US R&B Singles chart.

Firecracker peaked at #4 on the Billboard US R&B Singles chart and at #43 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart .

"Firecracker" was sampled by 2 Live Crew for their 1989 hit single "Me So Horny", from their album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.

The album was a triumph for Mass Production and deservedly their biggest selling album on the US national charts.

Track-listing

 1. "Firecracker"

2. "Love You"

3. "With Pleasure"

4. "Our Thoughts (Purity)"

5.. "Can't You See I'm Fired Up"

6. "Eyeballin'"

7. "Next Year"

8. "Strollin'"

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

 

Raydio - Two Places at the Same Time

Today Marks The 44th Anniversary of Raydio’s 3rd Studio Album “Two Places at the Same Time” Originally Released on March 6, 1980.

Two Places at the Same Time is the third studio album by Raydio, the group led by Ray Parker Jr.

The album peaked #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs chart and at #33 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs chart.

Three singles were released from the album “Two Places at the Same Time", “For Those Who Like to Groove" and “Can't Keep You from Cryin'".

The title track "Two Places at the Same Time" peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, #30 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #34 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

The second single "For Those Who Like to Groove" peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and #23 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

The last single "Can't Keep You from Cryin'" reached #57 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.

Like the two albums that came before it, it again features 8 tracks; one of them, "Until The Morning Comes" was written by Parker and vocalist Arnell Carmichael. For another song, "Tonight's The Night", Parker teamed up with famed keyboard player Herbie Hancock, and Hancock received a co-writing credit.

The album's first song, "It's Time to Party Now", appeared in the background of the following year's Paul Newman crime drama movie, Fort Apache, The Bronx in a scene where Paul Newman's character is arresting prostitutes in an attempt to get leads on the murders of two rookie officers at the movie's beginning.

Track-listing

1. It's Time To Party Now

2. Until The Morning Comes

3. Two Places At The Same Time

4. Tonight's The Night

5. A Little Bit Of You

6. Everybody Makes Mistakes

7. Can't Keep From Cryin'

8. For Those Who Like To Groove

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Earth, Wind & Fire - That’s the Way of the World

Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Earth, Wind & Fire’s 6th Studio Album “That’s the Way of the World” Originally Released on March 3, 1975.

That’s the Way of the World is the sixth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 1975, by Columbia Records.

The album rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts.

The album was a soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name.

The album was certified Triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.

Two singles were released from the album “Shining Star" and the album’s title track “That's the Way of the World".

“Shining Star" rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, becoming their first single to top both charts (and only single to top the former). It has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

The single "That's the Way of the World" reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

That's the Way of the World was nominated in 1975 and 1976 for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album. EWF also won a Rock Music Award for That's the Way of the World in the category of Best Rhythm and Blues Album.

In 2004 That's the Way of the World was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 2012 Rolling Stone placed the album at 486 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Track-listing

1 Shining Star

2 That's the Way of the World

3 Happy Feelin'

4 All About Love (First Impression)

5 Yearnin' Learnin'

6 Reasons

7 Africano

8 See the Light

9 Shining Star (Future Star)

10 All About Love (First Impression)

11 Happy Feelin' (Anatomy of a Groove)

12 Caribou Chaser (Jazzy Jam)

13 That's the Way of the World (Latin Expedition)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

Lakeside - Outrageous

Today Marks The 40th Anniversary of Lakeside’s 8th Studio Album “Outrageous” Originally Released on March 3, 1984..

“Outrageous” is the eighth studio album by Dayton Ohio funk band Lakeside, released in 1984 via SOLAR Records.

The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Two singles were released off the album, the titled track “Outrageous” and the single “Make My Day".

Outrageous peaked at #7 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #42 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.

Make My Day reached #17 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. 

The album was a follow-up from their 1983 album 

“Untouchables”, The album produced by Lakeside. 

Tracklist

1. Outrageous

2. Make My Day

3. Baby I'm Lonely

4. Worn & Torn

5. Restrictions

6. Show You The Way

7. Something About You

8. Make It Right

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Atlantic Starr - Brilliance

Today Marks The 42nd Anniversary of Atlantic Starr’s 4th Studio Album “Brilliance” Originally Released in March 2, 1982.

Brilliance is the fourth studio album by Atlantic Starr. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard 

Top R&B Albums music chart and at #18 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The album featured hit singles "Love Me Down" and "Circles". 

Love Me Down peaked at #14 on the Billboard R&B Singles charts.

“Circles” was the most successful for the group thus far, peaking at #2 for two weeks on the Billboard Soul Singles chart and it also became their first single to hit the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 38. 

"Circles" was also Atlantic Starr's most successful single on the dance charts, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Track-listing

 1. Love Me Down

2. Sexy Dancer

3. Love Moves

4. Your Love Finally Ran Out

5. Circles

6. Let's Get Closer

7. Perfect Love

8. You're The One

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology

Switch - Reaching for Tomorrow

Today Marks The 44th Anniversary of Switch’s 3rd Studio Album “Reaching for Tomorrow” Originally Released on March 1, 1980.

Reaching for Tomorrow is the third album by R&B/funk band Switch, released in 1980 by Gordy Records. 

The album reached #23 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #57 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The song “Don't Take My Love Away” was released as a single from the album. The song reached #41 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Billboard features Reaching for Tomorrow on its Top Album Picks for 29 March 1980. The six -member group keeps the tempo danceable on its latest LP, sparking the tunes with sizzling rhythm, string and horn arrangements.

During July 2019, an expanded edition of Reaching for Tomorrow was released digitally. Along with the album's reissue came a bonus track entitled "Tahiti Hut" featuring Jermaine Jackson. The song was produced by Jackson with Bobby DeBarge also singing falsetto on the track.

Track-listing

1. Power to Dance

2. My Friend in the Sky

3. Don’t Take My Love Away

4. Keep Movin on

5. A Brighter Tomorrow (Interlude)

6. Reaching for Tomorrow

7. I Finally Found Someone New

8. Honey I Love You

9. Get Back with You

10. Tahiti Hut (Bonus Track)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology