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My Record & CD Collection 6
Complete 12/LP Listing & Help Files

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Aretha Franklin - Get It Right 1983

Get It Right is a 1983 Aretha Franklin album. It was produced by Luther Vandross, following his successful teaming with the singer for the Gold-certified album, "Jump To It", in 1982.

Esther Phillips - All About Esther 1978

This is for Hanimex who requested it in the Requests thread; and appears here thanks to the amazing Mellow, who has produced this pristine rip. This rip is a definite upgrade from the one previously available elsewhere in blogland.

Esther Phillips always strikes me as the saddest woman in r&b. Even though many of her songs were quite upbeat, and though she's always smiling in her photos, there's something deeply desperate and wounded about the persona that shines through them. An R&B teen star, pushed through blues, country and jazz toward the jazzy/funky side of R&B in the seventies via a string of albums on CTI/Kudu, Esther Phillips' penultimate chapter was a string of albums--now lost and unreissued--on Mercury after the end of her Kudu career.

It will be remembered that Aretha Franklin won a Grammy award the same year Esther Phillips was up for one, and when Aretha won she handed the award straight to Esther as being the more deserving if unrecognized talent. That was for the Kudu album featuring her cover of Gil Scott-Heron's "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" where her own history of drug use pulls the song into a brutally truthful confession.

On Kudu, R&B/Jazz producer Dave Matthews--fresh from his stint with James Brown--and other CTI arrangers took Phillips on a roller-coaster ride through the commercial trends of the seventies trying to fulfill Creed Taylor's slick vision of popular success. The disco moods of some of her adventures with Matthews are occasionally successful but often lifelessly formulaic.

Although Matthews would return to produce Phillips' tragically awful final album "A Way To Say Goodbye" in 1984 on Muse, he's replaced here by the Crusaders' mastermind Wayne Henderson. Though Henderson had his own kind of formulas, also eventually marred by excess and sameness, 1978 was probably the zenith of his production talents and this album jolts Phillips' sound back to life with a slick blend of funkily adult r&b and jazz.

The studio musicians are the cream of the LA crop, and while this is certainly a highly produced piece of work, it's fresh sounding and catchy. On the cover of Odyssey's "Native New Yorker" (inferior to the original, it must be said) Phillips is oddly convincing when she sings "I'm no tramp but I'm no lady." Phillips had a voice from the blues, a shout with an edge far far away from, say, Sarah Vaughan's operatic instrument. It's the voice of a fighter, alternatively optimistic and fatalistic about life's trials.

Anyway Esther Phillips left this world too early, and it's a shame that her late seventies work has been ignored. I'm really proud to present this LP here, and please join me in thanking Mellow for his generosity.

Tracks:

1 The Man Ain't Ready
2 Native New Yorker
3 You Think Of Him (You Think Of Her)
4 Pie In The Sky
5 S.O.S.
6 There You Go Again(There She Goes Again) Stormy Weather
7 Ms.
8 If I Fall In Love By Morning

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Gerald Alston - Gerald Alston 1988

[Born:] 8th November 1951, North Carolina, U.S.A. Gerald Alston is an R&B singer, who is the lead singer with The Manhattans. His solo single "Activated" (RCA records) entered the UK Singles Chart on 15 April 1989.

It was only in the chart for 1 week, reaching position 1973. Geralds remarkable voice can be heard on many a hits such as the all inspiring and my fab track to date The 1983 Sounds by The Manhattans - 'CRAZY'

Tracks:

1. Take Me Where You Want To
2. Stay A Little While
3. I Come Alive When I'm With You
4. Lets Try Love Again
5. Midnight Angel
6. You Laid Your Love On Me
7. I Can't Tell You Why
8. I've Waited All Night
9. Activated
10. We've Only Just Begun
11. Still In Love With Lovin' You
12. You Laid Your Love On Me

Gerald Alston - Stay A Little While 1988

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George Benson - In Your Eyes 1988

By the mid to late 1970s, as he recorded for Warner Bros. Records, a whole new audience began to discover Benson for the first time. With the 1976 release Breezin', Benson began to put his vocal on tracks such as "This Masquerade". He had used his vocals infrequently on songs earlier in his career, notably his rendition of "Here Comes the Sun" on the Other Side of Abbey Road album.

Breezin was a significant album in terms of popular music history - the first jazz release to go Platinum and the first indication that something new was about to happen. In 1976, Benson toured with soul singer, Minnie Riperton, who had been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer earlier that year. "This Masquerade" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the live take of "On Broadway", recorded two years later from the 1978release Weekend in L.A., also won a Grammy.

The first recipient of this stellar team effort was Benson, and the Qwest label's first official release was Benson's breakthrough pop album Give Me The Night. Benson made it into the pop and R&B top ten with the song "Give Me the Night", produced by Quincy Jones having previously been almost unknown to the younger audience.

More importantly, Quincy Jones encouraged Benson to search his roots for further vocal inspiration and he re-discovered his love for Nat Cole, Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway in the process influencing a string of further vocal albums into the 90's. Despite returning to his jazz and guitar playing most recently, this theme was reflected again much later in Benson's 2000 release Absolute Benson featuring a cover of one of Hathaway's most notable songs, The Ghetto. Benson accumulated three other platinum LPs and two gold albums.

He also recorded the original version of "Greatest Love of All" for the 1977 Muhammad Ali bio-pic, The Greatest, which was later recorded as a cover by Whitney Houston. During this time Benson recorded with the German conductor, Claus Ogerman.

Tracks:

1. Feel Like Making Love
2. Inside Love (So Personal)
3. Lady Love Me (One More Time)
4. Love Will Come Again
5. In Your Eyes
6. Never Too Far to Fall
7. Being with You
8. Use Me
9. Late at Night
10. In Search of a Dream

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Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove 1978

One Nation Under a Groove is the tenth studio album by American funk and rock band Funkadelic, released in September 1978 on Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took place at United Sound Studio in Detroit, Michigan, with one song recorded live on April 15, 1978 at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana.

The album was the first album to include keyboardist and frequent songwriter Walter "Junie" Morrison. One Nation Under a Groove also marked the pinnacle of Michael Hampton's development as a guitarist. This song was a big hit for the group, and is today regarded as one of their signature songs, being a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was also a top 40 hit.

The song refers to dancing as a path to freedom: the "dancing" can be seen as metaphoric, though. The song's title most likely refers to the line in the Pledge of Allegiance "One nation, under God". Furthering the religious imagery, the song references the groove being a god.

Tracks:

1. One Nation Under a Groove
2. Groovallegiance
3. Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock?!
4. Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)
5. Into You
6. Cholly (Funk Gettin Ready to Roll!)
7. Lunchmeataphobia (‘Think! It Ain’t Illegal Yet’)
8. P.E. Squad/Doo Doo Chasers (“Going All-the-Way-Off” Instrumental Version)
9. Maggot Brain (Live)

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Gene Dunlap - Its Just The Way I Feel 1981

His three ground-breaking Soul albums were 'It's Just The Way I Feel' (in 1981), including 'Before You Break My Heart' (ably assisted vocally by the Ridgeway Sisters), 'Party In Me' (in 1982) and 'Tired Of Being A Nice Guy' (in 1983) including the excellent 'Take Back My Love'.

Tracks:

1. The Intro
2. Rock Radio
3. Before You Break My Heart
4. I Got You
5. Love Dancin'
6. It's Just The Way I Feel
7. Should I Take Her Back, Should I Let Her Go
8. Surest Things Can Change

Gene Dunlap - Its Just The Way I Feel 1981

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Gap Band IV - Gap Band IV 1982

Gap Band IV is an album by The Gap Band, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music) on Total Experience Records. The album reached #1 on the Black Albums chart and #14 on the Pop Albums chart. Contrary to the name, it is the band's sixth album

The album produced the singles "Early in the Morning" (#1 Black Singles, #13 Club Play Singles, #24 Pop Singles), "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (#2 Black Singles, #39 Club Play Singles, #31 Pop Singles), and "Outstanding" (#1 Black Singles, #24 Club Play Singles, #51 Pop Singles).

You know what they say it's - SIMPLY OUTSTANDING !

Tracks:

1. Early In the Morning
2. Season's No Reason To Change
3. Lonely Like Me
4. Outstanding ***
5. Stay With Me
6. You Dropped a Bomb On Me
7. I Can't Get Over You
8. Talkin' Back

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George Howard - Dancin In The Sun 1985

[Born:] September 15, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the late 1970s, he began touring with Grover Washington, Jr., who was one of his idols. In the early 1980s, Howard released his first and second studio albums, Asphalt Gardens and Steppin' Out. Both albums were well received and ranked high on the Billboard magazine jazz album charts at number 25 and 9,respectively.

By 1985, Howard's third album, Dancing in the Sun, had scaled the Billboard Jazz Album chart to number 1. Each of his next three albums, Love Will Follow, A Nice Place to Be and Reflections would also reach this height in the Jazz Album chart. After the success of Dancing in the Sun, Howard left the label GRP Records in order to join MCA through the 1988 release of Reflections.

However, he returned to GRP Records in 1990 and released Love Will Follow in 1991. He stayed with GRP until his death of lymphoma on March 22, 1998. His final album, There's a Riot Goin' On was released posthumously (one month after his [Death:] on April 21 by Blue Note Records.

Tracks:

1. Love Will Find A Way
2. Dancing In The Sun
3. Quiet As It's Kept
4. In Love
5. Telephone
6. Stay With Me
7. Moods

George Howard - Love Will Find A Way 1985

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George Benson - Living Inside Your Love 1979

[Born:] 22nd March 1943, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

George Benson was born in the Hill District of Pittsburgh in 1943. As a child he attended the old Connelly High School in the town. Over the last half a century, George Benson has bridged many genre's, allowing himself to move effortlessly from straight ahead jazz to Soul singer and other genre's in between.

At the age of 11 he had recorded a first side ('It Should Have Been Me') for a local group. By 1963, George relocated to New York and in 1965, George was an established jazz guitarist, having worked with Brother Jack McDuff, Herbie Hancock, and Wes Montgomery.

Wes Montgomery passed away in 1969, and the jazz pundits predicted that George would follow in his shoes.

After the success of the double album 'Livin' Inside Your Love' (which featured an uptempo version of L.T.D.'s 'Love Ballad' amongst other songs), George released a live album entitled 'Weekend In LA', which featured a live take on the song 'On Broadway' (the album also winning a Grammy).

Tracks:

1. Livin' Inside Your Love $0.99
2. Hey Girl
3. Nassau Day
4. Soulful Strut
5. Prelude to Fall
6. Change Is Gonna Come, A
7. Love Ballad **
8. You're Never Too Far From Me
9. Love Is a Hurtin' Thing
10. Welcome Into My World
11. Before You Go
12. Unchained Melody

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First Circle - Boys Night Out 1986

A short-lived 80s R&B-funk group founded and produced by Randy Muller, much renowned for his work with the famed funk outfits Skyy and Brass Construction, First Circle released this, their debut album in late 1986 and had one charting single in early '87 with the "Workin' Up A Sweat."

Though not really a bad album by any stretch of the imagination, it's somewhat bland and melodically uncreative, and really doesn't work up the kind of sweat that characterizes some of the great funk anthems of Skyy and Brass Construction.

Tracks:

01. Workin' Up A Sweat [0:05:52.16]
02. Miracle Worker [0:05:09.26]
03. In The Name Of Love [0:04:42.98]
04. Dream You Came Back [0:03:54.29]
05. Get Off It [0:04:39.53]
06. Cant Find A Love [0:04:33.65]
07. You're On My Mind [0:03:53.48]
08. Boys' Night Out [0:04:53.86]

Bonus tracks:

09. Workin' Up A Sweat (Special Sweaty Mix) [0:06:32.20]
10. Miracle Worker (Remix) [0:05:45.21]
11. Can't Find A Love (Club Mix) [0:05:29.05]
12. Workin' Up A Sweat (Radical Rusty Mix) [0:08:39.70]

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Freddie Jackson - Just Like The First Time 1986

Freddie Jackson [Born:] Frederick Anthony Jackson on October 2, 1956) is an American soul singer. He was an important figure in R&B during the 1980s and early 1990s. Among his well-known hits are "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)", "Jam Tonight", "Do Me Again," and "You Are My Lady".

Jackson was trained as a gospel singer from an early age, singing at the White Rock Baptist Church. There he met Paul Laurence, who would later become his record producer and songwriting partner. After completing school, Jackson joined Laurence's group LJE (Laurence-Jones Ensemble) and played the New York nightclub scene. During the early 1980s, Jackson moved to the West Coast and sang lead with the R&B band 'Mystic Merlin', but soon returned to New York to work with Laurence at the Hush Productions company. He sang on demo recordings of Laurence's compositions, and also served as a backing singer for Melba Moore after she saw his nightclub act.

In 1985, Jackson landed a recording contract with Capitol Records, and issued his debut album, Rock Me Tonight. The Laurence-penned title track stormed the R&B charts, spending six weeks at number one, and made Jackson an instant hit on urban contemporary radio. "You Are My Lady" gave him a second straight R&B chart-topper, and also proved to be his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 13.

With "He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)" and "Love Is Just a Touch Away" also hitting the R&B Top Ten, Rock Me Tonight topped the R&B album chart and went platinum. Jackson issued the follow-up Just Like the First Time 1986, on the heels of a number one R&B duet with Melba Moore, "A Little Bit More" (from her album A Lot of Love). Another platinum seller, Just Like the First Time continued Jackson's dominance of the R&B singles charts; "Tasty Love," "Have You Ever Loved Somebody," and "Jam Tonight" all hit number one, while "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" went to number two.

The pace of Jackson's success slowed with the 1988 release of Don't Let Love Slip Away, which nonetheless featured another R&B chart-topper in "Hey Lover," plus further hits in "Nice and Slow" and "Crazy (For Me)". In August 1988, the British music magazine, NME, reported that Jackson had verbally attacked George Michael in the Los Angeles Times, over his black music chart success.

The title track of 1990s Do Me Again duplicated that feat, and "Main Course" just missed, topping out at number two. Even so, Jackson's earlier placings in the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 had long since disappeared, and some critics[who?] charged that his albums were growing too similar to one another.

Seeking a new beginning, Jackson parted ways with Capitol in late 1993, and signed with RCA. His label debut, Here It Is, appeared the following year, with diminished commercial returns -- in part because his straightforward romantic ballad style was increasingly out of step with the sexually explicit, new breed of R&B crooner.

Following a Christmas album, Jackson split with RCA and recorded Private Party for the much smaller Street Life imprint in 1995. Several years of silence ensued, until Orpheus issued Life After 30 in late 1999; the equally low-key release Live in Concert followed in 2000. After returning to the charts with It's Your Move in February 2004 (Martland Entertainment), Jackson released his tenth studio album, Transitions, in September 2006 under the record label Orpheus Music.

Tracks:

1. Tasty Love
2. Have You Ever Loved Somebody
3. Look Around
4. Jam Tonight
5. Just Like the First Time
6. I Can't Let You Go
7. I Don't Want to Lose Your Love
8. Janay
9. Still Waiting
10. You Are My Love
11. Little Bit More, A

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Fatback - So Delicious 1985

A seminal funk ensemble, the Fatback Band made many great singles throughout the '70s and early '80s, ranging from humorous novelty tunes to energetic dance vehicles and even occasional political/message tracks. The original lineup featured drummer Bill Curtis, trumpeter George Williams, guitarist Johnny King, bassist Johnny Flippin, saxophonist Earl Shelton, and flutist George Adam. Synthesizer player Gerry Thomas, saxophonist Fred Demerey, and guitarist George Victory were integral parts of the group during their peak years.

They began recording for Perception in the early '70s, and had moderate luck with "Street Dance" in 1973. They moved to Event in 1974, and while funk audiences loved such songs as "Wicki-Wacky" and "(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop," they didn't generate much sales action. Their first sizable hit was "Spanish Hustle" in 1976, which reached number 12 on the R&B charts. They shortened their name to Fatback in 1977, and landed their first Top Ten R&B hit with "I Like Girls" in 1978. Their 1979 single "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" is widely considered the first rap single in many circles.

But their biggest year was 1980. They scored two Top Ten R&B hits with "Gotta Get My Hands on Some (Money)" and "Backstrokin'," their finest tune. Fatback kept going through the mid-'80s, landing one more Top 20 hit with "Take It Any Way You Can Want It" in 1981. They were backed by the female vocal trio Wild Sugar in 1981-1982, and Evelyn Thomas also provided the lead vocal for "Spread Love" in 1985, their last song for Spring. Fatback also recorded a pair of LPs for Cotillion in 1984 and 1985. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi.

Tracks:

1. Girls On My Mind
2. Go Out With A Bang
3. Lover Undercover
4. Sequence 96
5. Lets Play Tonight
6. She's A Go-Getter
7. So Delicious
8. Start It Up
9. Evil
10. Lover Undercover [Extended Dance Remix]

The Fatback Band - Girls On My Mind

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Full Force - Get Bust 1 Time 1986

Full Force rose to prominence in the mid-'80s, writing and producing popular R&B hits for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam before embarking on a moderately successful solo career that ultimately led them back to production work in the late '90s.

The six-man collective -- featuring Paul Anthony, Bowlegged Lou, B-Fine, Baby Gerry, Shy Shy, and Curt-t-t -- originated in Brooklyn, NY, where they originally met up with Steve Salem in the late '70s, a business-savvy individual who functioned as their manager.

With a manager in place and plenty of talent between the various group members, Full Force struggled throughout the early '80s to find a label willing to sign them. Eventually they got a break when they wrote and produced fellow Brooklyn group U.T.F.O.'s "Roxanne Roxanne," a rap song that would attain a certain level of fame thanks to a series of answer records. In early 1985, the single peaked at number ten on Billboard's R&B charts, proving a substantial hit for both the rap group and the production team.

From there, Full Force moved onto their next major success with Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, a dance-pop group led by a 16-year-old singer named Lisa Velez. Originally Velez had auditioned for the production team, who then went ahead and recorded "I Wonder if I Take You Home" with her, releasing the single under the moniker Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam With Full Force on an indie New York label, Personal. The song scored success initially overseas before eventually being released by Columbia in the U.S. after getting immense play in New York clubs as an import single.

Almost overnight, the song topped Billboard's dance chart and went on to peak at number six on the R&B chart by summer 1985. Thanks to the momentum surrounding the hit single, Full Force signed a deal with Columbia to release solo material. Though they scored some minor R&B hits on their own ("Temporary Love Thing," "Unfaithful So Much," "All in My Mind"), their biggest success continued to be as a production team for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam ("All Cried Out," "Head to Toe," "Lost in Emotion").

In 1988, Full Force produced James Brown's I'm Real, scoring a substantial hit for the struggling legend with the album's title track, and worked with a number of late-'80s dance-pop stars: Jasmine Guy, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, and Samantha Fox, among others. Throughout the early and mid-'90s, the production team remained relatively quiet before again churning out a number of late-'90s R&B-flavored pop hits with Selena, Backstreet Boys, and LFO, among others.

Track:

1. Temporary Love Thing
2. Unfaithful
3. Never Had Another Lover
4. Old Flames Never Die
5. Child's Play (Part I)
6. So Much
7. Chain Me To The Night
8. Body Heavenly
9. Love Scene
10. Child's Play (Part II)
11. Temporary Bow-Legged Theatre (What Am I Gonna Do!)
12. Only Temporary
13. Unfaithful (Faithful Remix)
14. Unfaithful (Doctor, No Na Na No No No!)
15. Old Flames (My Desire, My Burning Fire)
16. Love Scene (12" Mix)

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Frederick - Frederick 1985

Tracks:

1. Somebody Won't Sleep Tonight
2. I Love You
3. Games *
4. Move On
5. Gentle (Ft. Janice Dowlen)
6. Girl I Know You're Lonely (Ft. Lyn Jo Jones)
7. That Body
8. Love Taker

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Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Get Loose 1982

Evelyn "Champagne" King [Born:] July 1, 1960) is an American R&B, disco and post-disco singer. Some of her best-known songs are "Shame," "Love Come Down," and "I'm in Love. Evelyn King was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her uncle had played the part of Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess and her father sang back-up for groups at Harlem's Apollo Theatre.

King was discovered while working with her mother at Philadelphia International Records as a cleaning woman. A producer, Theodore T Life, overheard her singing in a washroom and began coaching her. She was eventually signed to a production deal with Life's Galaxy Productions and a recording contract with RCA Records. King released her debut album, Smooth Talk, in 1977. The album included the song "Shame", which is her only top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9. The song also reached #7 R&B and #8 on the dance chart.

The record was eventually certified gold. Another single from that album, "I Don't Know If It's Right", peaked at #23 on the Billboad Hot 100 and #7 R&B. This would become her second certified gold single. In 1981, the single "I'm in Love" was released from the same-titled album. It reached #1 on the R&B singles chart and dance chart in August of that year. It also peaked at #40 on the pop charts. In 1982, King released the album, Get Loose. It yielded a top twenty pop and #1 R&B hit with the single, "Love Come Down".

The song also peaked at #1 on the dance charts and reached the UK Singles Chart top ten, peaking at #7. The follow-up, "Betcha She Don't Love You," peaked at #2 on the R&B chart and #49 on the pop chart. From the mid- to late 1980s, King would continue to chart on the R&B charts, placing eight singles in the R&B top twenty, with three making it to the top ten.

Tracks:

1. Love Come Down
2. I Cant Stand It
3. Betcha She Don’t Love You
4. Get Loose
5. Back to Love
6. Stop That
7. Get Up off Your Love
8. I’m Just Warmin Up

Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Love Come Down 1982

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Fatback Band - With Love 1983

The Fatback Band (later, simply Fatback) is an American funk and disco band. Most popular in the 1970s and 1980s, The Fatback Band is most known for their Top Ten R&B hits, "(Do The) Spanish Hustle", "I Like Girls", "Gotta Get My Hands on Some (Money)", and "Backstrokin'". Their 1979 single "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" is considered by many to be the first rap single.

Formed in New York City in 1970, The Fatback Band was the concept of Bill Curtis, an experienced session drummer, inspired to merge the "fatback" jazz beat of New Orleans into a funk band. In addition to Curtis, the band's initial line-up included guitarist Johnny King, bassist Johnny Flippin, trumpet player George Williams, saxophonist Earl Shelton, flautist George Adams, and keyboardist Gerry Thomas.

The band specialized in playing "street funk". The group also later included conga player Wayne Woolford, vocalists Jayne and Gerry, Deborah Cooper saxophonist Fred Demerey, guitarist Louis Wright and George Victory. In 1980, Fatback had a pair of their biggest hits with "Gotta Get My Hands On Some (Money)" and "Backstrokin'".

Also finding the charts in the 1980s were "Take It Any Way You Can't It", "I Found Lovin'", and "Spread Love", with singer Evelyn Thomas, in 1985. Whilst American pop success proved elusive, the group made regular appearances on the UK pop charts, including the Top Ten twice with "(Do The) Spanish Hustle" and "I Found Lovin'", the latter considered something of a signature tune for the band and still a favourite among clubbers.

Tracks:

1. He's a Freak, Undercover
2. I Found Lovin' **
3. Rasta Jam
4. I Wanna Be Your Lover
5. Wide Glide
6. I Love Your Body Language
7. Please Stay

Fatback Band - I Found Lovin' [12'' Mix] 1983

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George Benson - In Flight 1977

All of a sudden, George Benson became a pop superstar with this album, thanks to its least representative track. Most of Breezin' is a softer-focused variation of Benson's R&B/jazz-flavored CTI work, his guitar as assured and fluid as ever with Claus Ogerman providing the suave orchestral backdrops and his crack then-working band (including Ronnie Foster on keyboards and sparkplug Phil Upchurch on rhythm guitar) pumping up the funk element.

Yet it is the sole vocal track (his first in many years), Leon Russell's "This Masquerade" -- where George unveiled his new trademark, scatting along with a single-string guitar solo -- that reached number ten on the pop singles chart and drove the album all the way to number one on the pop (!) LP chart.

The attractive title track also became a minor hit single, although Gabor Szabo's 1971 recording with composer Bobby Womack is even more fetching. In the greater scheme of Benson's career, Breezin' is really not so much a breakthrough as it is a transition album; the guitar is still the core of his identity.

Tracks:

1. Nature Boy
2. The Wind & I
3. The World Is a Ghetto **
4. Gonna Love You More
5. Valdez in the Country
6. Everything Must Change

George Benson - The World Is A Ghetto 1977

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Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Flirt 1988

Very few artists have maintained the same level of success over the years as Evelyn ''Champagne'' King...

Tracks List:

1. Flirt (5:53)
2. You Can Turn Me on (6:03)
3. Kisses Don't Lie (4:46)
4. Stop It (4:43)
5. Hold on to What You've Got (5:59)
6. When Your Heart Says Yes (4:45)
7. Before the Date (5:01)
8. When Ever You Touch Me (4:40)

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Freddie Jackson - Rock Me Tonight 1986

To urban contemporary listeners, Freddie Jackson was one of the biggest stars of the latter half of the '80s, dominating the R&B charts seemingly at will. Jackson's forte was sophisticated, romantic soul ballads aimed at adult audiences, but he was also capable of tackling urban contemporary dance fare and even the occasional jazz tune.

Yet unlike many of his peers -- Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Peabo Bryson, etc. -- Jackson never managed to cross over to the pop charts, where none of his R&B smashes even breached the Top Ten. As new trends like hip-hop altered the urban contemporary landscape, Jackson gradually faded from view during the '90s. Jackson was born October 2, 1956, in Harlem, and like so many soul stars, he was trained as a gospel singer from an early age, singing at the White Rock Baptist Church.

There he met Paul Laurence, who would later become his producer and songwriting partner. After completing school, Jackson joined Laurence's group LJE (Laurence-Jones Ensemble) and played the New York club scene. During the early '80s, Jackson moved to the West Coast and sang lead with the R&B band Mystic Merlin, but soon returned to New York to work with Laurence at the Hush Productions company.

He sang on demo recordings of Laurence's compositions, and also served as a backup singer for Melba Moore after she caught his nightclub act. In 1985, Jackson landed a record deal with Capitol and issued his debut album, Rock Me Tonight.

The Laurence-penned title track stormed the R&B charts, spending a whopping six weeks at number one, and made Jackson an instant sensation on urban contemporary radio. "You Are My Lady" gave him a second straight R&B chart-topper, and also proved to be his highest-charting single on the pop side, peaking at number 13.

With "He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)" and "Love Is Just a Touch Away" also hitting the R&B Top Ten, Rock Me Tonight topped the R&B album charts and went platinum. Jackson wasted no time issuing a follow-up set; Just Like the First Time appeared in 1986 on the heels of a number one R&B duet with Melba Moore, "A Little Bit More" (from her album A Lot of Love).

Another platinum seller, Just Like the First Time continued Jackson's incredible dominance of the R&B singles charts; "Tasty Love," "Have You Ever Loved Somebody," and "Jam Tonight" all hit number one, while "I Don't Want to Lose Your Love" went to number two.

Tracks:

1. He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)
2. Love Is Just a Touch Away
3. I Wanna Say I Love You
4. You Are My Lady
5. Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake) **
6. Sing a Song of Love
7. Calling
8. Good Morning Heartache - (featuring Stanley Turrentine)