Song Of The Day: Sam Brown – Stop!

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Today’s SOTD has something in common with our previous SOTD like Sheriff’s “When I’m With You” English Singer-Songwriter Sam Brown’s “Stop!” found greater success on its re-release.
Initially released in 1988 “Stop!” Is the title track from Brown’s debut studio album. At that time, it managed a respectable if underwhelming number 52 on the UK Singles Chart
However, following its re-release in 1989, the song peaked at number four in the UK becoming Brown’s highest-charting single to date, spending 12 weeks on the chart. Global success followed.
“Stop!” topped the charts in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway, while reaching the top five in Australia, Austria, Finland, France, Ireland and Switzerland.

Chart (1988–1989)Peak position
Australia (ARIA)4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)2
France (SNEP)2
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)1
Ireland (IRMA)4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)16
Norway (VG-lista)1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)5
UK Singles (OCC)4
US Billboard Hot 10065
US Cash Box Top 10070
West Germany (Official German Charts)7

This delightful slab of Blue-Eyed Soul even managed to make an appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at No. 65

Sam’s continues to record but she hasn’t been able to match the global chart success of her debut single.

Song Of The Day: Sheriff – When I’m With You

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Today’s Song of the Day also qualifies as a true one hit wonder with a twist.

Canadian rock band Sheriff released their only album, the self-titled Sheriff in 1982. Nestled amongst the ten tracks was the charming power ballad “When I’m With You”. When the song was originally released back in 1982 they scored a Top 10 in their native Canada but only managed to get to No. 61 in the US in 1983. In 1989 after being championed by a Las Vegas DJ “When I’m with You” the single was re-released by Capitol Records and became an unexpected No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.

By then the band had already disbanded citing internal friction in the band.

If that wasn’t enough who could forget lead singer Freddy Curci’s high note at the end of the song. Reputedly the longest note held in rock history.

Today’s SOTD is “When I’m With You” by Sheriff

Jody Watley’s Billboard Hot 100 Playlist

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This past February 23 marked the 35th anniversary of Jody Watley’s eponymous debut album. From January 1987 to April 1988, Jody Watley spun off five singles in “Looking For a New Love” (US #2, US R&B #1, US Dance #1), “Still a Thrill” (US #77, US R&B #3, US Dance #8), “Don’t You Want Me” (US #6, US R&B #3, US Dance #1), “Some Kind of Lover” (US #10, US R&B #3, US Dance #1), and “Most of All” (US #60, US R&B #3, US Dance #1). It also earned Jody a well-deserved Grammy for Best New Artist. Though Jody has never landed a number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 she has had to date fourteen entries on the Billboard 100 including 3 Top 5 Hits in the aforementioned “Looking For a New Love”, “Real Love” (US #2) and “Everything” (US #4) from her second album, 1989’s Larger Than Life. An interesting factoid is that though it didn’t hit the Top 5 Jody’s collaboration with Eric B. & Rakim “Friends” (US #9) was Billboard Hot 100’s first top 10 with a rap act as a feature.

From her days with Shalamar to present Jody continues to personify talent and grit. Singer/Songwriter/Producer/Fashion Icon.

It feels like a good time to bless the blog with a Playlist of all 14 of Jody Watley’s Hot 100 entries in chronological order from her first “Looking For a New Love” to her last entry to date 1998’s “Off The Hook” from her Intimacy album.

AlbumYearTitleTrack Artist(s)Billboard Hot 100 Chart PeakWeeks on Hot 100Composer(s)
Jody Watley1987Looking For a New LoveJody Watley219Jody Watley & André Cymone
Jody Watley1987Still a ThrillJody Watley567Jody Watley & André Cymone
Jody Watley1987Don't You Want MeJody Watley623Jody Watley, D.P. Bryant & Franne Gold
Jody Watley1988Some Kind Of LoverJody Watley1017André Cymone / Jody Watley
Jody Watley1988Most of AllJody Watley6011Patrick Leonard / Gardner Cole
Larger Than Life1989Real LoveJody Watley218Jody Watley & André Cymone
Larger Than Life1989Friends (feat. Eric B. & Rakim)Jody Watleyfeaturing Eric B. & Rakim918Jody Watley, André Cymone / Eric B. / Rakim
Larger Than Life1989EverythingJody Watley423Gardner Cole & James Newton Howard
Larger Than Life1990Precious LoveJody Watley873Jody Watley & André Cymone / Pat DiNizio
Affairs Of The Heart1991I Want YouJody Watley6115André Cymone/Jody Watley
Affairs Of The Heart1992I'm The One You NeedJody Watley1917David Morales/Alec Shantzis/Jody Watley
Intimacy1993Your Love Keeps Working On MeJody Watley1002John Barnes/Robert White/Joey Diggs
The Day1996This Is for the Lover In YouBabyface featuring LL Cool J, Howard Hewett, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel620H. Hewett & D. Meyers
Flower1998Off the HookJody Watley7313Cassandra Lucas

Here then are all of Jody’s Billboard Hot 100 singles. Enjoy!

Q Magazine’s 10 Greatest Songs Of All Time Playlist

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In October 2006 venerable UK music magazine Q compiled a list of the 100 greatest sings of al time which was controversially topped by Oasis coming in at both number 1 and 2 on the survey and beating out such legends as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

For your listening pleasure here is a playkist of the Top 10 from number 10 to 1.

The Guardian’s 10 greatest UK No. 1 singles Playlist

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Here in the UK the Guardian newspaper has over the last six weeks been counting down their list of the 100 greatest UK number #1 aingles.
The countdown concluded today with the Pet Shop Boys landing the number one slot with their re-recorded version of West End Girls in 1985. The song topped the Official UK Singles Charts on 16 November 1985 spending two weeks at the chart summit and 17 weeks total on the survey. It is one of four UK number ones acheived by PSB. The song arguably remains the signature PSB tune.

The complete list can be viewed by clicking on the image:

Here is the top 10 for your listening pleasure:

Album Of The Day: Kindred The Family Soul – Surrender To Love

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Straight out of the city of brotherly love, Kindred the Family Soul — aka Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon — are a married duo that fronts a ten-piece band.

Surrender to Love is their debut album released in 2003. The album was a minor success at best peaking at #159 on the Billboard 200 and #29 on the Billboard R&B chart.

The album’s only official single was “Far Away”, which peaked at #53 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.

The modest chart success of the album is in no way indicative of the quality of the music contained on the album. Steeped in the DNA of 60’s and 70’s soul music the album is a thrilling mix of R&B, hip-hop, funk and pop.

The vocal interplay between Dantzler and Graydon is intimate and soothing and reflects the primary theme of the album; black love.

Running to 25 tracks the album might be slightly overlong but there are so many highlights on the album that it is never boring and doesn’t drag. It’s a fun, funky, sophisticated and mature album that explores all the facets of love and family and arguably one of the best R&B albums on 2003. This is one that is well worth checking out.

Song Of The Day: Change ‎– The Glow Of Love

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Glow of Love is a 1980 single and the title track from the debut album of Italian-American group R&B/dance group Change. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by Chic. Glow of Love features vocals from then newcomer Luther Vandross. Together with Lover’s Holiday and Searching, which also featured lead vocals by Vandross, the song spent nine weeks atop the Billboard US Dance Club Songs charts and a total of 13 weeks on the charts. Vandross’ sizzling vocal star turn on the single remains exciting and essential listening.

If you are unfamiliar with the song you might recognise it as the song sampled by Janet Jackson for her 2001 Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one “All For You” which introduced the song to a new generation of music lover.

A true post disco classic with a scintillating vocal performance by Luther Vandross. What’s not to like?

Check out the 12″ Long Version of Glow of Love from the recently released Everything and More: The Complete Collection (1980-2019).

 

Song Of The Day: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” – 4. Presto – “O Freunde, Nichit Diese Tone” (Ode To Joy)

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When I started this blog my main aim was to share my love of music. Not just Pop Music, Rock Music, R&B, Grind-core, New Wave, Country or whatever other genre. I have always been drawn to music without much consideration as to its genre. After all good music is good music regardless of any genre label that might attach to it. In keeping with that ethos the SOTD is one of the most famous pieces of Classical music. One that is both exhilarating and invigorating.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is the fourth movement of his 9th Symphony. Its the choral finale of the Symphony and the longest movement of the Symphony clocking in at approximately 25 minutes. It also is the the final complete symphony by Beethoven. One could argue that the perfection he achieved here could not have been bettered. As someone once described it Ode To Joy is like a burst of sunlight. One that stirs up a sense of hope that makes it one of the most enduring pieces of music no matter the genre.

The melodies in this movement are sublime and the cellos at the beginning of the theme are a thing of aural beauty.

This performance of the Ode To Joy is by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by André Cluytens as part of the first Stereo recordings of the complete Beethoven Symphonies between 1957-1960.

In these challenging times and as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth I can think of no better piece of music to be my Song of the Day.


A New Jack Swing Playlist

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The New Jack Swing sound was all conquering between the mid 80s to the early 1990s.

New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle.

The style originated from Janet Jackson’s third studio album, Control from 1986.

Here is another curated playlist celebrating thisonce inescapable sound which dominated the charts and the radio and what better way to start the playlist than with the group created by the aforemetioned Teddy Riley; the massively influential Guy and “Teddy’s Jam”.

Alternative Rock Playlist

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120 Minutes initially aired on MTV and then MTV2 from 1986 to 2000 and 2001 to 2003. The program was dedicated to promoting music videos from band in the alternative music genre. In honour of the show here’s a playlist of music that would have been prime candidates to feature in the show.