THE 158th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

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





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MAZE ft FRANKIE BEVERLY Part 5 (& final)

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

MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY Part 3

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.

It contained 2 Singles "Feel That You're Feelin' ( 67 US Pop and 7 US R&B) and "Timin' (55 US R&S).

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.

The 2 Single Releases were "Southern Girl" reaching Number 9 in US R&B Chart and " The Look in Your Eyes" reaching 29 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!

6 Live Tracks and 4 Studio Tracks were used, 3 of the Studio Tracks were released as singles with R&B Chart placings in Bracket's: "Running Away" (7)  "Before I Let Go" (13) and "We Need Love To Live" (29).

Chart Positions for the Album were 34 US Pop and 3 US R&B.

The Album is reguarded as one of the "Best" Live Albums of all time by an R&B Act, it is Rated alongside James Brown's 

"Live at The Apollo"

Download some Maze

"Inspiration"

"Joy and Pain"