Joe Anderson -- You And I (long version)

Okay ... here comes another obscure artist with a great song. You And I  was released on Buddah Records in 1975. There is a long and a short version available. I only have the long version -- which is actually real nice to have since that song is simply great. And the longer I can listen the better ...

The Youtube version is the shorter one (3:13)

Enjoy!
LimeLinx

Gwen and George McCrae -- The Rub / Let Your Love Do The Talkin'

Who would have thought that the McCraes did something as funky as this? Certainly not me. These tracks are from their album Together (RCA Schallplatten, Germany, 1975) And don't you think that Gwen is stealing the show? She has such a sexy voice ... 

Enjoy!

Limelinx

FileFactory

Hamilton Bohannon -- Stop And Go / Love Is Fading

Was that really 1973? This track sounds as fresh and danceable today as it sounded 37 years ago. But it is no secret that some things are meant to survive all kinds of fads, fashions, and hypes -- even if they may have been all these things themselves.




Bohannon, born in 1942, was already playing the drums while he was an elementary student. So it shouldn't have been a surprise he'd become an immensely accomplished and popular drummer and percussionist during the 70's. 
Before he got his big chance at success, though, his B. A. in musical education from Clark Atlanta University came in handy. It enabled him to earn a living as a teacher before joining a band in which Jimi Hendrix was playing.
Stevie Wonder discovered him, and Bohannon played with him from 1965 to 1967. During that time he became the top band leader for Motown, in charge of the label's main acts live arrangements.
In 1972 he left Motown for the Dakar/Brunswick label and, a year later, released his first album Stop and Go, from which the first of today's tracks is taken.   

The Stop And Go 

The second track, Love Is Fading, is from his 1975 Insides Out album and shows the artist's dreamy, jazzy, soft side. 

Love Is Fading

In the late 70's Bohannon moved to Mercury, in 1978 releasing his only top 10 hit, Let's Start a Dance, a duet with Carolyn Crawford.  (Later, he also worked with  Liz Lands and Alltrinna Grayson.)
In 1980 he founded Phase II Records, but joined MCA in 1984 to record a number of records, one of which was his 1989 Here Comes Bohannon.

Perk Me Up, Please!

All I am doing at the moment is sitting out the hot August days which seem to be extra annoying here in Texas. In short, I am tired and listless and simply in the mood for nothing ... Is there a special song you think could help me get out of this summer slump?

Right now I am listening to The Hues Corporation's Rockin' Soul, and I think I feel a little perked up already... 

LimeLinx

Johnny Bristol -- A voice full of emotion!

I love Johnny Bristol's voice. He and Levi Stubbs seem to have emotion built into their voices. Even the most moving, urgent and expressive tune they present in a seemingly effortless way.

So, when I came across Bristol's Creme, Johnny Bristol's third album, I was not really surprised about the beautiful songs it contains. But I definitely became painfully aware of the great loss his death in 2004 constitutes.

Everyone who loves uncomplicated beauty should get this album.

If you listen to You Turned Me On, just give in to the playful guitar, the seductive saxophone, and, most of all, Johnny Bristol's charismatic voice.

Another title from the 1976 album I mentioned above: Do It To My Mind

More from Johnny on my blog.

Tavares: "Don't Take Away The Music", "Let Me Heal The Bruises", "I Wanna See You Soon"

Tavares does not sound like a group from New Bedford, Mass. Do they? They've got the golden sound of California or maybe Florida (or sunny Texas?) all over them. The 5 Brothers are best known for their heavily Disco flavored hits of the late 70's, especially the 76 smash hits Don't Take Away The Music and Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel. What made the group great was their flawless singing, though. Anyone else could have sung these tunes, hitting the charts. But what makes these hits so special are these unforgettable voices that blend to the exciting sound so typical for Tavares.

Anyone who can manage to listen to a Tavares song with a focus on the vocal arrangements instead of the music will agree with me. That's perfect singing. No less!

Let Me Heal The Bruises is a slow song with top notch background harmonizing whose melody is somewhat reminiscent of Feelings in my opinion. Another less often heard song by Tavares is My Love Calls from their Madam Butterfly album. Just listen to the background vocals ... I love them. Finally, Got To Find My Way Back To You is a prime example of a cheapy turned into something good by the singing alone. I mean that song is basically a boring clap-clap, stomp-stomp tune. If it weren't for the Tavares Bros. high carat singing, it wouldn't stay on my hard-drive longer than 45 seconds ... Wonderful, on the other hand, resides there -- backed up twice! On I Wanna See You Soon, they team up with another exceptional vocalist: Freda Payne.

Okay now, see for yourselves what these guys have to offer!

Underappreciated? Yvonne Elliman

Whenever I think of 70's and disco that catchy If I Can't Have You ... dance floor filler comes to my mind. But if you'd asked me what the name of the singer was before I looked it up, I would have had to pass. I guess I never even knew who sang it.

Neither did I know any other songs by her, and I was quite surprised to find some very nice tracks by Yvonne. I admit they're not exactly breathtaking, but they are definitely listenable.

The two tracks I took to right away are her version of Hello Stranger and Baby Don't Let It Mess Your Mind.

Yvonne began singing in bars and clubs in the early 70's in London which led to a job as backup singer in Eric Clapton's band (and being his girlfriend.) She also sang Mary Magdalene's part on the Jesus Christ Superstar album, the Broadway show and in the the movie. Her I Don't Know how To Love Him peaked at # 28 in the US charts in 1971. The song also earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 1974. (Sorry, I don't have that one.)

Her last album, Simple Needs, was released in 2004 followed by a re-release a year later.

Listen to Yvonne and enjoy!

Hello Stranger

If I can't Have You

Uphill Peace of Mind

Baby, Don't Let It Mess Your Mind

Isley Bros.: "Live It Up", "Fight The Power"

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is doing fine, and is in the mood for some muzac.


Alright! This group is a fav. of my husband's. I remember when I heard this song from his state-of-the-art Reel to Reel: That was a true experience for me. The Isley's music truly was magnificent back then and it still is today!

This clip, as poor as its quality may be, reflects the effects the music had on people. Just listen to the guitars ... Incredible.

Live It Up

And here is my very own favorite Isley's track. Get ready people ... This is no B.S., this is serious m u s i c ! That bass guitar is a killer.

Funk That Monday Up! Miami: "Funk It Up", Average White Band "Cut The Cake", Commodores "I Like What You Do", Joe Youngblood "It's L. B. Time"

Thanks to (( jc's )) excellent blog, blogsportsoul, I found some great music by Miami, a Funk group, I didn't know up to now! The track I've posted today is from the album Party Freaks, which is simply hot!  

I have a serious problem  with Funk, though: once I start listening I can't quit. So, I got my FUNK playlist going -- and here are some of the songs that came up this morning ... 

I hope you'll like them.

Hey y'all loosen up! Will you?




It's L. B. Time Joe Youngblood
Funk It UP Miami
Cut The Cake The Average White Band (live)
I Like What You do The Commodores

Put them on ... your boogie shoes! KC and The Sunshine Band

Ja, ja! Das ist immer noch The Way I Like It! Tanzbar und eine Menge handgemachte Musik.




KC and The Sunshine Band wurde Anfang der 70er von Harry Wayne Casey (KC) und Richard Finch gegruendet. Beide arbeiteten fuer TK Records in Miami: Finch im Studio, KC in der Rezeption. Ein gemeinsmer Bekannter stellte die beiden einander vor. Von da an dauerte nicht mehr lange bis die ersten Demos folgten, die so gut ankamen, dass Finch und KC es wagten eine eigene Gruppe zu starten.

Erst einmal blieb es aber beim Songschreiben, und der Erfolg liess auf sich warten bis sie mit George McCraes Riesen-Hit Rock Your Baby auf sich aufmerksam machten -- mit weltweit 11 Millionen verkauften Platten!

Ihren ersten grossen Hit in den USA hatte die Gruppe 1975 mit Get Down Tonight von ihrem dreifach Platinum Album KC and The Sunshine Band. Ihre Aufnahmen waren bis ca. 1980 erfolgreich, und ihr letzter # 1 Hit sollte Don't Go bleiben, der im Dezenber 1979/ Januar 1980 die Charts anfuehrte.

That's The Way ...


Get Down Tonight

Back In The Days When Dancing Was Just Fun!

This post is for Alexandre, the poet, who cared enough to leave a few words of appreciation for my blogs.
Enjoy, Alexandre!

Go West The Village People


Village People remind me so much on two other short-lived Disco groups, which, by the way, were made in Germany! Yep -- There is something like Disco music made in Germany. Frank Farian was one of the West German singers turned producer who created the (mostly lip syncing) groups Boney M. and Milli Vanilli.

Now watch this guy dance!



And this one is the dancercise title to add to a 30 minute exercise program: Baby Do You Wanna Bump



Ahem! And these guys, too, were a product of Frank Farian's:



Milli Vanilli, Baby, Don't Forget My Number

George McCrae: "I Get Lifted", "Rock Your Baby"

Ohne Rock Your Baby ging 1974 nichts! Ich erinnere mich noch gut. Der Titel lief dutzende Male am Abend in den Diskos, die Radiosender spielten ihn tagsueber, und die Plattenspieler ueberbrueckten eventuell drohende "rock-your-baby-lose" Zeiten dazwischen. 

Das Lied verkaufte sich schaetzungsweise 11 Millionen mal weltweit und behauptete sich als Top Hit zusaetzlich zu den U.S.A, England in mehr als 80 andern Laendern.    

Rock Your Baby war ein absoluter Tanzflaechenfueller und Schlechte-Laune-Killer!

Auf geht's mit George McCraes Folgehit I Get Lifted, der zwar nicht ganz so erfolgreich sein sollte wie Rock Your Baby, aber zum Tanzen mindestens genau so gut geeignet war.

Rock Your Baby

Rock Your Baby (lange Version) mp3

Tanzflaechenfueller der 70er: "Let Me Be Your Lover", "I Believe In Miracles"

Eddie Bo Horne: Let Me Be Your Lover  (1978)

Hot Chocolate: I Believe In Miracles (1975)
Diese Gitarre geht durch Mark und Bein! Und der Bongopart alleine ist schon was spezielles. Das war die Disco-Aera auf dem Hoehpunkt.  

Eddie Bo Horne: Let Me Be Your Lover mp3 

Disco, Disco, Disco!

Ein bisschen Disco Soul der 70er: Warum sollte man denn nicht einen Discotag einlegen, bevor es wieder in die neue Woche geht?

Bei SOTS ist's moeglich.

Betty Wright:  Shoorah! Shoorah!  Bettys Schuhe sind einfach zu schoen! Das ist 70er Mode durch und durch. Viel Spass!

ht

Carl Douglas: Kung Fu Fighting Perfekt zum Bump tanzen! Auf geht's!

Johnnie Taylor: Disco Lady