Sly & The Family Stone's Seven Best Songs

Groundbreaking singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone died on Monday, June 9, following a prolonged battle with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other underlying health issues. He was 82. 

Sly was a true music visionary whose extraordinary gifts elevated him to superstardom. The funk pioneer was a key progenitor of psychedelic soul and the guiding force of Sly & The Family Stone, one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 20th century. Their sound was a dynamic fusion of rock, soul, gospel, pop, blues, and psychedelia. The band released some incredible music from the mid-'60s through the early ‘70s. And their shows were thrilling, transformative experiences for audiences. 

In honor of Sly, I’ve made up a list of my seven favorite Sly & The Family Stone tracks. Here’s the list in no particular order.

Dance To The Medley (1968)

Sly displayed his exceptional songwriting, production, and arrangement abilities on this exhilarating sonic odyssey. It’s broken into several sections, each one more amazing than the last. The track is a musical tour de force, featuring dizzying arrangements and impeccable musicianship from the band. It’s pure groove invention as only Sly & The Family Stone could do it.

Dance To The Medley at Amazon

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (1969)

Sly & The Family Stone blew the minds of music lovers everywhere with this innovative funk classic. Larry Graham introduced his famous slap-and-pop bass technique on this groundbreaking groove. The syncopation is insane, and the arrangement is next-level. This track set off a new era in funk music and inspired many bassists to start thumpin’ and pluckin’.

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) at Amazon

Everybody Is a Star (1969)

This majestic psychedelic-soul ballad showcases the band’s deep vocal talent. Sly, Freddie Stone, Larry Graham, and Rose Stone all deliver fantastic vocal performances. This is such a beautiful song, but sadly, underappreciated. Its message of equality and recognizing the inherent value of every individual still resonates today. 

Everybody Is a Star at Amazon

Sing a Simple Song (1968)

The funk level on this explosive track is off the charts. It’s pure fire from start to finish, featuring a superb arrangement. It’s one of the band’s signature songs, and Sly and his talented crew never failed to get audience members on their feet whenever they performed it live.

  

Sing a Simple Song at Amazon

Everyday People (1968)

This powerful plea for racial unity and peace is the perfect blend of soul, gospel, and pop. It showcases Sly’s remarkable ability to skillfully fuse genres. The song is brilliantly constructed and features a soul-stirring chorus. It’s one of the band’s biggest hits and is a timeless classic.

 

Everyday People at Amazon

If You Want Me To Stay (1973)

This track is an absolute gem. It’s beautifully arranged and performed and features a magnificent bass line. This bittersweet track has a soothing, soulful quality. There’s a hint of weariness in Sly’s impassioned vocals. It was one of his finest vocal performances–understated yet powerful. This sensational track stands up well after repeated plays.

 

  If You Want Me To Stay at Amazon

Thankful N’ Thoughtful (1973)

Sly counts his blessings on this introspective song. He expresses gratitude that he was able to overcome the destructive elements in his life, and he feels blessed that he has the opportunity to learn and grow from his mistakes. This is one of Sly’s most openly spiritual tracks, and his religious upbringing is apparent. Musically, the track is a great example of the band’s stripped-down post-Riot sound. It features a marvelous horn arrangement, cool wah-wah guitar licks, and some haunting funk-box beats (courtesy of the Maestro Rhythm King).

Thankful N' Thoughtful at Amazon

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Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

Review of Sly & The Family Stone's Fresh album

Review of Sly & The Family Stone's Stand!

"Pass The Peas" by The J.B.'s

The J.B.’s were one of the tightest funk crews in the game back in the day. They never failed to bring optimal groove goodness to their tracks. “Pass The Peas” was one of their biggest hits and a longtime favorite among funk lovers. This is deep down-home funk as only the J.B.’s could do it. It features a badass horn arrangement, dope bass, and a cold beat. Fred Wesley serves up a delectable ‘bone solo, and James Brown sweetens the groove with some soulful organ.

“Pass the Peas” was written by James Brown, John “Jabo” Starks, and Charles Bobbit. It was released in 1972 on Brown’s label, People Records, and included on the J.B.’s album Food For Thought. The song peaked at #29 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and #95 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Pass the Peas” has been sampled on 77 songs, including Eric B. & Rakim’s “I Ain’t No Joke,” Heavy D & the Boyz’s “The Overweight Lovers in the House,” De La Soul’s “Pass the Plugs” and MF Doom’s “Doomsday.” It has been featured on the soundtracks of the films Crooklyn (1994), Rush Hour 2 (2001), and Jerry Maguire (1996).

The full personnel for “Pass The Peas” was Fred Thomas (bass), Hearlon “Cheese” Martin (guitar), Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford (trumpet), John “Jabo” Starks (drums), James Brown (organ), Robert Coleman (guitar), Fred Wesley (trombone), Jimmy Parker (alto saxophone), Russel Crimes (trumpet), St. Clair Pinckney (tenor saxophone), vocals (the J.B.’s), spoken word introduction (Bobby Byrd and Bobby Roach). The song was produced and arranged by Brown.

James and the J.B.'s performing "Pass The Peas" live at The Apollo in 1972

"Pass The Peas" at Amazon

Related blog entries: 

"Doing It to Death" (aka "Gonna Have a Funky Good Time") Pts. 1 & 2 by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s

"Gimme Some More" by the J.B.'s

“Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones rocked into the ‘80s with a vengeance. After nearly two decades, the legendary British rock band continued to be a major force in the music industry and showed no signs of slowing down. They were still selling out huge stadiums worldwide and burning up the charts with hits like “Emotional Rescue” (1980) and “Start Me Up” (1981). 

“Start Me Up” is a thrilling rock anthem featuring the Stones’ classic sound. Keith Richards ignites the track with an electrifying guitar riff. Ronnie Wood plays a layered variation of the Richards’ main riff to give it some extra punch. Mick Jagger delivers an exhilarating, high-adrenaline vocal performance. Charlie Watts’ powerful drumming provides a strong foundation for the song, and Bill Wyman lays down a smashing bass line. The sexually charged lyrics are quintessential Stones.

“Start Me Up” was co-written by Jagger and Richards. It was originally a reggae song and had the working title “Never Stop.” It was first recorded in March 1975 during the Stones’ sessions for their album Black and Blue, but was put aside. It was later re-recorded with a completely different arrangement during the sessions for the Some Girls album in January and March of 1978. After many takes, the song was shelved. 

It resurfaced in 1981 when the Stones needed more material for their Tattoo You album. They looked through their archives to see if there were any forgotten tracks that they could use for the upcoming album. During the search, they found two takes of the song that had a more rock feel among the 70 or so reggae versions. The band refashioned it as a hard-rock song and retitled it “Start Me Up.” 

In an excerpt from Martin Elliott’s book The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions 1962–2012, Keith Richards discusses retrieving the song from the archives and how the band retooled it to be the rock classic that we know today: 

Nobody remembered cutting it. But we leapt on it again. We did a few overdubs on it, and it was like a gift, you know? One of the great luxuries of the Stones is we have an enormous, big can of stuff. I mean what anybody hears is just the tip of the iceberg, you know. And there is vaults of stuff. But you just have to have the patience and the time to actually sift through it.

“Start Me Up” was the lead single from the Stones’ album Tattoo You. The song was released on August 14, 1981. It was a huge hit, rising to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (where it remained for three weeks), and it sat atop Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks chart for 13 weeks, a record that stood for 13 years. The song peaked at #7 on the UK singles chart. Additionally, it topped the charts in Australia and made the top 10 in several other countries. 

Microsoft used “Start Me Up” in a big commercial campaign to launch its Windows 95 operating system. Microsoft paid the Stones a reported $3 million to use the song. This marked one of the first times that a hit song was used in a major marketing campaign, and it was the first TV ad for a Microsoft product. It was also the first time that the Stones permitted one of their songs to be used in an advertising campaign. 

“Start Me Up” was featured on the soundtracks for the films The Fan (1996) and Getting Even with Dad (1994). It was also played in the trailer for the 2024 film Transformers One. And it was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Karaoke Revolution Party, released in 2005. It has been sampled on six songs. 

Rolling Stone magazine ranked “Start Me Up” as the 8th Best Sports Anthem. Digital sports and entertainment news service Yardbarker included “Start Me Up” on its list of the 25 greatest stadium anthems of all time. The Stones performed the song during the Super Bowl XL Halftime Show on February 5, 2006.

The music video for “Start Me Up” was directed by filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who had directed groundbreaking videos for the Beatles, the Who, and the Rolling Stones in the ‘60s. The video is pretty simple and straightforward, but effective. It has the Stones performing the song against a black background with Jagger doing his signature jerky dance moves and wild facial expressions. “Start Me Up” was serendipitously released shortly after the launch of MTV. (It was launched on August 1, 1981.) The runners of the new 24-hour music channel were eager to air a professionally made video of a hit song by a legendary rock band. It was quickly put into heavy rotation on the channel. This helped the Stones reach a whole new audience of young listeners who may not have been familiar with the band’s earlier works from the ‘60s and ‘70s. So it was a big win for both MTV and the Stones. 

“Start Me Up” is the Stones’ biggest ‘80s hit and a longtime staple of their live shows. And it’s among the top rock anthems of the ‘80s.

The Stones performing "Start Me Up" at Roundhay Park in Leeds, England on July 25, 1982

Microsoft Windows 95 commercial with "Start Me Up"

"Start Me Up" at Amazon

Related blog entry: 5 Fantastic Covers of The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't No) Satisfaction"

“Get Off” by Foxy

Latin dance/disco outfit Foxy was formed in Hialeah, Florida, in 1976. They were the house band for the Miami-based disco label T.K. Records. The founding members were Ismael Angel Ledesma (lead vocals, guitar), Arnold Paseiro (bass), Charlie Murciano (keyboards), Richie Puente Jr. (percussion), and Joe Galdo (drums). Most of Foxy's members hailed from Cuba, with one from New York City. In addition to their house-band duties at T.K., the talented crew performed at various clubs to supplement their income. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1976. They released three subsequent studio albums and one live album before breaking up in 1980.

Foxy are best known for their 1978 disco smash “Get Off." The rousing, shamelessly libidinous party jam filled countless dancefloors back in the day. Paseiro's deliciously funky bass line drives this high-powered dance groove. And Galdo’s dynamic drumming keeps the funk factor high throughout the song. Ledesma serves up a killer talkbox solo on guitar and also ably handles lead vocals. Female vocal trio Wildflower’s spirited backing vocals significantly elevate the track’s excitement level and party vibe. The song also boasts an electrifying chorus.

“Get Off” was co-written by Ledesma and Carl Driggs, a vocalist and percussionist with Foxy. It was the title track from the band’s second album, Get Off (1978), released on Dash Records, a subsidiary of T.K. Productions, Inc. It topped Billboard's R&B singles chart, peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached #18 on Billboard’s dance chart.

“Get Off” has been sampled on 24 songs, including Beastie Boys' “Shake Your Rump,” 2 Live Crew’s “Take It Off,” and Stacey Q’s “Two of Hearts (Dance Mix).” It was featured on the soundtracks for the films Roll Bounce (2005), Set It Off (1996), and Celtic Pride (1996). It was also featured in the TV series Scandal (season 5, episode 15, 2016) and Shasta McNasty (season 1, episode 1, 1999).

In 1979, Foxy scored another hit with the bumpin’ track “Hot Number.” The song peaked at #4 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, and reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #26 on Billboard’s dance chart.

After Foxy disbanded in 1980, Ledesma returned to doing session work and producing tracks. He formed the dance-rock band OXO in 1983. He recruited guitarist Orlando Nuñez, bassist Frank Garcia, and drummer Freddy Alwag for the band. They had a top-30 hit with the pop-rock song "Whirly Girl," written and co-produced by Ledesma. It was released in February 1983 on Geffen Records. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. OXO broke up shortly after the song's release due to internal conflicts within the band and disputes between Geffen and management.

In 1986, Ledesma formed the Latin freestyle trio Company B. The group consisted of Lori L (Ledesma's wife), Charlotte McKinnon, and Susan Gonzalez Johnson. Ledesma wrote and produced their biggest hit, "Fascinated," which topped Billboard's dance chart and spent eight weeks in the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40, peaking at #21. The song also performed well on the charts in the Netherlands, reaching #2 on the Dutch Single Top 100. It's now regarded as a freestyle classic. Company B scored a few more hits on the dance charts. Ledesma produced and arranged all five of their albums. The trio has undergone a few personnel changes over the years. They released the club track "Let's Just Dance" in 2022. 

Ledesma also released two solo albums. He dropped his self-titled debut solo album on T.K. Records in 1979. The collection featured the seductive dance track "Don't Stop." The 12" release of the single charted at #39 on Billboard's dance chart. Ledesma released his second solo album, On This Corner, in 1986 on Geffen/Warner Bros. Records. Additionally, he played guitar on ABBA's 1979 song "Voulez-Vous," and he's credited on Miami Sound Machine's international hit "Bad Boy." Ledesma was also involved in several other music collaborations with notable artists such as Latimore and Fred Schneider. He's known professionally as Ish Ledesma.

Foxy performing "Get Off" at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile, 1980

Valerio Lazarov-directed music video of Foxy performing "Get Off" on the Spanish TV program Sumarísimo in 1978

"Get Off" at Amazon

“Happy Music” by The Blackbyrds

Acclaimed R&B/ jazz-funk outfit the Blackbyrds had one of their biggest hits with the exuberant “Happy Music.” The 1975 release lit up the airwaves and blessed the ears of music lovers across the U.S. The track boasts a dope rolling bass line, a funky beat, tight horn charts, and sweet keyboards. Legendary jazz man Donald Byrd contributes a wicked trumpet solo, and Orville Saunders’s exquisite guitar work significantly enhances the track’s breezy feel-good vibe. The band delivers smooth unison vocals, and they receive strong vocal support from renowned singer Merry Clayton, whose powerhouse pipes are brought to the forefront as the song closes out. 

“Happy Music” was written by Donald Byrd. It was a single from the Blackbyrds’ third studio album City Life (1975), produced by Byrd and released on the independent label Fantasy Records. The song peaked at #3 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, #6 on Billboard’s dance chart, and #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

City Life was the Blackbyrds’ most commercially successful album. It topped Billboard’s jazz album chart and peaked at #3 on Billboard’s R&B album chart and reached #16 on the Billboard 200. The RIAA has certified the album Gold in the U.S. with 500,000 copies sold. The collection also received high marks from music critics.

“Happy Music” has been sampled on 25 songs, including Grand Master Flash’s “Tear The Roof Off” and Jaz’s “Sign of the Crimes.”

The full personnel on “Happy Music” was Joe Hall (bass), Kevin Toney (keyboards), Orville Saunders (guitar), Stephen Johnson (saxophone), Keith Killgo (drums), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Ernie Watts (saxophone), George Bohannon (trombone), and Merry Clayton (vocals).

Happy Music at Amazon

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"Do It, Fluid" by The Blackbyrds

"Unfinished Business" by The Blackbyrds

Prince Performs Blackstreet's "No Diggity" in Concert

Candy Dulfer, Chance Howard, and Prince gettin' funky with it

Prince and the New Power Generation burned up the stage with a sleazy, gutbucket rendition of Blackstreet’s classic “No Diggity” during a stop on the Musicology Live 2004ever tour. The Purple One and his groove squadron were in top form, serving up that good, raw, uncut funk. This badass performance showcased the considerable talents of the NPG members. Keyboardist/vocalist Chance Howard delivered a smooth, soulful lead vocal performance complemented by saxophonist Candy Dulfer's sultry backing vocals. 

Rhonda Smith anchored the groove with a savage bass line, and John Blackwell raised the funk level to the stratosphere with his powerful drumming. The highlight of the performance was Mike Scott’s blistering, show-stopping guitar solo. And Prince looked like he was having a blast as he invited audience members onstage to work their backsides. The artist never scrimped on the funk, always bringing it in ample doses, both onstage and in the studio. The performance occurred on August 13, 2004, at Washington D.C.’s MCI Center.

The Musicology Live 2004ever tour was Prince’s most commercially successful tour. It drew 1.47 million people and earned $87.4 million. It consisted of 77 shows across 52 cities in the U.S. The Musicology album was also quite successful. It sold over two million copies and charted in the top ten in many countries. Additionally, the collection earned Prince two Grammy awards: Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (“Musicology”) and Best R&B Vocal Performance–Male (“Call My Name”).

Related blog entries:

Prince's Musicology Album Revisited

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“Funk Insurance (Bootification)” by RonKat Spearman

San Francisco-based music artist RonKat Spearman dropped the sublime groove “Funk Insurance (Bootification)” back in January. The track has a smooth, jazzy flow and is played with style and funky finesse. It features cold guitar licks, a sizzling beat, and some sick bass. Luke Sailor enhances the groove with his stellar keyboard work, and RonKat delivers a soulful lead vocal performance. Funk veteran and trombonist Greg Boyer is responsible for the killer horn arrangement. The horn players on the track are Boyer (trombone), Bennie Cowan (trumpet), and Eric Rohner (saxophone). RonKat wrote and produced the song and played bass, guitar, and drums. And guitarist John Cotto also contributes some nasty licks.

RonKat is a talented songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He’s co-written hits for noted music acts such as Jade and Klymaxx. He earned a Grammy nomination for co-writing Toni Braxton’s hit “I Belong To You.” The song also garnered him and co-writer Vassal Benford the BMI “Songwriter of the Year” Award. RonKat toured with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic for 10 years before focusing all his talents and creativity on his band KATDELIC. The band has been thrilling audiences across the Bay Area with its exhilarating amalgam of funk, rock, soul, hip-hop, and EDM. They were voted the two-time winner of “Best of the Bay” band in 2017 and 2019. The members of KATDELIC are Kirk Peterson (bass), Lisa Lynn-Preston (vocals, sax, dancer), John D. Cotto (guitar), Luke Sailor (keyboards), Jadyn Petterson-Rae (vocals, tambourine), Charles Spikes (guitar), and RonKat (guitar, keyboards, drums, bass, harmonica, percussion, lead, and backing vocals).

Ronkat released his fantastic new track “Believer” on March 21. It features an intoxicating groove and a positive message of standing up for what you believe in and living your truth. Visit RonKat’s website to learn more about him and KATDELIC as well as tour dates. 

KATDELIC's performance at UC Berkeley's radio station KALX on March 1. The set included "Funk Insurance (Bootfication)" and "Believer."

Official video for "Believer"

 

 "Funk Insurance (Bootification)" and "Believer" are available at Amazon

Related blog entries:

RonKat Spearman's Katdelic Ignites a New Funk Revolution Across The Bay Area

RonKat Spearman Serves Up Some Piping Hot Funk on "Funky Dance Transformer"

“Stay On Track” by Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes

Blues-rock outfit Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes released the inspirational anthem “Stay On Track” in November last year. The track features a gritty soul-drenched vocal performance from Mississippi-bred guitarist/singer Shelby Kemp (Royal Horses), winner of the 2024 Telluride Blues Challenge. Kemp brings equal shares of Chris Robinson and Joe Cocker swagger to his powerful Southern rock-flavored vocals. The Tamba Bay-based Galbraith sisters–Ashley (bass) and Taylor (drums)–provide a strong rhythm bedrock for this gutbucket gospel-laced track. Guest artist Chris Spies (Honey Island Swamp Band) serves up some fantastic keyboard work, while Kemp lets loose with his electrifying fretboard magic. Eddie Roberts (the New Mastersounds) keeps things raw and funky with some tight rhythm guitar licks.

“Stay on Track” is about pushing forward through tough times, remaining focused on your goals, and overcoming obstacles to finally get your due and achieve your dreams. The song was co-written by Shelby Kemp and Ceredig Benjamin Roberts. It was produced by Eddie Roberts and released on the Denver-based label Color Red Music, which he founded in 2018.

Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes was formed in 2023. The talented quartet first played together during a performance at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom’s 20th Anniversary party on January 20, 2023. They shared such tremendous chemistry that they decided to make playing together a regular thing. The band released their self-titled debut album on October 13, 2023. Their sound fuses the rich lyricism of acclaimed country greats such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and George Jones, with James Brown's dynamic, rhythm-powered thrust and topped off with some good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. 

The band has some tour dates coming up soon. Visit their website for upcoming tour info and updates on new music releases.

"Stay On Track" at Amazon

“When Will You Be Mine” by Average White Band

Average White Band were still releasing great uncut funk as the ‘70s were coming to a close. The acclaimed Scottish groove outfit never half-stepped when it came to funk, always serving it up straight with no chaser. The band released the funk gem “When Will You Be Mine” in 1979. It’s one of their most underappreciated tracks. The irresistible groove features percolating keyboards, sick guitar licks, and some nasty bass. Alan Gorrie delivers a marvelous lead vocal performance that’s complemented by Hamish Stuart's smooth backing vocals. Steve Ferrone’s super-tight drumming keeps the groove humming. The track is finely arranged and boasts a terrific chorus.

“When Will You Be Mine” was written by Gorrie and AWB. It was a single from the band’s seventh album Feel No Fret, released in 1979. The song peaked at #49 on the UK charts. The album also enjoyed some solid chart action, peaking at #32 on the Billboard 200 and #30 on Billboard’s R&B album chart. And the collection had an impressive showing on the UK album charts, peaking at #15. The album was produced by Average White Band.

“When Will You Be Mine” was sampled on Mark Ronson’s 2003 “She’s Got Me,” featuring Daniel Merriwether.

Here's Average White Band’s lineup for “When Will You Be Mine”: Alan Gorrie (guitar, lead vocals), Hamish Stuart (bass, backing vocals), Onnie McIntyre (guitar), Steve Ferrone (drums), Roger Ball (keyboards) and Malcolm Duncan (saxophone).

Average White Band are still going strong. They still record and tour, of course, with a few personnel changes from the original lineup.

AWB performing "When Will You Be Mine" on British television music show The Old Grey Whistle Test in October, 1978.

"When Will You Be Mine" at Amazon

Related blog entries:

Average White Band: Scotland's Funkiest Export

"Your Love Is a Miracle" by Average White Band

"I'm The One" by Average White Band

"School Boy Crush": Average White Band's Much-Sampled Classic That Forever Made Sleigh Bells Funky

Top Five Roy Ayers Songs

Influential vibraphonist, composer and jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers died on Tuesday, March 5, after a long illness. He was 84. “The Godfather of Neo-Soul” brought a wealth of great music and wonderful performances to the world. In honor of this multitalented artist, I made up a list of my top five Roy Ayers songs. Here’s the list in no particular order.

Freaky Deaky (1978)

Kenny Turman’s funky slap bass line drives this dynamic dance groove. The song features singers Sylvia Cox and Merry Clayton, who lit up the Rolling Stones’ classic “Gimme Shelter” with her soul-wrenching vocal performance. “Freaky Deaky” was a single from Ayers’ album Let’s Do It (1978). It peaked at #29 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. 

Freaky Deaky at Amazon

Everybody Loves The Sunshine (1976)

Roy Ayers caressed the airwaves with this majestic track back in 1976. The song is immaculately produced and arranged. It features luminous synths and an exquisite vocal performance from Debbie Darby (aka Chicas). Music magazine Pitchfork placed it at #72 on its “200 Greatest Songs of the 1970s” list. It’s the title track from Ayers’ album released on May 12, 1976. The collection performed well on the charts, peaking at #10 on Billboard’s R&B album chart and #51 on the Billboard 200. “Everybody Loves The Sunshine” has been sampled on 188 songs, including tracks by prominent artists such as Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Tupac Shakur, OutKast and Common. 

Everybody Loves The Sunshine at Amazon

Love Will Bring Us Back Together (1979)

There is so much groove goodness on this irresistible cut. Ayers’ serves up some marvelous keyboard work, particularly the funky clavinet parts. And he infuses his lead vocals with tons of smooth soul, nicely complemented by Carla Vaughn's strong backing vocals. William Allen anchors the track with a tasty bass line. “Love Will Bring Us Back Together” was the lead single from Ayers’ album Fever (1979). It peaked at #41 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. 

Love Will Bring Us Back Together at Amazon

Hot (1985)

Roy Ayers brought truckloads of funk to this dope groove. The track features cold guitar riffs, a wicked beat, and electrifying synth lines. And Ayers delivers a smokin’ vibraphone solo, which augments the funk level considerably. “Hot” was the second single from Ayers’ album You Might Be Surprised (1985). The song had a pretty strong showing on the charts, peaking at #20 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and #12 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart. It was famously played at the intro of Michael Jackson’s iconic “The Way You Make Me Feel” video, which first aired on October 31, 1987.

Hot at Amazon

Running Away (1977)

This smooth indelible groove had music lovers everywhere bobbin’ their heads and tapping their feet. It’s one of Roy Ayers’ best-known tracks, and it still gets a lot of play on classic R&B, jazz and soul stations. William Allen’s fantastic bass line is the funky nexus of this memorable groove, flawlessly linking all of the elements together. The track features a creative vocal arrangement, with vocals provided by Edwin Birdsong, Silvia Cox, Roy Ayers, and Marguerite Arthurton. Steve Cobb keeps the groove tight and deep in the pocket with his stellar drumming. And Chano O'Ferral's percussion work is topflight. “Running Away” is a single from Ayers’ 1977 album Lifeline. The song peaked at #19 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and #14 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart. It has been sampled on 34 songs, including tracks by noted music acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Big Daddy Kane, and Slick Rick.

Running Away at Amazon

“Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward

Singer Anita Ward's mesmerizing disco anthem “Ring My Bell” dominated the charts back in 1979, receiving tons of love from R&B, disco, and pop fans. It was also a huge club favorite. DJs kept this cut handy in case things got too dead at the club. Bumpin’ it was a surefire way to get folks back on the dance floor. The track is simply electric. It has a hypnotic flow, featuring a smoldering bass line, a powerful beat, and tight scratchin' guitar licks. And Ward delivers a captivating vocal performance. Her vocals are packed with passion and sultry soul. She receives strong vocal support from background singers Cheryl Bundy and Valerie Williams. Their haunting harmonies on the chorus elevate the track to maximum sonic bliss. Also, the song was one of the first to feature a Synare drum (an electronic synthesized drum). And the addition of a bell was the cherry on top of this irresistible track.

“Ring My Bell” was written by singer, songwriter, and producer Frederick Knight. The song was originally intended for 11-year-old R&B singer Stacey Lattisaw as a teenybopper song about kids talking on the telephone. Knight wrote the song intending to get Lattisaw to sign with his production company. When she signed with another label, Ward was asked to record the song instead. The song was reworked with a sexy grown-up theme and a hot dance beat. It’s about a woman welcoming her man home after a hard day at work. She invites him to ring her bell, a euphemism for sex. This playfully seductive invitation seems so sweet and quaint compared to the sexually explicit songs released today, i.e., Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s hit “WAP."

“Ring My Bell” was the second single from Ward’s debut album Songs of Love (1979), released on the independent label Juana Records (founded by Frederick Knight and Clinton Harris). The song was an instant smash, topping the pop, R&B and dance charts in the U.S. It also reached the top spot on the charts in the UK, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Israel, and Canada. And it made the top 10 in many other countries. The song has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. It also landed Ward a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1980 Grammy Awards. Additionally, “Ring My Bell” placed at #18 on Billboard magazine’s 2022 list of “The 60 Sexiest Songs of All Time.” 

“Ring My Bell” has been sampled on 56 songs and was featured on the soundtracks of several films, including The Book of Eli (2010), The Waterboy (1998), Corky Romano (2001), and Mystery Men (1999). It has also been featured in TV series such as Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (Season 1, episode 5 titled “Pieces of Man,” originally aired April 3, 2022); Doom Patrol (season 1, episode 5 titled “Paw Patrol,” originally aired March 15, 2019); The Good Place (season 4, episode 10, titled “You’ve Changed Man,” originally aired January 9, 2020); and Cold Case (season 2, episode 3, titled “Daniella,” originally aired October 17, 2004). The song is also featured on the video games Just Dance and Just Dance: Greatest Hits. Additionally, the significance of “Ring My Bell” to disco music's history is discussed in episode 3 of the 2024 PBS series Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution. 

The disco classic has been covered by a host of music artists, including Tori Amos, who puts her own unique stamp on it. And New Zealand-born Australian pop singer Collette scored a big hit with her 1989 cover of the song, which peaked at #5 on the Australian charts and #4 on the charts in New Zealand.

Anita Ward was born in Memphis, Tennessee on December 20, 1956. She was the eldest of five children and developed a love for music at an early age, particularly gospel music. Ward earned a degree in psychology at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. While a student there, she sang with the Rust College A Cappella Choir with Metropolitan Opera star Leontyne Price. Following graduation, Ward worked as a substitute teacher in the Memphis elementary school system, but her true calling was music. 

She began making moves to launch a music career. Her manager got her in contact with Frederick Knight, who had the 1972 hit “I’ve Been Lonely For So Long” to his credit. He produced a three-song session with Ward. He was so impressed with Ward’s abilities that the session expanded to an entire album’s worth of material. After the basic tracks for the album were completed, everyone agreed that it needed one more uptempo tune. Knight returned the next day with “Ring My Bell.” Ward wasn’t enthusiastic about the song, preferring ballads over disco music. But Knight insisted she record it because he knew it had the potential to become a big hit.

Ward's career would never again reach the massive level of success that she enjoyed during her “Ring My Bell” era. She experienced some major career setbacks that included contractual disputes with Knight, a serious car accident, and disco’s waning popularity. She had a minor hit with “Don’t Drop My Love,” released in 1979. It peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #52 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. And it rose to #26 on Billboard’s dance chart. Her subsequent recordings failed to gain any traction on the U.S. charts. Her 1989 single “Be My Baby” peaked at #164 in Australia, and a 1990 UK reissue of “Ring My Bell” reached #99 on the UK charts.

Ward still occasionally performs. On January 23, 2024, she performed “Ring My Bell” at the First Ladies of Disco Show, which also featured Janice-Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey and Thea Austin of Snap!

Anita Ward performing "Ring My Bell" on Dutch TV Show TopPop in 1979

A more recent performance of "Ring My Bell." Don't know the year, but really cool performance.

"Ring My Bell" available at Amazon