Bob James - Sign Of The Times (1981)

For Sign Of The Times, his tenth contemporary jazz release, Bob James brought in the multi-talented Rod Temperton (he of Quincy Jones, James Ingram and Michael Jackson fame), and an all-star vocal cast including Patti Austin, Lani Groves, Major Holley, Valerie Simpson, Luther Vandross, and many others.
Hypnotique opens the album, built largely around a afro-centric percussion with some tribal background vocals punctuated by an  interlude of thick synthesizer grooves on the choruses. That Steamin' Feelin' is one of the strongest numbers on the album; a foot stomping jazz-funk stepper based on Temperton's trademark bluesy jazz-funk melodies played through beautifully arranged layers of synthesizers. Enchanted Forest showcases James basically being himself, yet the melodicism of the composition itself grows yet more complex from his already elaborate compositions.
Unicorn is a nine minute piece, with a strong latin percussion flavour that's juxtaposed by a melodic sax solo by Jay Beckenstein of Spyro Gyra and glittering electronic synthesizers. Love Power concludes the album on a slow grooving funk note featuring primarily the vocal talents of Vandross and a lean, mean bass line.
And last but by no means least, the title track is a favorite of mine; another classic Temperton number featuring Simpson, Austin and Vandross on some wonderfully eccentric harmonic vocals along with the swinging jazz fanfare on the refrains. As well as being a fine song in its own right, it has been immortalised by being sample by De La Soul in 1991's Keeping The Faith, and most famously by Warren G and Nate Dogg in the 1994 track Regulate.


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James Brown - Living In America (1985)

Living in America was composed by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight and performed by James Brown; it was released as a single in 1985 and reached no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song entered the Billboard Top 40 on January 11, 1986, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks. It also became a top five hit in the UK, peaking at no. 5 on the UK Singles Chart; his only top 10 single in the UK. It was his first Top 40 hit in ten years in the US, and it would also be his last. In 1986, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and won Brown a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

The song was of course prominently featured in the film Rocky IV. In the film, Brown sings the song before Apollo Creed enters the boxing ring, in reference to the character's patriotism. The single version appeared on the Rocky IV soundtrack album, with the full 5 minute 58 second version of the song being included on Brown's 1986 album, Gravity, and on various compilations throughout the 1990s. Live performances of the song appear on the albums Soul Session Live and Live at the Apollo 1995. 

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Commodores - Machine Gun (1974)

The Commodores formed as freshmen in Tuskegee University, Alabama, in 1968. They signed to Motown in 1972, starting with a support stint for the Jackson 5 on tour. They started recording their own material in 1974 in a career that lasted to early 90's and have sold in total over 75 million records. Their peak years commercially were in the late 70's with ballads like Easy, Still and Three Times a Lady that also defined the style of Lionel Richie's solo career. But before the more mainstream material, they had a very different sound, as they were known for funk numbers like Brick House, The Bump and today's track, Machine Gun.

It was the first single release from debut studio album of the same name by The Commodores, released on July 22, 1974, on Motown Records.

The famous clavinet sound is by Milan Williams, which led Berry Gordy to name the song Machine Gun as it apparently reminded him of gunfire. The song peaked at no.7 on the R&B charts, while reaching no.22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Samples from the song have been used prominently by the Beastie Boys in their 1989 song Hey Ladies, and the song itself was featured on the soundtrack for the 1997 film Boogie Nights.

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Weeks And Co. - Rock Your World (1981)

When most people here the name Weeks & Co, Rock Your World automatically comes to mind. It's become a landmark song in the field of disco and house music. With it's 1981 release came success as it debuted on the US black singles charts in 1981 at no.75 and stayed in the chart for for seven weeks. Unusual for a disco-soul song to make the charts at that point, seeing as disco was on the wane, but this one deserved it. It's jazzy, up-beat tempo coupled with Richie Weeks' hot vocals make this a great listen.

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Loleatta Holloway - Hit & Run (1977)

From the 1977 album Loleatta (not to be confused with the 1973 album of the same name). While Love Sensation is probably the first song title that trips off the lips of most people that are asked to name a Loleatta Holloway song, its gems like Hit & Run that help cement her legend and pave the way for her later success. It reached no.11 on the Billboard Dance chart in the same year.

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