Singing In The Morning – Ohio Players. Jokers be sleepin on the Ohio Players’ Westbound years. While they didn’t get that Skin Tight, Fire-level monster hit, they was severe. I’m still amazed they didn’t blow up more than they did. I mean, I know Junie went to P-Funk, but the OP’s was vicious when he was there. They were a funk band that could take it back to jazz at will. Especially with Billy Beck on the boards.
Hypnotize – Biggie
Follow the Leader – Eric B & Rakim
Jennifa Taught Me – De La Soul
Get Out of My Life, Woman – Butterfield Blues Band
Mosadi – The Crusaders. Another group jokers be sleepin on. Crusaders is that FIRE.
Why Do You Think They Call It Dope? – LL Cool J
4 Better Or 4 Worse – The Pharcyde
Amorous – Brides of Funkenstein
I Like What You’re Doing (To Me) – Young & Company
Glide – Pleasure
Sideways – Rufus & Chaka Khan
Capricorn – Cannonball Adderley
January 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Ecstasy is probably my favorite OP song (with Pain a close #2) the title song of the last LP of the Westbound years. It specifically takes me to a time in history when I was in the eight grade, playing on the Inglewood Warriors in the midget division of Inglewood Jr. All America football. It was actually my one and only year playing tackle football, and we practiced at Centinela Park. One day, as practice began, someone in the parking lot was playing it on the radio (guess it could have been an 8-track), and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Something about the piano solos!!
RE: Crusaders; due to my rehab, I am working through some old LPs. I guess I need an “lp to mp3″ turntable. I’m going to post images of all this album art. I have a couple of Crusaders LPs, and was in attendance at the Hollywood Bowl Labor Day weekend 1979, when the Crusaders headlined a jazz festival that has since morphed into the Playboy Jazz Fest. Street Life was number one, and you talk about rocking the house!! People know about the Crusaders.
January 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Ecstacy was that flame too. As you mention it, they’ve probably got enough songs for me to do a Westbound top 10. Got another challenge pressing, but I’m on that one soon.
Sometimes, mostly for musical purposes, I wish I was in your generation. I can’t even imagine what it was like seeing some of these acts when they were new. The Mothership? Seriously? That would’ve been it. But then, I would’ve had the opportunity to have seen James live too. That’s a hard act to follow even years later.
January 17th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Yo, wanna see someone get misty-eyed, ask someone “from my generation” if they attended the EWF Gratitude concert. Back then, bros got dressed to the 9’s on concert night. I was wearing a brown, pin-striped. three-piece suit, and the Forum was the place to be.