Guess what? Here’s a stack of records that will make you swing and sing.
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| September | Earth, Wind & Fire | “September” is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 Although several theories about the significance of the date have been suggested, the songwriter Maurice White claimed he simply chose the 21st due to how it sounded when sung. His wife, Marilyn White, however, claimed that September 21 was the due date of their son, Kahbran, according to lyricist Allee Willis. |
| This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) | The Isley Brothers | “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” is a Holland–Dozier–Holland song that was a hit for American musical group the Isley Brothers in January 1966 during their brief tenure on Motown’s Tamla label. Written by Motown’s main songwriting team Holland–Dozier–Holland alongside Sylvia Moy, “This Old Heart of Mine”, produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, was originally intended for The Supremes (who later recorded their own version for their 1966 album The Supremes A’ Go-Go). |
| You Keep Me Hangin’ On (The Almighty Remix) | The Supremes | You Keep Me Hangin’ On” is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, The song’s signature guitar part is said to have originated from a Morse code-like radio sound effect, typically used before a news announcement, heard by Lamont Dozier. Dozier collaborated with Brian and Eddie Holland to integrate the idea into a single. |
| You’re My One Weakness Girl | Street People | The Street People, led by Ray Dahrouge, active in the mid 70’s, consisted of brothers Roy Daniels and Milton Daniels, Thomas “Toot” Williams, Joe Gardner and Rick Johnson. Their most successful hit single is “You’re My One Weakness Girl” (1976). |
| Build Me Up Buttercup | The Foundations | The Foundations were a British soul band and the first multiracial group to have a number one hit in the UK in the 1960s. The group had a diverse ethnic mix but also diversity in ages and musical backgrounds. ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ was written by Mike D’Abo and Tony Macaulay. D’Abo was lead singer of Manfred Mann. David Essex, who was unknown at the time but went on to success with “Rock On,” was offered this song, but he turned it down as he didn’t like the title. |
| I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) | Four Tops | “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” is a 1965 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown’s main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, “I Can’t Help Myself” is one of the most well-known Motown recordings of the 1960s and among the decade’s biggest hits. |
| Hold Back The Night | The Trammps | The songwriters behind Hold Back the Night are Ron Baker, Norman Harris, and Earl Young. Hold Back the Night encourages listeners to confront their fears and persevere, making it an anthem for triumph over obstacles. The Trammps began in Philadelphia in 1972 featuring vocalist, Jimmy Ellis, Harold Doc Wade, Stanley Wade and Earl Young and traveled with as many as 11 members, culled from the ranks of the busiest and best musicians, many of whom also played for Gamble and Huff’s Philly International and later for Vince Montana’s Salsoul Orchestra. |
| I Love The Nightlife (Disco ’round) | Alicia Bridges | “I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)” is a popular disco song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Bridges in 1978. The original title of the resultant song: “Disco ‘Round”, became the subtitle under the main title “I Love the Nightlife” as producer Steve Buckingham considered it an R&B number and did not want it labeled disco. |
| A Night To Remember | Shalamar | “A Night to Remember” is a song by American R&B group Shalamar, released in 1982. The Shalamar recording is also famously associated with the introduction of the Moonwalk dance by Shalamar member Jeffrey Daniel on the UK music show Top of the Pops in June 1982, several months before Michael Jackson performed the move on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special. |
| Billie Jean | Michael Jackson | “Billie Jean” is a song performed, written and composed by American singer Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s performance of “Billie Jean” popularized the moonwalk. “Billie Jean” was inspired by letters Jackson received in 1981 from a woman claiming he was the father of one of her twins. |
| I’ll Be Around | The Spinners | “I’ll Be Around” is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as “Detroit Spinners” in the UK). It was co-written by Thom Bell and Phil Hurtt and produced by Bell. Recorded at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios, the house band MFSB provided the backing. They got their start in Detroit at Motown in 1961 but in the seventies created and came to define the smooth sound of Philadelphia Soul (Philly Soul). |
| I’m so glad that I am a woman | Love Unlimited | “I’m so glad that I am a woman” performed by “Love Unlimited” was written by Frank Wilson, Paul Politi & Barry White. Love Unlimited was a trio formed by sisters Glodean James and Linda James with Diane Taylor. They were successful both as backing group for Barry White as well as a group in their own right, best known for their 1972-hit Walking In The Rain With The One I Love. Not to be confused with Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece string-laden group formed originally by Barry White, who served as a backing unit for his music project (Barry White, the artist) and Love Unlimited. |
| Love’s Theme | The Love Unlimited Orchestra | In 1973, White created The Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece orchestral group to be used originally as a backing band for the girl-group Love Unlimited. It lacks his basso profundo growl, of course, but in every other way, the luscious “Love’s Theme” is the quintessential Barry White track. No other song comes close to its seamless blending of soul and easy listening pop. Who but Barry White could take the funkiest wah-wah guitar track this side of “Theme from Shaft” and not only place it next to the sort of creamy full orchestral arrangement that Ray Conniff spent a career on, but have the whole thing sound so natural and right? Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter on September 12, 1944, married Love Unlimited singer Glodean James and dedicated “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” to her. |
| Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe | Barry White | “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” was written, recorded, and produced by Barry White. Barry White fell in love in 1973 with Glodean James, who was one of the members of his Love Unlimited backing trio of singers. He wrote this song for her one night when he couldn’t get off to sleep. Barry and Glodean married in October 1974 and for a time were one of the best known couples in showbiz. The pair separated in 1988 but never divorced and remained good friends for the remainder of White’s life. |
| A Woman Needs Love (just like you do) | Raydio | A Woman Needs Love (just like you do) is written by Ray Parker Jr. as an antithetical answer to the earlier Raydio hit, “Jack and Jill,”. Raydio scored their first big hit in 1977 with “Jack and Jill”, written by Ray Parker Jr. from “Jack’s” perspective of being neglected, just as “A Woman Needs Love” is written from “Jill’s” perspective, as indicated by the lyrics, “by the time poor Jack returned up the hill, somebody else had been loving Jill.” In 1973, Ray Parker Jr. became a session musician in Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra. In 1977, Parker created the R&B group Raydio with Vincent Bonham, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael |
| Man! I Feel Like A Woman! | Shania Twain | “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain with lyrics about female empowerment and remains one of Twain’s biggest hits worldwide. Shania Twain wrote this song with her then-husband Robert John Lange, who 14 years later cheated on her with her best friend and eventually they swapped husbands and wife … |
| Girls just wanna have fun | Cindy Lauper | ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ is a girl power song written by Philadelphia singer/songwriter Robert Hazard Cindy Lauper wanted ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ to be an anthem for all women around the world and a sustaining message that they are powerful human beings. It became an anthem for female attitude and set fashion trends as the video showed Lauper wearing bright, outrageous clothes that looked like they came from a thrift store (they often did). It set the stage for artists like Madonna: independent women wearing cheap, yet fashionable clothes with a taste for garish accessories. Cindy Lauper is an unwavering advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. |
| Come on Eileen | Dexy’s Midnight Runners | This song is based on a true story. Eileen was a girl that Kevin Rowland grew up with. Their relationship became romantic when the pair were 13, and according to Rowland, it turned sexual a year or two later. Rowland was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy in church. Sex was a taboo subject, and considered “dirty” – something that fascinated him. The band’s name was inspired by the amphetamine drug Dexedrine, which is commonly known as “Dexys” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” borrowed from the rhythm of this song. |
| Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon | Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band | “Cherchez La Femme” (French for Seek the woman) is a song that was written and performed by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band with lead vocals by Cory Daye in 1976. August Darnell, stage named Kid Creole, is an American musician, singer and songwriter who co-founded Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band and subsequently formed and led Kid Creole and the Coconuts. |
| I’m a Wonderful Thing, Baby | Kid Creole & The Coconuts | “I’m a Wonderful Thing, Baby” is a 1982 song by Kid Creole and the Coconuts from their album Tropical Gangsters. It was the first single released from Tropical Gangsters and their first major hit. When he appeared on the BBC Breakfast news program on September 14, 2011, Kid Creole/August Darnell said he always liked to be the center of attention, which might make him sound extremely vain, but when he performed this song dressed in a yellow suit looking like the comic book character The Mask and boasting of his conquests, it was impossible to take him seriously, which was obviously the point. Darnel was nicknamed “Creole Kid” at high school and they called “Coconuts” caucasians with blond hair. Percussionist “Sugar Coated” Andy Hernandez helped create Kid Creole & The Coconuts and later worked with Hall and Oats, amongst many other artists. |
| Your Kiss Is On My List | Hall And Oats | “Kiss on My List” is a song by American duo Hall & Oates, written by Daryl Hall and Janna Allen. The song was written with the intention of Janna Allen, sister of Hall’s longtime girlfriend Sara Allen, singing it, as she was interested in starting a music career. Daryl Hall once stated he had no problem that Eddie Van Halen copied the synth part from ‘Kiss On My List’ and used it in ‘Jump.’. |
| Jump | Van Halen | “Jump” is a song written and performed by American rock band Van Halen in 1983. It is Van Halen’s most successful single, although it differs from other Van Halen songs in that it is driven by a keyboard line. |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
