Some Jamiroquai for the weekend

This week it’s the stylish and funky “cat in the hat” Jay Kay and his band Jamiroquai. This British band have been releasing jazz funk smooth funky tunes since 1992. They released their 8th studio album “Automaton” this week so the time seems apt to feature them.

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They’ve had 26 top 40 hits including 9 top 10s and 1 number 1 from 1992 to present. They had sold more than 35 million albums worldwide before the release of “Automaton” this week, which early reports indicate it is number one or two in album charts worldwide. They have also had great success with their live performances as their musicianship is excellent and fronted by Jay Kay’s funky dance moves and charismatic persona.

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I love Jamiroquai so it was hard to choose just two tracks, so I went for a classic disco track which is my favourite song of theirs, and then one which is lovely but wasn’t even on their albums!

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 “Little L” reached number 5 in 2001
(Uploaded to YouTube by JamiroquaiVEVO)

“Smile” was released in 2011 as a download which had not been on the last album. It is unclear whether it was available for the chart so it may have been lost! Anyway, it’s a lovely dreamy summer track which I thought I’d give an airing to!

(Uploaded to YouTube by Valter Kabas)

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Some Sade for the weekend

This week it’s two tracks from British band Sade, fronted by the very elegant and cool Sade Adu. They have released a string of multi-platinum selling albums.
The band is best known for its hits in the late eighties such as “Sweetest Taboo”, “Your Love is King” and “Smooth Operator”.
The tracks here are a bit later.

The first track is “No Ordinary Love”‘ from the 1992 album Love Deluxe. The single reached number 23 and then 14 on its re-release in 1993. This was probably due to its prominent use in the film “Indecent Proposal”. It won a Grammy for best R&B performance by a group or duo.
It’s one of my favourite Sade songs.
(Uploaded to YouTube by fantomurs)

“Soldier of Love” from the 2010 album of the same name. Sadly the single didn’t chart in the UK although the album made number 4. The album did make number 1 in America and other countries. Like “No Ordinary Love” this also won a Grammy for best R&B performance by a group or duo. The album was the second best selling album by a British artist outside the UK, behind Susan Boyle’s The Gift.
The sound of Soldier of Love is not the jazzy type of song we associate Sade with. It has a stripped back style to it but it is has a very appealing bleakness to it and Sade’s voice is great.
(Uploaded to YouTube by SadesSME’s channel)

Tribute to Rod Temperton

Well, this is sad, this week’s selection was going to be two from jazz/soul legend guitarist and singer George Benson, and as a side note I was going to mention the composer, Rod Temperton.

We have now had news that Rod Temperton has died aged just 66 of cancer. He wrote many, many hits, the most famous being for Michael Jackson. So sadly, this post is now a tribute to Cleethorpes born Temperton with extra tracks added.

The first two tracks are from Benson’s Quincy Jones produced 1980 album “Give Me The Night” which went platinum and won three Grammys.

Love X Love written by Temperton
(Uploaded to YouTube by Slayd5000)

Give Me The Night written by Temperton
(Uploaded to YouTube by Slayd5000)

Off The Wall written by Temperton for Michael Jackson from Jackson’s 1979 album of the same name. Interesting that its slightly spooky opening foreshadows Temperton’s Thriller which appeared three years later.
(Uploaded to YouTube by THIS IS A TASTY BURGER!)

The Groove Line (12″ version) by British group Heatwave, which Temperton was part of and which had other hits in the 70s such as Boogie Nights and Too Hot to Handle. The Groove Line written by Temperton is my favourite so here it is…
(Uploaded to YouTube by Slayd5000)

All Temperton’s songs had soul and class, RIP to an unassuming musical genius. 😪

Some Earth,Wind and Fire for the weekend

Deary me, barely another week goes by and we lose another veteran musician. This week it’s lead singer and founder of Earth,Wind and Fire, Maurice White who died yesterday aged 74.
He is seen here on lead vocals on both of these classic disco tunes.

“Let’s Groove” by Earth,Wind and Fire from 1981
(Uploaded to Youtube by EarthWindandFireVEVO)

“Boogie Wonderland” by Earth,Wind and Fire and The Emotions from 1979
(Uploaded to Youtube by EarthWindandFireVEVO)

RIP Maurice.

Some 80s cool jazz-funk for the weekend

This week it’s two cool jazz-funk tracks from 1981

First up, “Love Games” by Level 42
(Uploaded to Youtube by MagneticNorth71’s channel)

Next, “Nights Over Egypt” by The Jones Girls
(Uploaded to Youtube by Danny Whitfield)