The Trammps – “Disco Inferno” (1978)
“Disco Inferno” burned up the clubs in 1976 but missed the pop Top 40. A year later, it lit up the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, leading to a 1978 reissue. This time – huge pop success on its way to becoming a bona fide classic. 🔥
The late Jimmy Ellis of The Trammps was born on this date in 1937. A few of his band’s songs are included on today’s playlist.
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My Buffalo Stance is this:
Celebrating Neneh Cherry’s birthday today on the playlist.
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Inspired by an unhoused woman who would sing gospel songs in front of a Washington, DC hotel, the familiar refrain of “la da dee la da da” in Crystal Waters’ “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” was meant as a temporary placeholder until the real lyrics were written. Here’s to writers block! Crystal Waters was born on this date in 1961. A couple of her tracks are included on today’s playlist.
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Norma Jean Wright, who sang lead vocals on Chic’s first smash single “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah),” was born on this date in 1956 in Ripley, Tennessee, which is not far from the town of Nutbush, from where Tina Turner hails. Wright’s dad attended the same church as Tina. Besides her work with Chic, most notably on the aforementioned single and its follow-up, “Everybody Dance,” Wright has released solo records and sang backup on albums by Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Luther Vandross (who sings backup on “Dance, Dance, Dance”) and Sister Sledge.
Tunes du Jour celebrates the birthday of Norma Jean Wright with a playlist that includes her two biggest hits with Chic.
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Today’s playlist includes a couple of songs by K.C. & the Sunshine Band, whose leader celebrates a birthday today.
Not all records classified as Philly Soul come from Philadelphia-based artists, though all share characteristics – orchestral string arrangements married to rhythm and blues with a funk influence that bridged the way toward disco. Here are thirty examples of the genre, with the songwriting-production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff working on the lion’s share of these releases.
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Inspired by the November 25 birthdays of Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan, Jocelyn Brown, Percy Sledge, Stacy Lattisaw, Bob Lind, Lighthouse Family’s Tunde Baiyewu and EPMD’s Erick Sermon.
Today’s playlist is inspired by the February 11 birthdays of Sheryl Crow, D’Angelo, First Choice’s Rochelle Fleming, Gene Vincent, Brandy, Sergio Mendes, Bobby Pickett, Leon Haywood, City Girls’ Yung Miami, and Gerry Goffin (former songwriting partner and husband of Carole King).