Sly & the Family Stone - Stand!

Today Marks The 56th 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 50th 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.

Captain Sky - Concerned Party # 1

Today Marks The 45th Anniversary of Captain Sky’s 3rd Studio Album “Concerned Party #1” Originally Released on May 2, 1980

“Concerned Party # 1” is the third album by American funk musician Captain Sky released in May 1980 on TEC Records.

The album reached #69 on the U.S. Billboard Black Albums chart and at #210 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums chart.

Two singles were released from the album “Sir Jam A Lot” and “Bubble Gum (I Chewz You)”

“Sir Jam A Lot” reached #51 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart. The B-side single was “Elementry School Of Funk”.

“Bubble Gum (I Chewz You)” was released as the second single from the album, The got some airplay but didn’t make the Billboard charts.

“Jam A Lot” was the B-Side single.

Track-listing

1. Elementry School Of Funk

2. Bubble Gum (I Chewz You)

3. Sir Jam A Lot

4. Trace Of Love

5. Concerned Party # 1

6. Tootsie Rock

7. Non Stop (To The Sky)

8. Let Me Come Inside

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World

Today Marks The 52nd Anniversary of Curtis Mayfield’s 4th Studio Album “Back to the World” Originally Released on May 2, 1973.

“Back to the World” is the fourth studio album by Curtis Mayfield, released in 1973 under Curtom Records.

The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and at #16 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Four tracks were released from the album “Future Shock”, "If I Were Only a Child Again”, "Can't Say Nothin'” and “Kung Fu”

“Future Shock” peaked at #11 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"If I Were Only a Child Again” peaked at #22 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and at #71 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

”Can't Say Nothin'” peaked at #16 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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

Track-listing

1. Back to the World

2. Future Shock

3. Right On for the Darkness

4. If I Were Only a Child Again

5. Can't Say Nothin'

6. Keep on Trippin'

7. Future Song (Love a Good Woman, Love a Good Man)

8. Can't Say Nothin'" (Single Edit)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

George Clinton - Music From The Motion Picture PCU

Today Marks The 31st Anniversary of George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic’s Album “Music From The Motion Picture PCU” Originally Released on May 2, 1994.

“Music From The Motion Picture PCU” is an album by George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic it was released in 1994 on Fox Records.

The album contains two songs that were featured on the PCU Motion Picture Soundtrack “Stomp and Parliament-Funkadelic’s cover of Prince’s classic song “Erotic City”.

George Clinton and the band made a cameo appearance in the film and performed theirs cover versions of “Erotic City”.

Track-listing

01. Erotic City (Single)

02. Stomp

03. Tear The Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk)

04. Erotic City (Extended Sweat Mix)

05. Stomp (Sir Noise Goes Off)

06. Tear The Roof Off The Sucker ’94 (Give Up The Funk) (You Know The Words)

07. Erotic City (Super Groovestrumental)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

Trouble Funk - Drop The Bomb

Today Marks The 43rd Anniversary of Trouble Funk’s Sophomore Studio Album “Drop the Bomb” Originally Released on May 1, 1982.

“Drop the Bomb” is a studio album released in 1982 by the Washington, D.C.-based go-go band Trouble Funk. The album was released via Sugar Hill Records.

The single “Hey Fellas” was released from the album it reached #63 on the US Billboard R&B Singles chart.

The album included the songs "Drop the Bomb" and "Pump Me Up" which have been sampled numerous times by many hip hop artists.

Track-listing

1. Hey Fellas

2. Get On Up

3. Let's Get Hot

4. Drop the Bomb

5. Pump Me Up

6. Don't Try to Use Me

7. Supergrit

8. Hey Fellas (12" Short Version)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.

Tower of Power - Tower of Power

Today Marks The 52nd Anniversary of Tower of Power’s 3rd Studio Album “Tower of Power” Originally Released on May 1, 1973.

“Tower of Power” is the third album release for the Oakland-based band, Tower of Power released on Warner Records in 1973.

The album peaked at #15 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in 1973

Three singles were released from the album, “So Very Hard to Go”, "This Time It's Real" and "What Is Hip?".

“So Very Hard to Go” peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“This Time it's Real” peaked at #27 on the US Billboard R&B chart and at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“What Is Hip?” peaked at #39 on the US Billboard R&B chart and at #91 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album received a gold record award for sales in excess of 500,000.

The album marked the debut of Lenny Williams being the lead vocalist (though Williams had a solo career prior to joining T.O.P.

The album was also the first Tower of Power album to feature future Saturday Night Live band leader Lenny Pickett, who was the youngest member of the band at the time, replacing original lead sax player Skip Mesquite.

Also joining the lineup were organist/keyboardist Chester Thompson and guitarist Bruce Conte, who replaced original guitarist Willie James Fulton.

Track-listing

1. What Is Hip?

2. Clever Girl

3. This Time It's Real

4. Will I Ever Find a Love?

5. Get Yo' Feet Back on the Ground

6. So Very Hard to Go

7. Soul Vaccination

8. Both Sorry Over Nothin'

9. Clean Slate

10. Just Another Day

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology