PLAYLIST | Rose Alley Ale House | 7.1.11

9:30pm

The JB's - Same Beat (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

Bootsy Collins - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby

Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman

Curtis Mayfield - Tripping Out

De La Soul - Foolin'

Gang Starr - Mostly Tha Voice

10:00pm 

The Gap Band - Yearning For Your Love

Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

George Benson - Gonna Love You More

Toots and the Maytals - Time Tough

Peter Broggs - A Feeling

A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz (We've Got)

Busta Rhymes - Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check

Leon Haywood - I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You

Delegation - Oh Honey

Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further

A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime

MC Lyte - Georgy Porgy

Biggie - Juicy

The Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long

Michael Mcdonald - I Keep Forgettin'

Billy Squier - The Stroke

The Guess Who - These Eyes

Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

11:00pm

Common - The Light

De La Soul - All Good

A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It

Faze-O - Riding High

Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full

A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

Naughty by Nature - Hip Hop Horray

Erick Sermon - Music

Coolio - Fantastic Voyage

Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies

Kriss Kross - Jump

Naughty By Nature - Everything's Gonna Be Alright

LL Cool J - Doin It

Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance

Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love

Zapp & Roger - Cutie Pie

Bee Gees - Love You Inside Out

Ice Cube - You Know How We Do It

Biggie - Hypnotize

Dr Dre - Fuck Wit Dre Day

12:00am

Killer Mike - A.D.I.D.A.S.

Kanye West - Gold Digger

50 Cent - 21 Questons

De La Soul - Baby Phat

112 - Peaches and Cream

Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See

Ol' Dirty Bastard feat Kelis - Got Your Money

Dr Dre feat Snoop Dogg - The Next Episode

The Notorious B.I.G. ft Faith Evans - One More Chance Remix

Slum Village - Fall In Love

A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum

De La Soul - Ooooh

Nas - One Love

Lil Kim feat. 50 Cent - Magic Stick

Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be

Snoop Dogg ft Pharrell - Drop It Like Its Hot

Timbaland & Magoo - Luv 2 Luv U

Rick James - Mary Jane

Paperboy - Ditty

Punjabi MC - Beware Of The Boys

NORE - Nothin

Clipse ft Pharrell

Ron Browz Jim Jones ft Juelz Santana - Pop Champagne

1:00am 

Truth Hurts Ft. Rakim - Addictive

Erick Sermon - React

Missy Elliott - Work It - Clean

L.L. Cool J - Around the way girl

Soul 2 Soul - Back To Life

Teddy Riley - Rump Shaker

Bell Biv Devoe - I Thought it Was Me

House of Pain - Jump Around

Bel Biv DeVoe - Do Me!

Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two

Digital Underground - Kiss Me Back

Mary Jane Girls - In My House

Zapp & Roger - Doo Wa Ditty

De La Soul - Me Myself And I

Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love

Shannon - Let The Music Play

Wham!- Everything She Wants

Cameo - Word Up

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - White Lines

Newcleus - Jam On It

New Edition - Cool It Now

Stevie B - Spring Love

Tony Toni Tone - It Feels Good

Human League - Don't You Want Me Baby

The Jackson 5 - Shake Your Body Down

Tone Loc - Funky Cold Medina

D Train - You're the One for Me

Prince - Raspberry Beret

Stevie B - I Wanna Be the One

Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing

Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer 

END

Friday Funkdown | Kool & The Gang

Kool & The Gang was formed in 1964 in Jersey City, New Jersey.  Original members include Robert “Kool” Bell, brother Ronald Bell, George Brown, Robert Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Claydes Charles Smith and Rick Westfield.  Together, the band has sold over 70 million records.
They band was signed to De-Lite records in 1969 where they recorded their first album.  After some success on the Pop and R&B charts with their first few albums, the band found mainstream acceptance with the release of Wild and Peaceful, which included hits “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swingin”.  With the release of their next 2 albums Light of Worlds (1974) and Spirit of the Boogie (1975), Kool & The Gang reached the height of their success as a funk band.  Although their single “Summer Madness” gained much attention, the band decided to go in a different direction and test the up-and-coming pop-funk genre.
In 1979 James “J.T.” Taylor joined the group as their new lead singer.  His arrival lead to hits such as “Ladies Night”, “Celebration”, “Get Down On It” and “Joanna”.  “Fresh” and “Cherish” were both Top 20 hits on Emergency, which was released in 1984.
Since then, many of the original band members have retired, moved on to solo careers, or passed away.  However, Kool & The Gang is still touring with Robert and Ronald Bell as the only remaining original members.
Many hip hop artists have sampled Kool & The Gang, such as Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, NWA, Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Moon and EPMD.
My mom was a huge Kool & The Gang fan, with either Robert Bell or J.T. on vocals.  They are like 2 totally different bands depending on who is singing.  I prefer the older, funkier Kool & The Gang as opposed to the more pop/r&b group of the 80s.  Whatever your preference, Kool & The Gang will always get people out on the dance floor.

 

Friday Funkdown | Barry White

Barry Eugene White was born in Galveston, Texas in 1944.  His family eventually moved to South Central Los Angeles where he began playing piano at an early age.  White started gang banging with his brother Darryl and eventually was locked up for stealing over $30,000 worth of Cadillac tires.  While serving 4 months in jail he heard Elvis Presley sing “Now or Never” on the radio. That moment changed his life.


White began his music career in the 60s with several music groups.  His found success in 1972 when he produced the all female group Love Unlimited.  Their first album, From A Girls Point of View, We Bring to You… Love Unlimited sold over a million copies.

His solo career began in 1973 with singles “I’ve Got So Much To Give” and “I’m Gonna Give You Just a Little More Baby” which quickly soared to the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B chart.  Soon after, White recorded a number of hits including “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe”, “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up”, “What Am I Gonna Do With You” and “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me”.

Sadly, Barry White died in 2003 after struggling with obesity during most of his adult life.  He was posthumously inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Quite a few hip-hop artists such as N.W.A., Rodney O and Joe Cooley, Nas, O.C., Black Moon and CMW have sampled Barry White.

I was introduced to Barry White as a young child in Boston, MA.  My mom had an extensive record collection and I can distinctly remember the I’ve Got So Much To Give album cover, which I was lucky to inherit.  My favorite Barry White song is the unmistakable baby-maker “Playing Your Game, Baby”.  Big ups to my man Rory Pendergast, the biggest Barry White fan I know.

Friday Funkdown | GAP Band

The Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band was formed in 1967 in Tulsa Oklahoma by brothers Charlie, Robert and Ronnie Wilson.  They eventually shortened their name to the GAP Band.  Together, along with Ronnie Smith and Raymond Calhoun, the band is responsible for all time classics such as "Outstanding", "Burn Rubber On Me", "Humpin", "Yearning for your Love', "You Dropped a Bomb on Me", and "Party Train".  The GAP Band dominated the R&B charts from the late 70s into the early 80s.  Four of the bands nine albums went platinum plus, selling millions of records and 15 Top Ten R&B hits, and four #1 R&B hits.
The GAP Band’s unique combination of funk, quiet storm, r&b and soul has left a lasting impression on the music industry.  They have paved the way for r&b artists such as R. Kelly,  Blackstreet, Keith Sweat, Jagged Edge, Ruff Endz, Guy, II D Extreme, Mint Condition, and Aaron Hall.  The band has been sampled or covered by over 150 artists including 2^nd II None, Snoop Dogg, Paris, Nas, Ice Cube, Redman, and Kris Kross.  Outstanding remains one of the most sampled songs of all time.
I love the GAP Band, and so does Ma Dukes.  She introduced me to them over 30 years ago.  I can remember sliding around on the living room floor listening to "Oops Upside Your Head" and "Early in the Morning".  One of my all-time favorite r&b songs is "Seasons No Reason To Change".