Mellow Mellow FM Radio: Smooth Jazz, Soft Soul & Sophisti-Funk

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Enjoy another retro episode of my imaginary station Mellow Mellow FM Radio! Thanks to Martijn Soetens, whose brilliant Sunshine 70s series was a true inspiration.

More or less by accident George McCrae had a worldwide hit with Rock Your Baby in 1974. The song was written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch from KC & the Sunshine Band. It was originally intended as a single for George's wife Gwen, as a solo artist, but she had called in sick the day the studio was booked. When George randomly showed up, they put him behind the microphone and the rest is history. Rock Your Baby became a worldwide hit and the song was the spark that lit the disco fire in the years to come. Shortly after this success George and Gwen McCrae made their only album as a duo, called Together (after some singles in the 1960s). The couple split in 1977.

Singer/pianist/clown Elton John has the honour to have recorded the worst song of all time (Nikita) and the only good album he made (The Thom Bell Sessions) was not released at the time, so I do not know where the idea came from to make a movie about his life and career, but to be honest, Rocketman was very enjoyable to watch. Mama Can’t Buy You Love from The Thom Bell Sessions is on the tracklist.

Tracklist:

Herbie Hancock – Sun Touch (1975)
Anita Baker – Sweet Love (1986)
Jeff Lorber – Don’t Say Yes (1984)
Woods Empire – Universal Love (1981)
Donna Summer – Bad Girls (1979)
Brian Bennett – It's A Crazy World (1976)
George & Gwen McCrae – Mechanical Body (1975)
June Millington – Right Time (1981)
Don Blackman – Heart's Desire (1982)
Paulinho Da Costa ‎– Love Till The End Of Time (1979)
Rodney Franklin – Endless Flight (1981)
Bobby Womack ‎– Across 110th Street (1973)
Michael Jackson – We’re Almost There (1975)
Lea Roberts – I’m Losing My Mind (1973)
Love Transfusion ‎– Stands To Reason (1975)
Side Effect – Always There (1976)
Four80East – Cinco Cinco Seis [Radio Edit] (2019)
Rose Royce – Do Your Dance [Eddy's Edit](1977)
Ohio Players – Love Roller Coaster (1976)
Elton John – Mama Can’t Buy You Love (1979)
Sneaker – Jaymes (1981)
Chicago – Old Days (1975)
Billy Preston – Will It Go Round in Circles (1973)
The Doobie Brothers – Listen To The Music (1972)
Paul Davis – Somebody’s Gettin’ To You (1981)
Pablo Cruise – Don't Let The Magic Disappear (1981)
Haim – Hallelujah (2019)

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