BENTLEYFUNK@HOTMAIL.COM / 2026 / SINCE 2008

mercredi 22 juillet 2026

Magnum (1974) Fully Loaded (Ultre-Vybe 2000)

First Love (1982) Love At First Sight +9 (Mirage Records 2025)

Al Hudson (Featuring) The (Soul) Partners & One Way - Dance Get Down (Feel The Groove) 18 Disc Set (2026)

One Way is an American R&B and funk band that was popular in the late 1970s, and throughout most of the 1980s, led by singer Al Hudson. The group's most successful record was "Cutie Pie", which reached number 4 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart and number 61 on the pop chart in 1982.^[2] The band also gained popularity for ballads; most of which were not released as singles, but received airplay on urban radio stations. These included "Don't Stop" (1984), "You" (1982), "Something in the Past" (1980), "Guess You Didn't Know" (1979), and "Lost Inside of You" (1978).

Detroit vocalist Al Hudson, guitarist Dave Roberson and bassist Kevin McCord (b. Kevin Duane McCord, 1954, Detroit, Michigan) founded Al Hudson and the Soul Partners in the mid 1970s.^[3] Other members included keyboardists Jack Hall and Jonathan "Corky" Meadows, drummers Theodore Dudley and Gregory Greene, Gary Andrews and guitarist Cortez Harris.

They recorded several singles for Atco Records before joining ABC Records and made their debut with the LP Especially for You in 1977.^[4] They recorded their second album, Cherish, that same year and released their third album Spreading Love in 1978 from which the single "Spread Love" was released. Although not charting in the UK, it became a big hit in the clubs. By that time ABC Records was in the process of being bought by MCA Records and vocalist Alicia Myers joined the group. They released the album Happy Feet as Al Hudson and the Partners in 1979 which contains the R&B hit "You Can Do It", which was co-penned by Myers. The single also peaked at number 10 on Billboard’s Disco Action Top 80 Chart in June 1979, as well as a top 15 hit in the UK.

When ABC merged with MCA Records, they subsequently changed their name to One Way featuring Al Hudson. Their next album was simply called One Way Featuring Al Hudson and was also released in 1979. The album included the long 12" version of "You Can Do It". Their 1980 album was also confusingly called One Way featuring Al Hudson. By 1981, the band was simply called One Way.^[4]

In 1981, frontwoman Alicia Myers left the band to pursue a solo career. She was replaced by Candyce Edwards, who served as female lead of the group from 1981 until 1985. Edwards' debut was on the Fancy Dancer album and she remained with the group throughout their major success. After Edwards left the group in 1985, Jeanette Mack-Jackson replaced Edwards as lead singer.

They were on MCA’s roster until 1988. They scored five top 10 U.S. R&B chart hits, with the biggest being "Cutie Pie", which reached number four in 1982.^[3] One Way had R&B hit "Mr. Groove", about James Brown, in 1984.

They had two more minor hits on the UK Singles Chart with "Music" (1979) and "Let's Talk" (1985).^[5] They gained US R&B hits such as "Don't Think About It" and "You Better Quit" in 1987.^[6]

They moved to Capitol Records in 1988, where they released the album A New Beginning^[3] later that same year. By this time, only Hudson, Roberson, and Meadows remained from the original line-up.

In 2019, after a 31-year hiatus, One Way featuring Al Hudson released their 12th album, New Old School.

Natalie Cole - Love & Kisses (The History) 25 Albums

Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat (born July 22, 1961) is an American singer, producer and songwriter. An early figure in the new jack swing musical movement, he is known for his collection of hits including "I Want Her," "Make It Last Forever," "I'll Give All My Love to You," "Make You Sweat," "Get Up on It," "Twisted," and "Nobody." He has released 13 solo albums (two as a part of the R&B supergroup LSG) and discovered the groups Silk and Kut Klose. Sweat's sound reportedly was influenced by Slave front man Steve Arrington and go-go music.

Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975.^[9] With the help of Jamilah, Sweat was able to hone his craft as a lead singer by performing regionally throughout the Tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The group was started by bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley.^[10]

After leaving the group in 1984 to begin a solo career, Sweat sang at nightclubs throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the independent label, Stadium Records. Sweat recorded only two tunes for Stadium, "Lucky Seven" and "My Mind Is Made Up," which was their third and fourth ever release, but on Stadium's first release, he is credited as co-writer and co-producer of "You Are the One for Me," the last recording ever made by the group GQ. One of GQ's original members is his uncle, Keith "Sabu" Crier.

Later in 1987, Keith Sweat was discovered by Vincent Davis and offered a recording contract with his label, Vintertainment Records, which was founded in 1983 on the foundations of early Hip-Hop and otherwise best known for releasing Joeski Love's "Pee Wee's Dance" in 1985. Vintertainment was distributed by Elektra Records from 1985 until it ceased operations in 1990.

While crafting his debut album, Sweat pursued fellow Harlem resident Teddy Riley, who, at this time, was better known for writing for and producing hip-hop artists.^[12] According to Riley, he already had the beats prepared for "I Want Her" and "Make It Last Forever," along with all of the background vocals for "I Want Her."^[12] Riley had no intention of producing R&B music, and he also encouraged Sweat to sing in what would become his trademark nasal sound to distinguish his voice from other artists.^[12] Riley noted that Sweat's songwriting style also was unique as he composed lyrics instantly while listening to the track, as he did for the single, "Make It Last Forever."^[12]

On November 24, 1987, Sweat released Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. He and Riley co-wrote six songs; and the biggest hit was "I Want Her"^[13] (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the 1989 Soul Train Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while the title track from the album hit No. 2 on the R&B charts.

Sweat reached the charts again with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. He released his third album, Keep It Comin' in 1991, which debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. He produced soul singer Omar Chandler.

In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart.^[14]

The album's single "Freak Me" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1993. In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the group's debut album Surrender, which produced their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

In the fall of 1994, Sweat appeared in the group Black Men United (BMU) reuniting with Silk, Gerald Levert, Al B. Sure!, Brian McKnight, El DeBarge and others for the single "U Will Know", which was written by R&B musician D'Angelo for the soundtrack the film Jason's Lyric.

Sweat released his fourth album Get Up on It in the summer of 1994, and his self-titled fifth album in 1996. Both albums reached the top ten on the Billboard 200. The single co/produced and written by Eric McCaine "Twisted" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit No. 3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by Slave. He produced for R&B group Dru Hill in 1996.

In the fall of 1997, Sweat discovered the group Ol' Skool and helped with their self-titled debut. He was on their biggest single, "Am I Dreaming", which featured the R&B group Xscape. Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill was released that November.^[15] That album featured "My Body", which became a hit single. The album was certified double platinum and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Sweat's sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured rapper Snoop Dogg) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (No. 16 Hot 100). Sweat's success on the charts started to diminish in 2000, when he released the album Didn't See Me Coming. None of the singles from the album reached the top forty.

On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth album, Rebirth. The single "One on One" reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. His 2008 album Just Me included the single, "Love U Better (featuring Keyshia Cole)". Sweat is currently signed to Kedar Records and released his tenth studio album entitled Ridin' Solo on June 22, 2010. The lead single taken from the album is "Test Drive" and featured label-mate Joe.

Since 2007, Sweat has been the host of The Keith Sweat Hotel —a nationally syndicated radio program with Premiere Networks based upon the Quiet storm format.

Champaign Featuring Pauli Carman - The Collection

dimanche 19 juillet 2026

MILLIE JACKSON BIOGRAPHY & Discography

Born in Thomson, Georgia, Jackson is the daughter of a sharecropper.^[2] Her mother died when she was a child and subsequently, she and her father moved to Newark, New Jersey. By the time Jackson was in her mid-teens, she had moved to Brooklyn to live with an aunt. She occasionally worked as a model for magazines like JIVE and Sepia.

Jackson’s singing career reportedly began on a dare to enter a 1964 talent contest at Harlem nightclub Smalls Paradise, which she won.^[3] Although she first recorded for MGM Records in 1970, she soon left and began a long association with New York-based Spring Records. Working with the label’s in-house producer, Raeford Gerald, her first single to chart was 1971’s deceptively titled « A Child of God (It’s Hard to Believe), » which reached number 22 on the R&B charts. In 1972, Jackson had her first R&B Top Ten single with the follow-up, « Ask Me What You Want », which also reached the pop Top 30, then « My Man, A Sweet Man » reached #7 R&B; all three hits were co-written by Jackson. « My Man, A Sweet Man » retains its popularity today for northern soul enthusiasts and is played on the radio in the UK and quoted as an example from this musical genre^[4] as is her 1976 recording, « A House for Sale ».^[5] The following year brought her biggest single success and her third Top Ten hit, « It Hurts So Good, » which made #3 on the R&B charts and #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. The single was featured on the album of the same name and in the blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones, also appearing on that film’s soundtrack along with the song « Love Doctor ».
In 1974, she released the album Caught Up, which introduced her innovative style of raunchy rap. The featured release was her version of Luther Ingram’s million-seller, « (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right« , for which she received two Grammy nominations. By now, she had switched producers to work only with Brad Shapiro, recording at Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama with the renowned Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. She continued to record most of her material for Spring there, including the follow-up album, Still Caught Up.
Over the next ten years, Jackson had a string of successful albums and numerous R&B chart entries, the biggest being her 1977 version of Merle Haggard‘s country hit « If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday ». That hit single was followed by many more, including her version of the Boney M. song, the disco single, « Never Change Lovers In The Middle of The Night. » This single peaked at #33 on the Black Singles chart in 1979.
Jackson recorded an album in 1979 with Isaac Hayes called « Royal Rappin’s » and the same year saw her release a double album, « Live And Uncensored », recorded in concert at Los Angeles venue, The Roxy. Jackson also formed and produced the group Facts of Life. They had a major hit in 1976 with « Sometimes » (#3 R&B, #31 Pop).
Jackson found herself without a label when Spring closed down in 1984, but in 1986, she signed with Jive Records in a deal that produced four albums and resulted in further R&B Top Ten hits with « Hot! Wild! Unrestricted! Crazy Love » and « Love Is a Dangerous Game ». She appeared on an Elton John track in 1985, « Act Of War », which was a Top 40 hit in the UK, but failed to chart in the USA. In 1991, she wrote, produced and starred in the successful touring play Young Man, Older Woman, based on her album of the same title for Jive.
On November 24, 1994, Jackson appeared in the Thanksgiving episode Feast or Famine of Martin as Florine.
In 2000, her voice featured in « Am I Wrong » by Etienne de Crécy, sampled from her performance in « (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right ».
Jackson may be most famous in the internet age for her album covers, which frequently appear on « worst ever » lists. E.S.P. (Extra Sexual Persuasion) features Jackson peering into a crystal ball that accentuates her cleavage; Back to the S t! depicts Jackson sitting on a toilet.^[6]^[7]
Jackson now runs her own record label, Weird Wreckuds. After a lengthy hiatus from recording, she released her 2001 album, Not For Church Folk, which marked a return to her « tell-it-like-it-is » lyrical style with an Urban contemporary sound. The album features the singles « Butt-A-Cize » (a dance song) and « Leave Me Alone » (a ballad). The album also features a collaboration with rapper Da Brat on the song « In My Life. »
Jackson had her own radio show in Dallas, Texas for 13 years. Broadcasting via remote from her home in Atlanta, Jackson worked in afternoon drive-time from 3-6 pm on KKDA 730 AM, until January 6, 2012.
In 2006, five of Jackson’s best-selling albums – Millie Jackson (1972), It Hurts So Good (1973), Caught Up (1974), Still Caught Up (1975), and Feelin’ Bitchy (1977) – were digitally remastered and released on CD with bonus tracks. All of Jackson’s Spring Records-era albums are available from Ace Records in the UK.
An Imitation of Love was re-issued on CD in 2013 by the Funkytowngrooves label in a remastered, expanded edition. Other albums released on the Jive and Ichiban labels remain out of print, though some of those songs appear on compilation CDs.
On February 6, 2012, the documentary, Unsung – The Story of Mildred ‘Millie’ Jackson aired on the TV One network.
Jackson performed at Washington, D.C.’s historic Howard Theatre on August 3, 2012, and at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York on August 4, 2012. On June 6, 2015 Jackson was inducted into the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in Clarksdale, MS.