There were so many good songs that the radio blog is a little longer this week than I had planned. I still had to leave out a few gems for now but I will find a way to fit them in a future radio blog. I will be back to share insights on each song. In the meantime, consider it great music to enjoy while having leftover turkey. 🙂
The Quiet Storm – Volume 2 (listen here!)
01 – Pieces of a Dream – “Warm Weather” from Pieces of a Dream (1981) – This breezy Pieces of a Dream song features Barbara Walker on lead vocals. It was written by Cynthia Biggs and Dexter Wansel.
02 – Martha Wash/Izora Armstead – “Taking Away Your Space” from Get the Feeling (1980) – In this sometimes unfair music world, Martha and Izora’s stars should shine much brighter than they do. I love their music.
03 – Quincy Jones – “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” from Sounds…And Stuff Like That!! (1978) – This instrumental was written by Herbie Hancock and he is featured on electric piano along with Hubert Laws on flute solo.
04 – Randy Crawford – “Now We May Begin” from Now We May Begin (1981) – This one of my favorite Randy Crawford songs and I loved hearing it on warm summer nights.
05 – Gene Dunlap – “Before You Break My Heart” from Capitol Rare, Vol. 2: Funky Notes from the West Coast (1981) – This song came from drummer Gene Dunlap’s It’s Just The Way I Feel album. It features the Ridgeway Sisters on vocals. Gene went to school with Earl Klugh and played drums in the 70’s with Earl before he embarked on a solo career.
06 – Jean Carn – “Love Don’t Love Nobody” from Closer Than Close: The Best of Jean Carn (1981) – Jean’s remake of The Spinners’ 1974 classic ballad was definitely one of my late night favorites.
07 – Norman Connors – “We Both Need Each Other” from Best of Norman Connors & Friends (1992) – This classic jam (1976) penned by Michael Henderson features Michael and Phyllis Hyman on lead vocals.
08 – Quincy Jones – “I’m Gonna Miss You in the Morning” from Sounds…And Stuff Like That!! (1978) – I had to go back to this album one more time just because I love it. This song features Patti Austin and Luther Vandross on the lead vocals. What a combination!
09 – Phyllis Hyman – “The Answer Is You” from Under Her Spell: Phyllis Hyman’s Greatest Hits – I love this song. Enough said. Oh wait, it also features Onaje Allan Gumbs on piano.
10 – Norman Connors – “This Is Your Life” from Best of Norman Connors & Friends (1992) – Eleanor Mills is featured on lead vocals on this song. Eleanor also provided those soaring background vocals on Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “You Are My Heaven.”
11 – Ronnie Laws – “Every Generation” from Capitol Rare: Funky Notes from the West Coast (1999) – This classic reminds me that I need get more music from the talented Laws family in my collection.
12 – Gladys Knight & The Pips – “Feel Like Makin’ Love” from Love Songs [Buddha] – I found this song on the Gladys Knight & The Pips compilation which was released earlier this year. I had never heard their rendition of this Roberta Flack classic but I loved it so it made a good fit for this radio blog. It was originally recorded on their 2nd Anniversary album in 1975.
13 – Deniece Williams – “If You Don’t Believe” from The Best of Deniece Williams: Gonna Take a Miracle (1976) – This gem came from her debut album This is Niecy which also featured her hit “Free.”
14 – Joe Sample – “Greener Grass” from Voices in the Rain (1981) – A mellow groove from a extraordinary keyboardist.
15 – The Jones Girls – “Who Can I Run To?” from The Best Of The Jones Girls (1979) – A classic jewel from one of their early albums. In 1976, The Jones Girls sang backup for Diana Ross. Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff heard them one evening and eventually signed them to Philadelphia International Records.
16 – Stephanie Mills – “Feel The Fire” from Best Of Stephanie Mills – Stephanie recorded this soulful tune on her Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’ album from 1978. Peabo Bryson wrote and originally recorded this song.
17 – Angela Bofill – “Under the Moon and Over the Sky” from The Definitive Collection (1979) – Angie penned this beautiful melody for her debut album, Angie. There was a time in the late 70’s when Angela Bofill and Phyllis Hyman were in heavy rotation on the airwaves.
18 – Patrice Rushen – “When I Found You” from Patrice (1978) – This is one of my favorite Patrice Rushen songs. I was recently reading through the liner notes and noticed that Syreeta Wright sang background vocals on this album.
19 – Grover Washington, Jr. – “Just the Two of Us” from Winelight (1980) – Bill Withers sings vocals on this Grover Washington classic groove. This song was quite popular.
20 – Minnie Riperton – “Give Me Time” from The Best Of Minnie Riperton – I knew I wanted to include a Minnie Riperton song but it was very difficult selecting a song. Her music set the standard to which other singers are still compared. I remember being on my front porch listening to the radio when they announced that she died. This perfect angel left us way too soon.
Enjoy your music!
James:
A major record company should hire you!! Well done!
Mark
This r.b. is incredible, man. How dare you pull out all of these people on me! I’ve bookmarked this. Keep it comin’!
i actually had to go dig out the deniece williams cd to listen….beautiful song.
Is there a way to buy Quiet Storm Vol. 2? I love this.