MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY Part 1

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 time went by "The Butlers" were spotted by Record Producer "Kenny Gamble" (before he went on to Produce with Leon Huff for Philadelphia International Records He was to Record & Produce Tracks for The Butlers.

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"

By 1976 Marvin Gaye persuaded Frankie Beverly to again Change the Name of the Band, this is when "Maze" were Born! 

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"

  Download some MAZE!

THE 47th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

 Here's the 47th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by Payback:Soul Funk & Jazz, there's some classic Old Soul Music Tracks on here, Its called Payback Volume 91!

Its features Artistes including some Al Green, Johnnie Taylor, & ZZ Hill!

Listen out for the Al Green Track, its a Pre Hi Track called Hotwire.

Payback Vol 91 March 2010 by Payback: Soul Funk & Jazz on Mixcloud

THE LANDLORD & MUSIC!

 Around the end of the Summertime of 1980,  Nathan was 2 Years old and Natalie was 6 Months old. It was around this time that our Landlord Died (from old age) and unfornately for us, his Wife did not want the Hassle of being a Landlord, so she passed the Ownership of the House over to their Daughter!

She as I remember was a Right Old Cow, I recall the one & only time we ever see her was when she came round & told us she wanted us out!

She brought her Son with her, I remember he thought he was some Hardman, at that time we were only Kids ourselves and with not too much Help or Backing from either Family, we had no Choice!

At that time there was not to much Help for Tenants either,  living in  Rented Accomodation from the Local Council and as we did'nt know a Arnold Schwarzenneger Character we had on Choice other than having  to start looking for somewhere else to live!

By this time I was back at the Smaller Branch of the Butcher's 

I worked for, but there was going to be a Change soon, the old Butcher was Leaving  and a New Younger Manager was coming to Work there!

As for the Music around this time, 2 Great Albums I brought were "Massterpiece" by Mass Production and "Chirpin'" by Cecil Parker, I still have both in my Loft!

Massterpiece was Mass Production's 5th out of 8 Albums they made from 1976 to 1983.

It had a Great Single released called "Shante" I had this on 7 in Single as well.


Download the Album Here! 

The Cecil Parker "Chipin" Album was he's only ever release as far as I know, it had a few Great Tracks on it, including, "What It Is" "Really Really Love You"& "I've Been Missing Your Lovin"

Download the Album Here!

THE 46th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

 Here's the 46th Mix for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by DJ Smooth Denali, there's some classic  Soul/Jazz Music Tracks on here, Its called R&B Classics Part 2 (The Coolout)!


Its features Artistes including some  Isley Brothers Roy Ayers, Al Green, Ronnie Laws, Bobby Caldwell & Donald Byrd!
Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

BARRY WHITE PART 5

 The late 70's and all the 80's were a Lean Time for Barry White, Musical Hit Wise.

His  Self-Produced  8th Studio Album for 20th Century Records in 1978 " The Man" was his Last Ever (apart from one, and that was 16 Years later) to get to the Top of the US R&B Chart!

This Studio  Album went Platinum in US, (reaching Number 1 in US R&B / Number 36 in US Pop & Number 45 in UK Pop Charts),  but again this would only happen once more in his Career and once again Barry White had to wait 16 more years for that!

It featured 3 Single releases, " Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" (number 2 in US R&B Chart) " Just the Way You Are" (number12 in UK Pop Chart only) Written By Billy Joel, and finally "Sha La La means I Love You" which failed to Chart anywhere apart from in the UK Pop Chart at a Lowly Number 55!

In fact after this Single, Barry White never Charted again (apart from US R&B Chart) until 1987 with "Sho You Right"

This Album was also his Last UK Hit Album, until 1987!

One of the Better Tracks on the Album was the Jimmy &Vella Cameron Penned " Its Only Love Doing Its Thing" this some 11 years later in 1989 would be a Hit Single for "Simply Red"

By 1979 Barry White was Dissatisfied with the Management at his Record Label "20th Century" so this Self-Produced Album " I Love To Sing The Songs I Sing" was his Last!

It contained 2 Singles " I Love To Sing" & "How Did You Know It Was Me" they only Charted in US R&B Charts at Numbers 53 & 64!

In fact this Album was Barry Whites least Succesful Album for 20th Century, it reached only Numbers 132 & 40 in US Pop & R&B Charts, also BW only Co-Wrote on 4 of the Tracks!

1979 saw another Self -Produced Barry White (10th) Release, " The Message Is Love" his First after leaving 20th Century, it was on his own "Unlimited Gold" Record Label (through CBS).

Barry White had hoped a Change of Record Labels etc , would Enhance his Flagging Career, but after Disapointing Sales, the opposite happened, although the Album did Achieve Gold Status, it failed to make High Chart positions, it reached Number 67 in US Pop & Number 24 in US R&B Charts, it Failed to Chart in UK!

The Album contained 2 Singles "Any Fool Can See" and "It Ain't Love, Babe" neither reaching the Top 30 in US.

1980 saw the release of "Sheet Music" once again a Self-Produced Album on his own Label, again very poor Sales for the Album & all 3 Singles, "Sheet Music " Love Makin' Music " I Believe In Love" Apart from the Album getting to Number 19 in US R&B Chart, the Album & singles failed to reach the Top 20 in any other Chart in US & UK!

Barry White's Slump continued through-out the 80's, He finally signed to A&M Records in 1987, but still had to wait until the 1991 Single "Put Me In Your Mix" to have a Hit Single again,  it reached Number 2 in US R&B Chart!

DOWNLOAD SOME BARRY WHITE!