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Network – I Need You A Hidden Gem of 80s Soul & Funk
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vendredi 27 juin 2025
The Whispers - Just Gets Better With Time 1987
Just Gets Better with Time is the 16th studio album by American R&B/Soul group The Whispers. It was released on April 9, 1987 via Capitol/SOLAR Records. This album features their highest charting pop single, "Rock Steady," which peaked inside the top 10 at number 7. The song also reached number 1 on the U.S. R&B chart.
Four more singles were released into the following year. Although none of these additional singles brought further pop success, with the follow-up single "Special F/X" only charting in the UK (peaking at #69), the group maintained a strong presence on the R&B chart. The album's title track, "Just Gets Better with Time," reached number 12, and "In the Mood"—long a quiet storm radio staple—charted four spots lower at number 16. The fifth and final single, 1988's "No Pain, No Gain" reached #74 on the R&B chart, while landing at number 81 in the UK.
Despite the relative Hot 100 chart failure of the follow-ups to "Rock Steady," the album itself was a strong seller; it charted highly in the U.S. (#22 on the Billboard Top 200 chart—their second-highest showing there) while reaching #3 at R&B. It is RIAA-certified platinum.
The Whispers - So Good 1984
So Good is a studio album by the American vocal group the Whispers, released on July 26, 1984, via SOLAR Records. The album reached number eight on the Billboard Soul Albums chart. Phyllis Hyman sang on "Suddenly".
The Whispers - Love for Love 1983
Love for Love is the fourteenth studio album by the American R&B/Soul vocal group the Whispers, released in 1983 by SOLAR Records.
The Whispers - Love Is Where You Find It 1981
Love Is Where You Find It is the eleventh studio album by American R&B/soul group the Whispers, released on April 5, 1982, by SOLAR Records. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
The Whispers - Imagination 1980
Imagination is the tenth studio album by American R&B/soul vocal group the Whispers, released on November 30, 1980, by SOLAR Records.
The album contains two singles which made the U.S. Hot R&B charts: "It's a Love Thing", which peaked at number two in early 1981; and "I Can Make it Better". Both singles were produced by SOLAR Records' main in-house producer Leon F. Sylvers III. Also featured in the album is "Up on Soul Train", the theme song used on the syndicated television series Soul Train from 1980 to 1983; it was composed by the creator, producer, and host of Soul Train, Don Cornelius.
The music video to the single "It's a Love Thing" is notable for having an early appearance from then-unknown actress Daphne Maxwell Reid.[2] As of September 2016, the song appears in a L'Oreal commercial for Preference Mousse Absolue.
The Whispers - The Whispers 1979
The Whispers is a studio album by American R&B/soul vocal group the Whispers, released on October 20, 1979, by SOLAR Records. It was the first hit album for the veteran group, peaking at number one on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart, as well as number six on the Billboard Top LPs chart.
The album launched four singles, including their breakthrough single, the Leon Sylvers III-produced post-disco number, "And the Beat Goes On", which became their biggest hit single to date, reaching number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and crossing over to number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as landing in the top ten on various international charts. Other hit singles included "A Song for Donny", a tribute song to American musician Donny Hathaway, who died in January 1979. The song reached number 21 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. The Nicholas Caldwell-composed "Lady" became another hit, peaking at number three on the Hot Soul Singles chart, while also crossing over to the Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts and the UK charts, in 1980. A cover of the Temptations' "My Girl", became a hit in the UK, reaching number twenty six, while a fifth single, "Out the Box", was promoted briefly.
The album eventually went double-platinum becoming the Watts-based group's biggest success and their breakthrough after more than 15 years together.
The Whispers - Whisper in Your Ear 1979
Whisper in Your Ear is an album by the Whispers released in 1979 on the SOLAR Records label. This album peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.
The Whispers - Headlights 1978
Headlights is an album by The Whispers released in 1978 on the SOLAR Records label. This album charted at number 22 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.
The Whispers - Open Up Your Love 1977
Open Up Your Love is an album by The Whispers. Released in 1977, this album reached number 23 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart. This was their last album on Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey's Soul Train Records before transitioning over to manager Dick Griffey's SOLAR Records.
The single "I'm Gonna Make You My Wife" was featured in the motion picture Waiting to Exhale, but did not appear on the soundtrack.
The Whispers - One for the Money 1976
One for the Money is an album by The Whispers. Released in 1976, this album charted at number 40 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart. It was their debut album on Don Cornelius's and Dick Griffey's Soul Train Records.
Walter Scott, co-founding vocalist of The Whispers, dies at 81
(June 26, 2025) They took a “slow and steady” path to stardom, but once they reached it, The Whispers became one of the most beloved soul music vocal groups of all time. Tonight we mourn the passing of group co-founder, Walter Scott, who died after a six month battle with cancer. He was 81.
Whispers Promotional Team member, Desirae L. Benson, provided SoulTracks with the following statement: “We all are incredibly heartbroken. It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of Walter Scott, beloved member of the legendary R&B group The Whispers. His voice, presence, and contributions helped shape a musical legacy that touched millions. Walter’s impact on the industry and in the hearts of fans will never be forgotten. Memorial details will be shared at a later date. Sending love and light to his family, friends, and all of the millions of fans around the world. We lost a legend!“
Formed in LA in the early 60s, the Whispers charted a winding course for well over a decade before establishing themselves as soul music royalty. Consisting of twin brothers Walter and Wallace (Scotty) Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson and Leaveil Degree (who replaced departing member Gordy Harmon in 1973), the Whispers first recorded for local LA label Dore Records, hitting the pop and R&B charts with “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong” in 1970. They continued to be a mid-level charting act throughout the 70s on the Don Cornelius/Dick Griffey “Soul Train” label but gained momentum toward the end of the decade when Griffey, who was their manager, created his own SOLAR label and worked with the group on their SOLAR debut album Headlights, which scored a moderate with with “Olivia.”
After so many years, the Whispers seemed destined to remain a a middling act that would never achieve real large scale international attention. Then in 1980, Griffey teamed them with upcoming writer/producer Leon Sylvers, and the result was “And the Beat Goes On,” one of the most infectious songs of the disco era and the single that thrust the Whispers to the top tier of soul artists. “And the Beat Goes On” was included on the excellent Whispers album along with two other instant classics, the Caldwell-penned ballad “Lady” and “A Song For Donny,” a touching tribute to Donny Hathaway sung to the tune of Hathaway’s “This Christmas” (with lyrics by Whispers labelmate Carrie Lucas).
The 80s brought a string of monster soul chart successes for the Whispers, with additional hits “It’s A Love Thing,” “Keep On Lovin Me” and “Tonight,” though crossover success was more limited. The group appeared to lose steam in the second half of the decade, but a hot dance tune written by then-unknown Deele member Babyface brought the Whispers back, as the excellent “Rock Steady” shot to the top of Pop, Soul and Dance charts.
The group left Solar for Capitol in 1990 and continued to record soul hits through the mid-90s, garnering success with “Innocent,” “My Heart Your Heart” and “Is It Good To You.” Sadly, they lost group member Marcus Hutson to cancer in 2000.
After leaving Capitol, the group recorded more sporadically, first for Interscope Records (the solid but underappreciated Songbook Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface), and later independently. And Walter and Scotty Scott also released an album as a duo, My Brother’s Keeper, in 2006.
After the tragic passing of Nicholas Caldwell in 2016, the remaining members decided to continue on as a trio, and they resumed touring the world over the next few years. Then in 2022, following the lead of pop singer Taylor Swift, The Whispers decided to take control of the ownership of their catalog by re-recording some of their biggest hits. It gave the group a burst of new energy that carried into their touring. That year they also received the SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Walter Scott was ailing and he missed several shows. His fans have been praying for a recovery since, then, but sadly the bad news came today. Walter is survived by his wife Jan, two sons and three grandchildren.
We will be mourning this tremendous loss to the music world, even as we celebrate an artist who was a big part of the soundtrack of so many lives over the past half century. Rest in peace, Walter.
mercredi 25 juin 2025
Linda Clifford
Clifford is a former Miss New York State, and fronted a jazz music trio before switching to R&B.[5] After winning her title, Clifford worked as an actress, playing minor roles in films such as The Boston Strangler with Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda, Coogan's Bluff with Clint Eastwood and Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. Unsatisfied with her roles, Clifford decided to concentrate on her singing career, performing for a year in Miami-area night clubs with the Jericho Jazz Singers,[6] before forming her own group Linda & the Trade Winds.[3]
In 1973, she was signed to Paramount Records and her first single, "(It's Gonna Be) A Long Long Winter", was a minor hit on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in the winter of 1974.[7] She moved to Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records label in the mid 1970s.[5] In 1977, she released her first album, Linda, and in 1978, her dance cover of "If My Friends Could See Me Now" was a hit in clubs and on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] It was her first number one on Billboard Dance chart. Her album of the same name became her most successful and included also "Runaway Love", a mid-tempo R&B track that proved to be one of her most recognizable tunes. In 1979, she released her disco version of "Bridge over Troubled Water" from the album Let Me Be Your Woman.
In 1980, she released a duet album with Curtis Mayfield, The Right Combination,[8] and recorded a song "Red Light" for the Fame soundtrack in 1980. It peaked at number one on the American dance chart. "Shoot Your Best Shot" (1980) and "Don't Come Crying to Me" (1982) were the third and fourth of her four number one dance hits in the US. She released six albums while under contract on the Curtom label, all supervised by Curtis Mayfield, generally produced by Gil Askey (jazz trumpet player and musical director for many Motown acts) with many mixes by Jim Burgess or Jimmy Simpson, brother of Valerie Simpson from Ashford and Simpson. The sixth, I'm Yours, was produced by Isaac Hayes with the exception of "Red Light" (written by Pitchford and Gore). Curtom Records was distributed by Warner Bros. (1977–1978), by RSO (1979–1980) and by the end of 1980 by Capitol.
Her contract switched entirely to Capitol for her seventh album, I'll Keep on Loving You (1982). It included collaboration by Luther Vandross and the original version of "All the Man That I Need", another song written by Pitchford and Gore; they wrote this particular song with Clifford and her husband in mind.[9] A year later it was covered by Sister Sledge, in 1990 by Whitney Houston and in 1994 by Luther Vandross, under the name "All the Woman That I Need". On his album Songs, Vandross even credited Houston for being the "artist who did the original version of the song", forgetting that it was originally Clifford's song and that he was a background vocalist and the vocal arranger of her version.
Her 1984 offering, Sneakin' Out did relatively well on the American R&B chart.[9] Clifford's last studio album to date remains 1985's My Heart's on Fire, supported by the single "The Heat in Me". In 2001, she secured her fourth UK Singles Chart entry with "Ride the Storm", billed as Akabu featuring Linda Clifford.[10] Her most recent single, "Baby I'm Yours", was released in 2011.
In 2012, her minor hit from 1979, "I Just Wanna Wanna", resurfaced as the love theme in the Lee Daniels film, The Paperboy.
In 2015, Clifford collaborated with disco and house vocalists Martha Wash and Evelyn "Champagne" King on the download-only single "Show Some Love", which reached number #6 on the Billboard Dance chart the same year, and released on Martha Wash's own label Purple Rose Records. Their collaboration was credited as a group as First Ladies of Disco.[11] A video was released to promote the single[12] along with an alternate video featuring a remix by John LePage and Brian Cua.
Linda Clifford – I'm Yours 1980
I'm Yours is the sixth studio album recorded by American singer Linda Clifford, released in 1980 on the RSO/Curtom label.
The album peaked at No. 47 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 160 on the Billboard 200. The album features the singles "Red Light", which peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart, No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 40 on the Hot Soul Singles chart; "Shoot Your Best Shot", which charted at No. 1 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart and No. 43 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and "I Had a Talk with My Man", which reached No. 53 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
Linda Clifford & Curtis Mayfield – The Right Combination 1980
The Right Combination is a 1980 duet album by Linda Clifford and Curtis Mayfield.
Originally released on Curtom, it was recorded in Chicago except "It's Lovin' Time (Your Baby's Home)" recorded in Philadelphia. The album was produced by Curtis Mayfield and Gil Askey except “Ain't No Love Lost” solely by Mayfield and “It's Lovin' Time (Your Baby's Home)” by Curtis Mayfield, Norman Harris and Bruce Gray. Gil Askey arranged the album except “It's Lovin' Time (Your Baby's Home)” which was arranged by Norman Harris. Linda Clifford has collaborated with Gil Askey and Curtis Mayfield on her previous four albums for Curtom and with Norman Harris on an album released just before (Here's My Love). In 1980 she would sing "Red light" for the Fame soundtrack and collaborate with Isaac Hayes for her next album. The album was reissued on CD in 1999 in Britain with 11 bonus tracks (8 by Clifford, 3 by Mayfield) and a bonus 1972 radio interview of Mayfield on an additional CD.
Linda Clifford – Here's My Love 1979
The album peaked at No. 47 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached
No. 117 on the Billboard 200. The album features the single "I Just
Wanna Wanna", which peaked at No. 36 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. In addition, all the cuts of the album peaked at No. 73 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart.
Linda Clifford – Let Me Be Your Woman 1979
Let Me Be Your Woman is the third studio album recorded by American singer Linda Clifford, released in 1979 on the RSO/Curtom label.
The album peaked at No. 19 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200. The album features a disco-styled cover version of "Bridge over Troubled Water", which peaked at No. 49 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. A second single, "Don't Give It Up", also charted at No. 15 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. In addition, all the cuts of the album peaked at No. 11 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart.
Linda Clifford – If My Friends Could See Me Now 1978
If My Friends Could See Me Now is the second studio album by American singer Linda Clifford, released in 1978 on the Curtom label.
The album peaked at No. 9 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200. The album features a disco-styled cover version of the title track, which peaked at No. 68 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Runaway Love", also charted at No. 3 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both tracks, along with the track "Gypsy Lady" peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart.
Linda Clifford - Linda 1977
Linda is the debut studio album recorded by American singer Linda Clifford, released in 1977 on the Curtom Records label.
The album features the single "From Now On", which peaked at No. 94 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The song also reached No. 28 on Hot Dance Club Play chart along with the song "You Can Do It".
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