Over the Past Several Months I have been Featuring 11 Different Soul Singers in my "Who's The Greatest Soul Singer" Poll, there has been 335 Votes so Far, and if you are Not One of them Voter's, Please Vote Now! (over to your Right).
The Eleven Soul Singers are as Follows (Written in Order of the Poll, Top to Bottom), Press the Name's to see their Individual Post's I have Written on them, including Bio's and their Best Tracks:
Here's the 158th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, It follows on from my Last Post, concerning the Great Frankie Beverly & Maze, Its been Mixed by DJ Diva, it Features some Great Maze Tracks, including amongst others: Joy and Pain, Before I Let You Go, We Are One, Silky Soul, and Back In Stride. For a Full Track Listing and an In-Depth Feature on Frankie Beveley & Maze...........Go Here
In 1989, nearly 4 Years had passed since the Last "Maze" Studio Album (Cant Stop The Love) was Released, Maze had now Signed to Warner Records, and their First Release was entitled "Silky Soul"
It again Attained "Gold Status" with Chart Positions as Follows:
US Pop Number 37, US R&B Number 1 and in the UK Album Chart it Reached Number 45.
Three Single Releases saw "Cant Get Over You" (My Favorite) Reaching Number 1 in US R&B Chart, "Silky Soul" Getting to Number 4 and "Songs Of Love" getting to Number 37!
It was again, another 4 Years before the Next and Final Studio Album was Released by Maze, 1993 saw the Album "Back To Basics" Released, as usual just about all Tracks were Written by Frankie Beverly!
It Attained "Gold Status" with Chart Positions as Follows: US Pop Number 37 and US R&B Number 3.
3 Singles were Released, with US R&B Chart Positions in Brackets (The Best Track on the Album) "Laid Back Girl" (15), "The Morning After" (19) and Finally "What Goes Up" (32).
By this Last Album the Band Line-Up was as Follows:
Frankie Beverly....Lead Vocals, Synths, Percussion, Drums. Mckinley "Bug" Williams.....Background Vocals, Percussion. Roame Lowry....Background Vocals, Congas. Robin Duhe...Bass. Ron Smith..Lead Guitar. Billy "Shoes" Johnson..Drums. William Bryant...Keyboards. Phillip Woo... Keyboards
Still in the Band some 18 Years later are, of Course Frankie Beverley, Bug Williams and Roame Lowry!
In fact Maze are still Touring to this Day, they were at the "O2" in London , last April. On 31/12/2010 they are Performing in "Miami" and Next Year on 12 February, they are in Concert somewhere in "Texas"
A Few other "Maze" Releases over the the Years, are as follows:
1996... Anthology, which attained Gold Status 1998...Greatest Slow Jams 2004...Greatest Hits
On the 12" Single Front, Funnily enough "Joy and Pain" was never Originally Released as a "A Side" back in 1980, but over the Preceeding Years, its been Released several times in Differing forms, during 1981,1989, 1995, 2001 and 2007!
During 2003 Maze also Released a Recording on DVD from the 1994 Concerts, called "Live In London" I have this DVD, its Probably the Best Live Concert Dvd, I own!
If I had to say a Band or Singer I wished I had Seen in Concert over the Years that have Passed, I would Probably say "Maze"
Another thing concerning "Maze"....... I cant understand why they have Released so few Albums, since 1977, its only been 8 Studio Albums, not too Many!
An All Star Tribute Album (to Maze) was Released a couple of years ago, Featuring a lot of Big Name Artists, Check It Out!
Anyway they are still going Strong, so perhaps in the Future!
Checkout a Few Maze Videos DownLoad Some Maze Here Heres the Last 2 Albums
Here's the 64th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its a Frankie Beverly and Maze, there's some classic Tracks on here, Its called Frankie Final!
Check Out Web Page For Track Listings and Download.
Track Listing
Before I Let Go
The Look In Your Eyes (Live)
Running Away
Back In Stride
Laid Back Girl
Golden Time Of Day
Joy And Pain
We Are One
After The Morning After
Happy Feelin's
Can't Get Over You
I Wanna Thank You
While I'm Alone
Silky Soul Singer (tribute to Marvin Gaye)
Over the period of the next 2 Albums, Maze moved around the Country (USA) quite a bit (Recording Wise).
For 1979 Release "Inspiration" the Band moved to Louisiana to Record it, by this time "Maze" were known as "Album Sellers" rather than "Single Hitmakers" This and the next 2 Releases were all on Capitol Records.
The Album went "Gold" again and it reached Number 33 in US Pop Charts and Number 5 in US R&B Chart.
During most of 1980 Maze took a break from Touring, during this period they made a few Personnel Changes: Ron Smith replaced Wayne Thomas on Guitar, Billy Johnson replaced Ahaguna Sun on Drums and Phillip Woo replaced Kevin Burton on Keyboards.
The Band moved again, this time to Sausulito, just outside of "San Francisco" to Record the next Album, the Album was the Great "Joy and Pain" the Title cut is Probably "Maze's" Signature / Greatest Track and the Most Requested in Concerts, but it was never Released as a Single!
The Album again went Gold peakin' at 31 in US Pop Charts and reaching 5 in US R&B Chart.
During their time "Maze" have released 2 Live Recording's on Vinyl/CD, The First being in 1981, the Album entitled "Live In New Orleans" it as previous Albums went Gold.
It was Recorded at the "Saenger Theartre" in New Orleans on 15 November 1980, this Venue was chosen as a "Thank You" to the People of New Orleans, as this was where Maze's first Album a few years earlier had "Broken First"
Maze appeared here for several Shows, but the Album was Cut from 1 single show!
It was during this period, that Marvin Gaye (who by now Really likes the Music, Frankie Beverly was Producing) Paid off all of Raw Soul's Debts and brought then all new Equipment for the Tour!
Marvin Gaye also insisted in a Name Change for the Group,a couple of names considered were "Charisma and Karma" but they Settled on the following and Maze was Born!
The Album went Gold in US, Reaching Number 52 in US Pop Chart and Number 6 in US R&B Charts.
All the Songs were Written by Frankie Beverly and there were 2 Single Releases "While I'm Alone" and "Lady of Magic" the Chart Postions were as follows, US Pop 89 and 108 and US R&B 21 and 13!
One of the Better Soul Bands from the 70's & 80's was Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, they seemed to have a Bigger Following in UK than the US!
They Toured the UK several times, I unfornately never see them, the closest I got to seeing them was owning a DVD of theirs, "LIVE IN LONDON" Recorded in March of 1994, that is a Great DVD! Maze always had the Backing from plenty of Club and Radio DJ's in the UK, including one of the Biggest "Robbie Vincent"
Maze were formed in 1976 by Philadelphian Born, Songwriter, Producer, Arranger, Lead Singer, Guitarist & Keyboard Player, Frankie Beverly.
Maze was not his First attempt of forming a Band/Group, back in his Teens, F.B formed a Doo-Wop Group called "The Blenders" this was Short Lived and after they Split, F.B Formed a New Group Called "The Butlers" this was the First Band F.B Recorded with back in 1963!
As it later turned out "The Butlers" Sound did not Suit the "Philly Sound" so Frankie Beverly decided to Leave Philadelphia and Re-locate to San Francisco, California.
With a Name Change to "Raw Soul" around 1971, they had a couple of Releases on the Gregar Record Label, but without much Suceess, this was to change, when they were Seen Performing by either Marvin Gaye's Girlfriend or Sister in Law (depending on which Website you read, this also applies to when they Relocated & Changed the Name).
But what ever was right, it was during this period Marvin Gaye was using "Raw Soul" as his Opening Act, when Touring, it was also during this time that "Raw Soul" became The House Band in a Local Club in San Francisco called "The Scene"
It was Soon after this time that Maze signed for Capitol Records and the following year in 1977 , Maze Released their Debut Album.
A couple of Facts concerning Frankie Beverly, He was Born on 06/12/1946, making him now 63 Years of Age, and He was actually Called Howard Beverly at Birth, but Changed his name to "Frankie" after His Favorite Singer in the middle 1950's, Doo-Wop Singer "Frankie Lymon"
