dimanche 2 août 2026
samedi 1 août 2026
vendredi 31 juillet 2026
The Cool-Notes - Make It Cool (The Collection)
The Cool Notes were a British pop-funk group who had a string of chart hits in the UK between 1984 and 1986. The band, which formed in South London, consisted of seven members of both vocal and instrumental talent. They are best known for their UK number 11 hit, "Spend the Night".
Quincy Jones – I Heard That!!
jeudi 30 juillet 2026
Norman Connors - Studio Albums + Bonus Tracks
Norman Connors (born March 1, 1947)[1][2] is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and producer who has led a number of influential jazz and R&B groups. He also achieved several big R&B hits of the day, especially with love ballads. He is possibly best known for the 1976 hit, "You Are My Starship" on which lead vocals were sung by Michael Henderson.
Connors lived in the same Philadelphia neighbourhood as comedian/actor Bill Cosby and had an interest in jazz from a very early age when he began to play drums.[3] Whilst at elementary school, Connors was exposed to jazz extensively and became heavily influenced by the drummer Lex Humphries and the younger brother of bassist and Jazz-Messenger player, Spanky DeBrest.[3] He first met his idol, Miles Davis, aged just 13 in 1960.[3]
He once sat in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane performance he attended while in middle school.[2] Connors studied music at Temple University and Juilliard. His first recording was on Archie Shepp's 1967 release, Magic of JuJu. He played with Pharoah Sanders for the next few years until signing in 1972 with jazz label, Cobblestone Records, a division of Buddah Records, and releasing his first record as a bandleader.[3]
Connors began to focus more on R&B material in the mid-1970s after signing with Buddah Records and then becoming the label's A&R manager. He scored several US hits with songs featuring guest vocalists such as Michael Henderson, Jean Carn, and Phyllis Hyman.[3] The most successful of these was "You Are My Starship" (No. 4 R&B, No. 27 Pop),[4] featuring Henderson in 1976, while "Valentine Love", his first chart success, made No. 10 R&B in 1975,[4] with vocals from Henderson and Jean Carne. Dee Dee Bridgewater also performed with him on the jazz album "Love from the Sun". He has also produced recordings for various artists, including collaborators like Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman, Al Johnson, Norman Brown, and saxophonist Marion Meadows.[5]
Connors switched to the Arista label when Buddah was bought out in 1978 and achieved a crossover to the disco scene in 1980 when he had the hit "Take it to the Limit", which was released on 12" single. The B side, "Black Cow" (an instrumental) was written by Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
In 1988 he had a hit on Capitol Records with "I Am Your Melody" (with B-side "Samba for Maria") from his LP Passion which he produced featuring singer Spencer Harrison (1962–1994). Connors also introduced another up and coming singer on the Passion LP, Gabrielle Goodman who sang Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You", "My One And Only Love", "Private Stock" and duets with Harrison on the LP.
mercredi 29 juillet 2026
MFSB - The Discography
MFSB, officially standing for "Mother Father Sister Brother",[1] was a pool of more than 30 studio musicians based at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios.[2] They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O'Jays, the Stylistics, the Spinners, Wilson Pickett, and Billy Paul.[2]
In 1972, MFSB began recording as a named act for the Philadelphia International label. "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", also known as the Soul Train theme, was their second and most successful single. Released in March 1974, it peaked at number one on the US Billboard pop and R&B charts. "TSOP" was influential in establishing the disco sound.[2] The track sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in April 1974.
MFSB formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1985, three years after Teddy Pendergrass' car accident, which left him paralyzed.[4]
Assembled by record producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, MFSB was the house band for their Philadelphia International Records label and originated the "Philly sound" that dominated the early 1970s for the artists who recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios, including The O'Jays, The Spinners, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, the Intruders, the Three Degrees, Jerry Butler, and Teddy Pendergrass.[5] Later in the decade, the collective would become known for the hi-hat-dominated disco sounds that became popular in the late 1970s with groups such as the Trammps, First Choice, Ripple and Double Exposure.[citation needed]
It was the 1973 release of their first album, MFSB, that put them on the map.[4] This marked the beginning of a string of instrumental hits that brought major attention to a large orchestra who laid the foundation for the Sound of Philadelphia. The line-up of musicians included Karl Chambers, Earl Young, and Norman Fearrington on drums; Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli, and T. J. Tindall on guitar; Winnie Wilford and Ronnie Baker on bass; Vincent Montana Jr. on vibes, timpani, orchestra bells, chimes, percussion, arrangements and conductor, and Larry Washington on congas and bongos, Harold Ivory Williams Jr. Jr. on keyboards, plus Leon Huff and Thom Bell on keyboards and Don Renaldo on strings and horns featuring Rocco Bene on trumpet.
MFSB's disco sound first hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts as the backing band for the O'Jays' "Love Train" in March 1973.[6]
In 2005, drummer Keith Benson (who along with Charles Collins and Quinton Joseph, had joined the group in 1975 upon Earl Young's departure) revived the group with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s help. The lineup included himself on drums, Jimmy Williams and Stacey McGee on bass, Dennis Harris and Barton French on guitars, Carla Benson and Michael Clark on vocals.
In the spring of 1974, Philadelphia International released an instrumental track which had been recorded by the band as the theme music for the television show Soul Train as a single. The record, titled "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the R&B chart and the adult contemporary chart.[6] The success of "TSOP" launched a recording career for the band under their own name. MFSB albums and singles were released for the rest of the decade.
MFSB recorded a cover of the Nite-Liters's 1971 instrumental "K-Jee", which gained some popularity later when it was featured in a key scene in the film Saturday Night Fever (1977).[4] It is also included in the soundtrack to that movie. "Sexy" (1975) was later used as a prize cue for the "Big Deal of the Day" on the 1980 version of Let's Make a Deal.
Another popular MFSB number, "Love Is the Message", has been a favorite of dance/disco DJs since its release; countless remixes, both official and unofficial, exist of the song. On September 20, 2004, the record became among the first to be inducted into the newly formed Dance Music Hall of Fame. In October 2004, the song appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on funk radio station, Bounce FM.[7] An episode of the television series Pose named after the song aired on July 18, 2018, and the song appeared prominently in the episode.
Due to a disagreement with Gamble & Huff over finances, several members of the group moved on to Salsoul Records, where they became known as the Salsoul Orchestra. Other members began performing as the Ritchie Family orchestra, and John Davis and the Monster Orchestra.[citation needed] Not to be outdone, Gamble & Huff replaced them with a new rhythm section consisting of Charles Collins on drums, Michael Foreman on bass guitar, and Dennis Harris on lead guitar. They also employed Dexter Wansel and others on MFSB's latter recordings for the label.[citation needed]
For decades, MFSB's "My Mood" has been the closing theme music for the Friday 6 p.m. news on WRC-TV, NBC's owned-and-operated television station in Washington, D.C. Longtime WRC-TV anchor Jim Vance said the theme was chosen to help soothe viewers after a week of particularly difficult news but also gave the station a chance to acknowledge the staff responsible for gathering it.[8][9] MFSB's "TLC" (Tender Lovin' Care) was used for decades as the closing credits theme for the Washington, DC, version of the It's Academic quiz show recorded at WRC-TV.[citation needed]
In 2008, some of the members appeared together on new recordings made at Bobby Eli’s Studio E/The Grooveyard in the Philly suburbs. Musicians on the session were Earl Young on drums, Bobby Eli and Dennis Harris on guitars, Jimmie Williams on bass guitar, Rikki Hicks on percussion and T G Conway on keys. Two songs have been released from that session: "Soul Recession" by Double Exposure and "There I go falling in love again" by Chiquita Green.
mardi 28 juillet 2026
lundi 27 juillet 2026
dimanche 26 juillet 2026
The Chi-Lites - Hot On A Thing (The Discography 1969-2001) (2026)
The Chi-Lites (SHY-lytes) is an American R&B/soul vocal quartet from Chicago. Forming at Chicago's Hyde Park High School in 1959, the group's original lineup consisted of singers Robert Lester, Eugene Record, Creadel Jones, Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, Eddie Reed and Marshall Thompson.
The Chi-Lites' greatest fame came during the late 1960s through the early 1970s (with members Record, Jones, Lester and Thompson), scoring eleven top-ten R&B chart hits from 1969 until 1974.[1] The group also charted 21 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart,[2] and had chart hits in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, as well as in the U.S.
The original members were lead singer Eugene Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, Clarence Johnson, Burt Bowen, and Eddie Reed of the Chanteurs.[3] The group was formed at Hyde Park Academy High School where majority of the members attended (Record attended Englewood High School and Thompson would later transfer to DuSable High School in his senior year and study music under Walter Dyett [citation needed]) in Chicago in 1959. The group performed at their High School "Senior Varieties" talent show. Soon after, they released a single written by Johnson, "You've Got a Great Love".[4] Bowen left the group and was replaced by Sollie McElroy of the Flamingos, who was soon replaced by Marshall Thompson of the Desideros. In 1960, Reed died and Thompson brought in Creadel "Red" Jones who was a member of the Desideros to replace him. In early 1964 the group changed their name to the Hi-Lites and released a song, "I'm So Jealous",[5] with Record on lead.
Noting that the name Hi-lites was already in use and wanting to honor their home town they changed their name to Marshall & the Chi-Lites in 1964.[6] Under their new name they recorded four songs: "Pretty Girl" written by Record,[7] who also was on lead, "Love Bandit" written by Jones with Thompson on lead, "Price of Love"[8] and "Baby It's Time". Clarence Johnson left the group later that year, and their name was subsequently shortened to the Chi-Lites.[9] Eugene Record was the musical group's sole songwriter and lead singer. Record never collaborated with members outside his singing group. In 1968, the group met with record producer Carl Davis and signed a contract with Brunswick Records out of Chicago. The Chi-Lites with members Record, Thompson, Lester and Jones recorded their first charting song, "Give It Away" written by Davis and Record. The single became a top ten Billboard R&B hit spending nine weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 10 on March 15, 1969.
Their major hits came in 1971 and 1972, "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl", the latter becoming a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 27, 1972.[6] Each sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[9] Other transatlantic chart hits followed, although their output became more fragmented as the group's personnel came and went.[6] Bass-singer Jones left in 1973, and was replaced in quick succession by Stanley Anderson, Willie Kinsey, and then Doc Roberson. Shortly thereafter, Eugene Record left,[6] and David Scott and Danny Johnson entered. More personnel changes ensued, when Johnson was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977. The Chi-lites cut some tracks for the Inphasion label in 1979, which appeared on an obscure album for the Excello label.
In 1980 Thompson, Record, Jones and Lester re-formed the group. But Creadel Jones left for a second time in 1982, and the group would remain a trio. In 1983 the group released the critically acclaimed Bottoms Up album and achieved notable club and R&B chart success with the title track and "Changing For You." Released on LARC Records, the album was also released in the UK on the R&B label under the distribution wing of PRT. "Changing For You" album version was released in the UK as a 12" single which became popular in London clubs, including Flicks in Dartford and The Goldmine in Canvey Island. "Changing For You" also remained on the Caister Weekender playlist for two years. "Changing for You" and the title track "Bottoms Up" were heavily played and promoted by UK jazz funk soul DJ Robbie Vincent. An edited version of "Changing for You" entered the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 61. Record left again in 1988, and new lead Frank Reed joined to replace him. Singer Anthony Reynard Watson replaced Reed later that year and the duty of lead vocals would alternate between Reed and Watson over the course of the next decade. (Lester took over singing lead on "Oh Girl", while Watson led on their other songs).
In 1997, while returning home from a concert in Pennsylvania, the Chi-Lites were involved in a serious car crash which resulted in both Reed and Thompson's wife Constance being ejected from the vehicle. Constance died[11] from her injuries and Reed had to have a metal plate inserted in his back. "Hold On to Your Dreams" was included on the Help Wanted (Heroes are in Short Supply) album in Constance's honor. Reed was subsequently replaced once again by Watson until Watson's permanent departure in 2002. On December 13, 1999, BMI named The Chi-Lites, "Oh Girl" No. 36 of the top 100 songs of the century (1900-1999)
In 2003, the Chi-Lites 1970 hit "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" was sampled by Beyonce in her song "Crazy in Love,"[13] and their 1974 song "That's How Long" was used as the backdrop for one of the tracks on Jay-Z's Black Album. In March 2004, the group reunited with former lead Eugene Record for a PBS Soul Music special. Record died in July 2005 following a long battle with cancer.[14] Marshall Thompson and Squirrel Lester, along with more recent addition Frank Reed and the group's first female member, wife Tara Thompson, continued as the Chi-Lites, recording and touring over the last two decades with other soul groups such as the Stylistics and Ray, Goodman & Brown. In 2005 the group released the single "Mother Love". Lester died in January 2010, leaving Thompson the sole remaining founding member of the group. Lester was replaced by Fred Simon (formerly of The Lost Generation). In February 2014, Reed died after an illness. In 2018, Warren Tipton, the father of rapper Freddie Gibbs, joined the group.[15] Fred Simon died in April 2026.
As of 2026, Thompson continues the Chi-Lites' legacy as the last surviving member. On June 17, 2020, Hollywood Walk of Fame announced their Class of 2021 to receive stars on Hollywood Boulevard, and the Chi-Lites were named as one of the honorees.
George Franklin Smallwood & Marshmellow Band (1978) Just 4 You +4 (P-Vine Records 2010)
Limited reissue of a totally obscure private press LP of real quality soul music, from up-tempo disco movers to crossover floor fillers and deep modern ballads, there are several good reasons why this LP has been so prized amongst lovers of progressive, rare soul music.
The fifth release in our illustrious HOLY GRAIL series is a faithful, collector-friendly reissue of Washington DC native George Smallwood’s only LP, one of the most sought after modern soul long players in existence. As ever, we present the LP complete with its original artwork intact and the music lovingly restored. The CD boasts additional tracks taken from his 45s as well as exclusive in-depth track notes with background info on the man himself and every song included.
As with every release thus far in this series, haste is strongly advised! We have sold out on every title and we anticipate the demand on this to be just as strong!
George Smallwood had actually turned his back on a dream of a career in music in order to provide for his family by driving trucks for a living when a terrible accident intervened to rob him of his sight forever. Finding gainful employment hard to come by, Smallwood turned once again to music as both a possible vocation and a remedy for his soul. Setting up a home studio outfit, he buried himself in instrumentation and composition in a more deep and concentrated way than ever before. Eventually assembling a band of talented musicians he began to record and release his own 45s.
Each record he released was distinguished by truly sophisticated production, a smooth sound and lavish depth which marks Smallwood as a real voice in 70s soul music, but one which few up til now have ever heard. Even without major success, thankfully Smallwood continued to record and issue short-run records through the ‘70s and into the early ‘80s, culminating in the majesty of his full length LP ‘Just For You.’
With George’s blessing and endorsement we are thrilled to be able to offer up his wonderful album once again, and we feel that it will find a much wider and more receptive audience than it did the first time around, in fact the audience it was always intended for – lovers of deep, groovy music from the heart and soul.
vendredi 24 juillet 2026
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