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Showing posts from March, 2016

Smooth Sailing: Slow Disco & Sunny Pop

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Joan Smalls Instagram We're out for another episode of Smooth Sailing ! The music is speeding up and slowing down this time, just like a sailboat blown by the wind. One of the tracks is ‘It’s something’ by Brenda Russell. Her unique smooth jazz style has made her one of the most enduring singer-songwriters in contemporary music. Ever since ‘So Good, So Right’, the lead single from her self-titled solo debut album was released in 1979, she has set her mark in the music industry. Brenda Russell is best known for ‘Piano In The Dark’ and ‘Get here’ that was later covered by Oleta Adams. Other artists who have either collaborated with Brenda or recorded her songs include Babyface, Mary J. Blige, Michael McDonald, Bow Wow, Janet Jackson, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Ray Charles, Luther Vandross, Joe Cocker, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau and Johnny Mathis. The song by Carly Simon is on the new ‘Too Slow To Disco’ compilation: ‘The Ladies Of Too Slow To Disco'. Enjoy! Tra

The Smooth Operators present 'Mellow Radio Moods'

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The Smooth Operators ( Martijn Soetens and I) pay tribute to the 1970s FM radio sound with our series Mellow Moods . This is our latest chapter: Mellow Radio Moods! One of the track is 'On the radio' by Donna Summer, released in late-1979 on the Casablanca record label. It was written for the soundtrack to the film 'Foxes' and included on Summer's first international compilation album 'On the radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II'. It came out as a single and became, in January 1980, her tenth top-ten hit in the U.S. as well as her eighth and final consecutive top five single. 'On the radio' peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the soul chart. Especially the lyrics about a message from an old boyfriend to his ex-lover over the radio are worth listening to: “Yeah, it kinda made me feel proud When I heard him say You couldn't find the words to say it yourself And now in my heart I know I can say what I reall

Groovy, Sexy & Soulful Part 60 Lazy Weekend Edition

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Enjoy your lazy weekend with Groovy, sexy and soulful part 60! Donald "Don" Blackman (September 1, 1953 – April 11, 2013) was an American jazz-funk pianist, singer, and songwriter. He was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, NY. A childhood neighbor was Charles McPherson, and while still a teenager he played in McPherson's ensemble with Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. At the beginning of the 1970s, he played with Parliament/Funkadelic, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Roy Ayers, before becoming a member of Lenny White's group Twennynine, for whom he penned songs such as "Peanut Butter" and "Morning Sunrise". He released his self-titled debut solo album in 1982 on Arista Records, including the songs "Holding You, Loving You", "Heart's Desire" and "Since You've Been Away So Long" that became minor hits in Europe. Tracklist: Ian Wilson – Four In The Morning [Goodking Edit] (1985) Flamingosis – Getting Close To You (20

The Smooth Operators present 'Mellow Phone Moods'

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John Goodman, Phone Booth, Turro, From Not Recent Color, 1980 The Smooth Operators ( Martijn Soetens and I) pay tribute to the 1970s FM radio sound with our series Mellow Moods . This is our latest chapter: Mellow Phone Moods! Back in the day people used to say, of a particularly great singer, that she or he could sing the phone book and it would sound good. Now, it's safe to say that if someone actually said that, quite a few would ask themselves: ‘What's a phone book?’ Still, songs about phones are relevant. Everyone has a phone and the universal themes about (unrequited) love can stand the test of time easily. There are lots of songs about not being phoned, not (or fear of) picking up or simply about the joy of a telephone call. So enjoy this 2 hour telephone conversation! Tracklist: Carol Douglas – Doctor's Orders (1974) Trinity ‎– 002.345.709 (That's My Number) (1976) Symbol 8 – Call Me (1978) The Stylistics – One Night Affair (1979) Jim Croce ‎

Boogie & Disco Pleasures

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Linda Lovelace + Hugh Heffner Enjoy these boogie and disco (guilty) pleasures! Club des Belugas was founded 14 years ago. Eight studio albums later they present their first release on their own label Glamjazz Records, in co-operation with ChinChin Records. It's Only Music features the great vocalist Ashley Slater, known for his worldwide hit Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out by Freak Power and also for his work with Fatboy Slim. The song is out tomorrow. After a couple of studio albums and EP's, the established German International project Jojo Effect moves into a more soulful direction with soul singer Brenda Boykin. Jojo Effect´s love for deep house, combined with the influences of R&B and soul, gives the song Mr. Smith a relaxed note and it makes me curious for more new music by this band. The closing track by The Sunburst Band is on a new compilation called 'Remixed with love 2 by Joey Negro'. Tracklist: George Duke ‎– Reach Out (1983) Aurra – Such A F

Soul & Disco Grooves From The Crates

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Shante Slagle Enjoy these Soul & Disco Grooves From The Crates !  Amy Paulette "Amii" Stewart (born January 29, 1956) began attending Howard University in Washington but soon left to work with the D.C. Repertory Dance Company, studying ballet and modern dance. Before being signed to Ariola Records, Stewart was in the touring company of the stage production Bubbling Brown Sugar in 1975, firstly in Miami, then Broadway, and eventually London's West End. There she met Barry Leng, a record producer for Hansa records. Her first single, a disco cover version of the 1966 Eddie Floyd hit 'Knock on wood', reached #1 in the U.S. in April 1979, and earned her a platinum record and a Grammy Award nomination. It also reached #6 in the UK, and later that year #10 in the Netherlands. In the same year, Amii Stewart followed up with another cover, this time The Doors' classic 'Light my fire', which reached #5 in the UK, although only climbed to #69 in the US. I