FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 10

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I purchased on Vinyl many Years ago and also I have them on CD today.

You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

Number 10......ZOOM ......THE COMMODORES

Released in 1977 (their 5th Album) this was in my Opinion the Best Commodores Album Ever Released, strangely it was not Entitled "Zoom" in the US, but Self-Titled "Commodores" 


It contained the Great Soul Ballad "Easy" and the Great Funk Anthem "Brickhouse" but my Favorite Track on the Album (and of The Commodores) was "Zoom" I would like £5 for every time I have Played that Track!

Its One of my Favorite Tracks of All-Time, it reached Number 38 on the UK Pop Chart, but for some strange Reason it was never Released as a single in the US.


The Album was Number One in the US R&B Chart for a Total of 8 Weeks, it also was the Commodores First Album to get into the US Pop Chart Top 5, Reaching Number 3.


The Two Singles Released from the Album were "Easy" this got to the Top of the US R&B Chart, Number 4 on the US Billboard Top 100, it also Charted on the Top 40 Pop Chart in the UK at Number 9.

The Second Single was "Brickhouse" it reached Number 5 in US R&B Chart and it Reached Number 32 on the UK Pop Chart.


The Album was Written and Co-Produced by The Commodores, along with James Carmichael for the Motown Record Label, Track Listings as Follows:

A1 Squeeze The Fruit

A2 Funny Feelings    
A3 Heaven Knows   
A4 Zoom      
B1 Won't You Come Dance With Me       
B2 Brick House      
B3 Funky Situation        
B4 Patch It Up     

B5 Easy
     

The Commodores were made up of 6 Members including Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread, William King and Thomas McClary.


I Remember the Summer of '77, "Easy" was being Played continuously on the TV and Radio!


This was Probably the Last Commodores Album to Contain mainly Funk Tracks, after their Commercial Single Success around this period, Future Albums were made up with Mostly Ballads!


Download the Album Here!

Have a look at this Video, a Great Insight to all The Commodores and their Music!

THE NORTH SEA and GREAT MUSIC!

After picking up several Workers on the route to the Heliport at a Place Called Beccles, (which is about 15 Miles from where I was Living), we had Arrived!


It was still about 2 Hours to take-Off and still Dark, but we all had to go through a Safety Film and Talk, they tell you all about what to do if the Helicopter goes down in the North-Sea, that was Riveting, and I think it was about this time, I was wondering what I had got myself into! 


After about 2 Hours of sitting around and listening to someone tell you "How Not To Drown, if you Fall in the Sea" the Call came over
the Intercom, Please get your Lifejackets on and get ready for the Flight to "The Leman Field"


By this time I wouldn't say I was Scared, but I was about Half a Stone Less in Weight then when I first Arrived at the Heliport!

I remember going through all these different Checks, until we were moved to another part of the Heliport, we could now see in the Winter Day-Light (November 1983) the Helicopter's through the windows, they were Noisy as Hell!


Then we Finally got the word and we were walking over the Tarmac, towards the "Paraffin Budgie"


I Finally got on the Helicopter and to my seat, the First thing I always remember thinking "Christ, its Stinks in here" the Aviation Fuel was so Strong, you could Taste it!


So with the Terrible Smell and the Deafening Noise, it was something I would not recommend, but, I suppose now over 25 Years later, that aspect has no doubt improved! 

After what seemed Hours (probably only minutes) of just sitting there , looking out of the windows, we finally started to move, we moved right along the tarmac area and then back again, what the hell was going on! I thought.


Then we sat there again for ages, then suddenly, the Rotor Blades, seemed to go 10 times Quicker (and noisier), and we just went up in the Air!


It was Fantastic, I know I was not there for the Helicopter Ride (but, to go to work) but it was Marvelous, and all my Fears, just went, like that, the Sights down Below were Great!

I remember looking out of the windows, trying to spot a Landmark I knew, as we only about 15 Miles from my Town, and to my surprise in about 10 minutes we were actually over the Back-Way to our House, we backed on the a Large playing Field's, and I spotted them and in turn I see our House!


It turned out that the Helicopter's Flight Path, went from Beccles Heliport over to Great Yarmouth (near where we lived) and then out to the "Leman Gas Field" in the North Sea.


Next I could see was the  Seafront at Great Yarmouth and then just Sea for Miles and Miles!

As for Music in 1983, some Great 12" Singles were Released including "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie, "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, "Crazy" by the Manhattans, "Aint Nobody" by Rufus and Chaka Khan. My favorite out of those 4 , would be "Rufus"

I remember back then, I used to record my Vinyl onto Tape, to listen to through my Walkman, well I say Walkman, actually I never had one of those (could not afford one) I had a Cheaper Version, but I always had the "Rufus" Track back to Back with the Dennis Edwards  Track, "Don't Look Any Further" (which came out the following Year) Great Music!