R&B/Soul

Jody Watley’s Billboard Hot 100 Playlist

Posted on by Brights

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!

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

Posted on by Brights

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

Posted on by Brights

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).