jan 28
hr 1

new n nice
robert glasper / lalah hathaway – cherish the day (bluenote)

chic – chic cheer (atlantic)
jai – undeniable love (fania)
jacksons – your ways (epic)

fresh n firin
conya doss – dont change (white)

james brown – get on the good foot (polydor)
tuomo – dont take it too hard (jupiter)
mo & grazz – some things never change (expansions)

new n nice
stubbs girls – im dreamin (crew records)

the impressions – cant satisfy (universal)
res – ice king (mca)
a j thomas – the 1, 2 (abb)

hr 2
fresh n firin
vic lavender / nicole mitchell – betcha wouldnt hurt me (sophisticado)

aretha franklin – i say a little prayer (atlantic)
gregory porter – on my way to harlem (motema)
esperanza spalding – i cant help it (white)
alexander hope – big mistake (west end)
emile sande – climbing mountains (white)

70’s platform soul
barry white – ecstasy (mercury)

jiva – confessions of a man (giant step)
ivy chanel – wind blows (brownswood)
cleveland / ahmed – sensitive (brownswood)
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {mike dunn remix} (dome)

hr 3
micheal jackson – rock with you {afro brazil remix} (epic)
marie st james – closer i get (yoruba)

new n nice
robert glasper / musiq / chrisette michelle – ah yeah (bluenote)

o jays – for the love of money (phil int)
rad – private room (soulciety)
lynden david hall – do i qualify (emi)
gladys knight – the nitty gritty (motown)

90’s neck nudger
donnell jones – u know whats up (arista)

jiva – swept away (giant step)
carl thomas – i wish (bad boy)
dawn tallman – u turn {josh milan mix} (diva down ent)

smoochie zone
george benson – nature boy (warners)
otis redding – try a little tenderness (atlantic)

jan 21

hr 1
fresh n firin
vic lavender / nicole mitchell – betcha wouldnt hurt me (sophisticado)

michael jackson – remember the time {remix} (epic)
etta james – in the basement (chess)
esparanza spalding – i cant help it (white)

rare groove room
equals – funky like a train (polygram)

quantic / alice russell – look around (tru thoughts)
jon b – right here (sanctuary)
reel people ft imaani- amazing (papa)

new n nice
robert glasper / musiq / chrisette michelle – ah yeah (bluenote)

donna summer – i feel love {maw remix} (mercury)
eric benet – why you follow me (warners)

hr 2
fresh n firin
dawn tallman – u turn {josh milan mix} (diva down ent)

harold melvin & the bluenotes – be for real {remix} (phil int)
applejac / romana – de ja vu (white)

rare groove room
flowers – for real (goldmine)

joyce sims  – come into my life (sleeping bag)
donny hathaway – love, love, love (atlantic)
corinne bailey rae – like a star (emi)

rare groove room
curtis anderson – the hardest part (goldmine)

aretha franklin – it only happens (atlantic)
cee lo green – old fashioned (warners)
india aire – wonderful (motown)
ola – sanctuary (rugged ram)

hr 3
new n nice
esperanza spalding – black gold (white)

glenn jones – keep on doin (rca)
beyonce – fever (sony)
bobby v – slowdown (def jam)
jimmy castor – hey leroy (ace)

rare groove room
bobby womack / june yamagashi – give this love (meldac)

j c brooks – to love someone (addenda)
brand new heavies – dont let it go (ffrr)
ben e king – supernatural thing (atlantic)

soul salute
etta james – at last (chess)

john legend – ordinary people (sony)
amy winehouse – half time (universal)
maxwell – ascension (sony)

jan 14

hr 1
danay {4hero remix Ft carina} – think twice (brownswood)
barrie k sharpe – masterplan  (ffrr)
dimitri – outro lugo  (white)

jamiroquai – smile  (white)
diana ross -  love hangover  (motown)
ed motta – garota de ipanema  (universal)

d’angelo - cruisin (carl mcIntosh remix)  (emi)
leroy burgess – doin´me tonight (sed soul)
n’dambi  -  can’t hardly wait (stax)
c & c music factory – share that beat of love {remix} (sony)

hr 2
simon grey – the galactica suite {domu remix} (tru thoughts)
diana ross – touch me in the morning (motown)
antônio carlos jobim – samba de uma nota so (mercury)

maze ft frankie beverly - joy & pain (capitol)
al jarreau – double face (expansion)
raw silk - do it to the music {remix} (west end)

r kelly – when a woman loves (jive)
beverley knight – one more try (hurricane)
jodeci – feenin’  (mca)
luther vandross - house is not a home {live} (sony)

hr 3
mr ali –  rainy day  (white)
the o’jays - use ta be my girl (phil int)
antônio carlos jobim – so tinha de ser com voce  (mercury)

breakestra - come on over (strut)
roy ayers – running away (polydor)
shalamar – make that move (solar)

harold melvin & the blue notes – the love i lost (phil int)
jocelyn brown / richard earnshaw - worthy (groovefinder)
antônio carlos jobim - agua de beber (mercury)

oleta adams – hold me for a while (fontana)
joss stone – for the love of you (relentless)

jan 7

hr 1
james brown orchestra – tighten up (universal)
betty wright – old songs ( s curve)
lenny kravitz – sunflower (road runner)

fresh n firin
jai veda – undeniable love (fania)

marvelettes – here i am (motown)
amy winehouse – half time (universal)
jazzanova – behold these eyes (stereo deluxe)
melisa morgan – still in love (maw mix)

new n nice
michael kiwanuka – tell me a tale (white)

ola – great expectations (white)

hr 2
sade – your love is king (sony)
june yamagishi / bobby womack – give this love (meldac)
beyonce – love on top (sony)

fresh n firin
eddie palmeri – mi congo te llama {remix} (fania)

marsha ambrosius – butterflies {remix} (sony)
quincy jones – summer in the city (universal)
jill scott – lovely day (hidden beach)

new n nice
lenny kravitz – life aint ever been better {remix} (road runner)

syleena johnson – little things (shanachie)
alexander o neal – if you were here tonight (tabu)
andreya triana – lost where i belong {remix} (stereo deluxe)

hr 3
ola – let love alone (white)
janelle monae – tightrope (elektra)
zo ft eric roberson – marzipan (white)
omar ft jtq – after the storm (dome)

new n nice
milan ring – pay day (white)

john legend – rollin in the deep (white)
maysa – special place (shanachie)
liquid deep – angel {saint remix} (tribe)
freddie jackson – rock me tonight (capitol)
marvin gaye – sexual healing (sony)

smoochie zone
zo ft phonte & sy smith – black cow (white)
robert glasper ft musiq & chrisette michelle – ah yeah (bluenote)

2012
jan 28
hr 1

new n nice
robert glasper / lalah hathaway – cherish the day (bluenote)

chic – chic cheer (atlantic)
jai – undeniable love (fania)
jacksons – your ways (epic)

fresh n firin
conya doss – dont change (white)

james brown – get on the good foot (polydor)
tuomo – dont take it too hard (jupiter)
mo & grazz – some things never change (expansions)

new n nice
stubbs girls – im dreamin (crew records)

the impressions – cant satisfy (universal)
res – ice king (mca)
a j thomas – the 1, 2 (abb)

hr 2
fresh n firin
vic lavender / nicole mitchell – betcha wouldnt hurt me (sophisticado)

aretha franklin – i say a little prayer (atlantic)
gregory porter – on my way to harlem (motema)
esperanza spalding – i cant help it (white)
alexander hope – big mistake (west end)
emile sande – climbing mountains (white)

70’s platform soul
barry white – ecstasy (mercury)

jiva – confessions of a man (giant step)
ivy chanel – wind blows (brownswood)
cleveland / ahmed – sensitive (brownswood)
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {mike dunn remix} (dome)

hr 3
micheal jackson – rock with you {afro brazil remix} (epic)
marie st james – closer i get (yoruba)

new n nice
robert glasper / musiq / chrisette michelle – ah yeah (bluenote)

o jays – for the love of money (phil int)
rad – private room (soulciety)
lynden david hall – do i qualify (emi)
gladys knight – the nitty gritty (motown)

90’s neck nudger
donnell jones – u know whats up (arista)

jiva – swept away (giant step)
carl thomas – i wish (bad boy)
dawn tallman – u turn {josh milan mix} (diva down ent)

smoochie zone
george benson – nature boy (warners)
otis redding – try a little tenderness (atlantic)

jan 21

hr 1
fresh n firin
vic lavender / nicole mitchell – betcha wouldnt hurt me (sophisticated)

michael jackson – remember the time {remix} (epic)
etta james – in the basement (chess)
esparanza spalding – i cant help it (white)

rare groove room
equals – funky like a train (polygram)

quantic / alice russell – look around (tru thoughts)
jon b – right here (sanctuary)
reel people ft imaani- amazing (papa)

new n nice
robert glasper / musiq / chrisette michelle – ah yeah (bluenote)

donna summer – i feel love {maw remix} (mercury)
eric benet – why you follow me (warners)

hr 2
fresh n firin
dawn tallman – u turn {josh milan mix} (diva down ent)

harold melvin & the bluenotes – be for real {remix} (phil int)
applejac / romana – de ja vu (white)

rare groove room
flowers – for real (goldmine)

joyce sims  – come into my life (sleeping bag)
donny hathaway – love, love, love (atlantic)
corinne bailey rae – like a star (emi)

rare groove room
curtis anderson – the hardest part (goldmine)

aretha franklin – it only happens (atlantic)
cee lo green – old fashioned (warners)
india aire – wonderful (motown)
ola – sanctuary (rugged ram)

hr 3
new n nice
esperanza spalding – black gold (white)

glenn jones – keep on doin (rca)
beyonce – fever (sony)
bobby v – slowdown (def jam)
jimmy castor – hey leroy (ace)

rare groove room
bobby womack / june yamagashi – give this love (meldac)

j c brooks – to love someone (addenda)
brand new heavies – dont let it go (ffrr)
ben e king – supernatural thing (atlantic)

soul salute
etta james – at last (chess)

john legend – ordinary people (sony)
amy winehouse – half time (universal)
maxwell – ascension (sony)

( Full track ARCHIVE in HAVE YOU HEARD section of soul365

Saturdays: 10 pm – 1am (A Touch of Soul)

• Listen again

Soaked in a soulful soundtrack.

Stars – Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, Questlove

D Angelo

The Lord Lucan of Soul ,

has announced live dates across Europe ..Sweden, Denmark, France, Holland and London, England Fri 3 Feb at the Brixton 02 AND Sat 4 Feb 2012.

The question on soul fans lips worldwide – Has he still got it?..soul wise and six pack wise?

NEWS: D’Angelo Reported to Play Two Shows in Amsterdam, January 2012

The mythological maestro that is D’Angelo has quietly booked himself two shows in January at Paradiso in Amsterdam. So far, the only ‘confirmation’ we have is that the website has listed the dates (see above) – one on January 30th and the other on the 31st.

If this is true (and at this stage, I don’t have any reason not to believe it is) – it will mark the first time in over 10 years that D’Angelo has performed live in concert. As production on his album has reached ‘the final stretch’ (according to ?uestlove) – his return finally feels ‘real’ – we’re getting our guy back yo!

Tickets go on pre-sale on November 5th – and are priced at €60. Go here.

Looks like we’ll be in Amsterdam in January. Ha.

Update: My sources tell me the promoters are currently trying to secure LDN dates. We’ll keep you informed. #andbreathe

gold albums

teri tobin – love infinity
jill scott – the light of the sun
tracy cruz – universoul symphony
josh milan – honeycomb music vol 1
deborah bond – madam palindrome

silver albums

joe claussell – hammock house

deidre gaddis – in the key of dei

anthony hamilton – the unreleased woo tracks

kabanya chemise – the mosiac

betty wright & the roots – the betty wright movie

bronze albums

nicholas payton – bitches

marsha ambrosius – late nights early mornings

gregory porter – illusion

hurst selection – vol 1

brian mcknight – just me

tracks of 2011

leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix}
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {hunter remix}
nothende – dance to this
wild cookie – touchy touchy
amy winehouse – half the time

esnavi – mind condition
fil straughan – private number
smi ft shea soul – just fine
mint condition – walk on
omar / jtq – after the dance

farrell newton – everything is clear
eric benet / chrisette michelle – take it
emile sande – climbing mountains
reel soul ft dawn tallman – quiet place
allen stone – unaware

dec 24

2011 hotness
hr 1

reel soul ft dawn tallman – quiet place (mn8)
heston – greatest lover {remix} (dome)
tracy cruz – mind travel (ivory sky)

brian mcknight – gimme your love (e1 music)
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)
anthony david – body language (dome)

deborah bond – you are the one (third logic)
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)
lenora jaye – do you wanna (fourth child)

allen stone – unaware (white)
michon young – the promise (tree of life)
mark de clive lowe – feels like home (papa)

hr 2
teri tobin – free (sol 2 kep)
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansion)
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {hunter remix} (dome)

mint condition – walk on (shanachie)
the alexis p suter band – hole that im in (honeycomb)
deidre gaddis – this funky ride of life (111 east records)

fil straughan – private number (fil straughan)
kabanya chemise – sky blue (sonance)
peven everett – diamond (white)

esnavi – mind elevation (planet e)
wildcookie – touchy touchy (tru thoughts)
jill scott – so gone (warners)

hr 3
festive seasonal soul

en vogue – silent night (elektra)
az yet – o come all ye faithful (epic)
immature – santa claus coming (epic)

james brown – santa claus in the ghetto (polydor)
destinys child – 8 days of christmas (sony)
myron – little drummer boy (island)

angela winbush – all i want for christmas (island)
luther vandross – have yourself a merry christmas (demon)
montana – merry christmas mama (philly sound)

will downing – christmas is here (island)
donny hathaway – this christmas (atlantic)
micheal jackson – give love on christmas (motown)

diana ross  & the supremes – silver (motown)
marvin gaye – merry christmas (motown)
stevie wonder – someday at christmas (motown)

dec 17

hr 1
curtis mayfield – superfly {vega remix} (vega)
erykah badu – bag lady {dodge carib remix} (motown)
neyo – champagne life (def jam)
cherelle – saturday love (tabu)

new n nice
mark ronson / erykah badu – a la modeste (white)

reel people – golden lady (papa)
aaries – funny how time flies (white)
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)
roy ayers – holiday {maw mix}(bbe)

hurst selection interview
nothende – dance to this (soulandjazz)
les mendes – free love (white)
joey somerville – just let go (soulandjazz)

hr 2
luisito quinterio – free my soul (bbe)
kabanya chemise – feels like love (soulandjazz)
luther vandross – youre the sweetest one (epic)
avery sunshine – i got sunshine (dome)
avery sunshine – sunshine {remix} (soulandjazz)

new n nice
betty wright – old songs (s curve)

lonnie liston smith – space princess (sony)
narada michael walden – tonight im alright (atlantic)
mica paris / will downing – where is the love (mca)

hr 3
new n nice
lamone – your eyes (honeycomb)

billy preston / syretta – with you im born again (motown)
eric benet / chrisette michelle – take it (warners)
r kelly – just like that (jive)
omar / angie stone – be thankful for what you got (universal)
musiq – just friends (def soul)

70’s platform soul
brass construction – movin’ (united artists)

glenn jones – i am somebody (rca)
emile sande – climbing mountains (white)
otis redding – sitting on the dock (atlantic)

smoochie zone
aretha franklin – i say a little prayer (atlantic)
minnie riperton – lovin you (capitol)

dec 10

hr 1
club artist united – sweet chariot (universal)
marvin gaye – lets get it on {remix} (motown)
zhane – request line (motown)
kenny lattimore – days like this (sony)

90’s neck nudger
lil louis – do you love me (epic)

edwin starr – war {remix} (motown)
janelle monae – tightrope (warners)
vertical hold – seems youre much too busy (a&m)
stevie wonder – signed, sealed, delivered {remix} (motown)
trina broussard – not around (sony)
gregory porter – illusion (motema)

hr 2
kim english – nite life (universal)
barry white – im gonna love you {remix} (mercury)
beyonce – love on top (sony)
will downing – world is a ghetto (island)

rare groove room
sandy barber – i’ll belong to you (bbe)

roy ayers – the third eye (polydor)
jean carn – was that all it was (phil int)
the futures – party time man (phil int)
mcfadden & whitehead – aint no stoppin us now (phil int)
zhane – off my mind (motown)

hr 3
black masses – wonderful (universal)
bill withers – who is he and what is he to you (atlantic)
martha reeves & the vandellas – nowhere to run (motown)
loftsoul – dear friend {dj spinna remix} (loftsoul)

90’s neck nudger
sylk 130 – season’s change (ovum)

impressions – cant satisfy (universal)
grace jones – feel up (strut)
groupo x – waiting all day (white)

rare groove room
diana ross – brown baby (motown)

andy cauldwell – i cant wait {acoustic remix} (hed kandi)
shirley bassey – light my fire {kenny dope remix} (slip n slide)
dwight trible – love is the answer (ninja tune)

dec 3

hr 1
peven everett – burning hot (tribe)
melba moore – this is it (bmg)
earth, wind & fire – africano (cbs)

fresh n firin
josh milan / angela johnson – forever i do (honeycomb)

gladys knight – if i was your woman (motown)
r kelly – when a woman loves (jive)
jean wells – have a little mercy (bbe)
the time – 777 9311 (warner brother)

new n nice
jill scott – so gone (warners)

spinners – i’ll be around (emi)
patti austin – you gotta be (white)

hr 2
raphael saadiq – good man (sony)
en vogue – giving him something (elektra)

fresh n firin
the alexis p suter band – hole that im in (honeycomb)

gladys knight – nitty gritty (motown)
bobby womack – inherit the wind {live} (sequel)
marsha ambrosius – butterflies (sony)
earth, wind & fire – thats the way of the world (cbs)

rare groove room
linda tillery – secrets (redwood)

players association – turn the music up (vanguard)
d influence – good lover (east west)
the braxtons – the boss {maw remix} (atlantic)

hr 3
phyllis hyman – you know how to love me (arista)
brand new heavies – dream on dreamer (ffrr)
ned doheny – to prove my love (cbs)

new n nice
amy winehouse – half time (white)

teddy pendergrass -  love tko (phil int)
maceo & the macks – cross the tracks (universal)
aretha franklin – until you come back (atlantic)
detroit spinners – could it be im falling (global)

new n nice
geila zilkha – perfect situation (white)

d angelo – lady {live} (emi)
m swift / eric roberson – feeling (pony canyon)
minnie riperton – lovin you (capitol)

nov 26

hr 1
phoojun – someatime (sonar kollectiv)
sounds of blackness – optimistic (perspective)
rodney franklin – the groove (columbia)
cee lo green – old fashioned (elektra)

fresh n firin
the alexis p suter band – hole that im in (honeycomb)

chinablac – til you go home (honeycomb)
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – aint no mountain {remix} (expansion)
blackbyrds – walking in rythmn (fantasy)

new n nice
betty wright – old songs (s curve)

jahiem – aint leavin (warners)
cheryl lynn – got to be real (sony)
nicholas payton ft esperanza spalding – freesia (in & out)

hr 2
james brown – give it up, turn it up (ministry)
faith evans – you gets no love (bad boy)

new n nice
anthony hamilton – high school love (white)

brownstone – if you love me (epic)
john legend – ordinary people (sony)

rare groove room
archie shepp – attica blues (soul jazz)

johnny bristol – hang on in there baby (global)
erma franklin – piece of my heart (brunswick)

fresh n firin
tumelo – release your soul (tribe)

changing faces – i am wasting my time (warners)

hr 3
stylistics – cant give you anything (universal)
whitney houston – love will save the day (ministry)
kirk franklin – looking for you (verity)

new n nice
betty wright – in the middle of the game (s curve)

omar / jtq – after the storm (dome)
louie vega – diamond life (defected)

rare groove room
micheal white – the blessing song (soul jazz)

barry white – let the music play (mercury)
kabanya chemise – feels like love (soulandjazz)
imagination – body talk (global)

smoochie zone
rose royce – wishing on a star (warners)
soul persona – she is (white)

nov 19

hr 1
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {terry hunter remix} (dome)
lenny kravitz – sunflower (white)
the isley brothers – my love is your love (motown)

new n nice
erykah badu / mark ronson – a la modeste (white)

maceo & the macks – cross the tracks (universal)
the funk brothers – aint no mountain high enough (motown)
mary j blige – everything (universal)

new n nice
milan ring – payday (white)

d angelo – brown sugar {remix} (emi)
mtume – juicy fruit (epic)

fresh n firin
liquid deep – angel {zephrain remix} (tribe}

hr 2
cameo – candy (phonogram)
sister sledge – thinking of you (atlantic)
kinsman dazz – love design (20th cent)

new n nice
deborah bond – nothing matters (db/thrid logic)

the pharoahs – freedom time (soul jazz)
paul laurence – there aint nothin (capitol)
jean carn – dont let it go to your head (phil int)
omar / jtq – after the dance (dome)
mary j blige – you make me feel [natural woman] (mca)

fresh n firin
angela johnson / josh milan – forever i do (honeycomb)

harold melvin & the bluenotes – bad luck (phil int)

hr 3
patti jo – make me believe {remix} (bgp)
o jays – love train (phil int)
lenora jaye – do you wanna (fourth child)

rare groove room
universal robot band – barely breaking even (moonglow)

reuben wilson – cisco kid (backbeat)
ola – be a man (white)
shanice – i love your smile (jive)
william bell / judy clay – private number (sony)

new n nice
nicci canada – take it back (jevenity)

farrell newton ft jarrod lawson – everything (white)
mary j blige – my life (mca)

smoochie zone
otis redding – these arms of mine (sony)
corinne bailey rae – like a star (emi)

nov 12

hr 1
brian mcknight – gimme your love (e1 music)
teri tobin – free (sol 2 kep)
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansions)
en vogue – give it up, turn it loose (atlantic)

new n nice
nicholas payton ft esperanza spalding – freesia (in and out)

james brown – give it up, turn it loose (ministry)
maysa – special place (shanachie)

rare groove room
chocolate milk – time machine (rca)

lemar – if there’s any justice (sony)
vanessa bell armstrong – pressin on (verity)
lou rawls – tradewinds (phil int )

new n nice
esnavi – im here (planet e)

joe – tonight (kedar entertainment)

hr 2
fresh n firin
angela johnson / josh milan – forever i do (honeycomb)

four tops – standing in the shadows (motown)
jill scott – lovely day (hidden beach)
brian mcknight – without you (e1 music)
syleena johnson – little things (shanachie)

new n nice
fil straughan – private number (fil straughan)

emile sande – climbing mountains (white)
funkadelic – one nation under a groove (warners)
nicholas payton ft n dambi – togetherness (in and out)

new n nice
teri tobin – everything i wanted (sol 2 kep)

marvin gaye – sexual healing (cbs)
mfsb – metamorphosis (phil int)

hr 3
donnell jones – you know whats up (bmg)
whitney houston – million dollar bill (arista)
blue magic – look me up {remix} (warners)

fresh n firin
sandra st victor / josh milan – yourself (honeycomb)

musiq – newness (def jam)
aretha franklin – respect (atlantic)
mint condition – walk on (shanachie)
tracy cruz – mind travel (ivory sky)
vee – who would i be (bbe)
kem – youre on my mind (motown)

new n nice
teri tobin – lovesong (sol 2 kep)

smoochie zone
brian mcknight – careless whisper (e1 music)
esnavi – mind elevation (planet e)
maxwell – pretty wings (sony)

nov 5

hr 1
lisa stansfield – never gonna give you up (arista)

fresh n firin
angela johnson / josh milan – forever i do (honeycomb)

lamont dozier – you oughta be in pictures (sanctuary)

new n nice
michon young – the promise (lyrical expressions)

nicci canada – selah (jevenity)
curtis mayfield – superfly {vega remix} (vega)
sos band – just be good to me (tabu)
omar / jtq – after the storm (dome)

new n nice
mark ronson / erykah badu – a la modeliste (white)

diana ross – where did our love go (motown)
t ‘zelle / josh milan – kipepeo (honeycomb)

hr 2
luther vandross – shine (epic)
phyllis hyman – you know how to love me (arista)

rare groove room
dave valentin – astro march (grp)

mica paris / donny hathaway – where is the love (mca)
bobby womack – across 110th street (demon)
peven everett – testin me {remix} (abb)
chimes – still havent found (sony)
l j reynolds – say you will (capitol)

fresn n firin
miguel migs / meshell ndegeocello – close your eyes {osunlade remix} (om)

stevie wonder – signed, sealed, delivered [remix} (motown)
at jazz – before (mantis)
roy ayers – love will bring us back together (polydor)

hr 3
janet jackson – times flies {reelsoul remix} (virgin)
lynden david hall – sexy cinderella (emi)

new n nice
imaani – found my light (reel people)

richard elliot / jeff lorber – inner city blues (mack avenue)
free life – keep a light in my window (epic)

fresh n firin
elements of life / lisa fischer – love will know (vega)

four tops – standing in the shadow (motown)
slave – just a touch of love (warners)
o jays – used to be my girl (phil int)
tracy cruz – love’s galaxy (ivory sky)

smoochie zone
rick clarke – love (raven)
anita baker – sweet love (elektra)

oct  29

hr 1
amel larrieux – get up {ron trent remix } (giant step)
lenny kravitz – sunflower (white)

new n nice
imaani – found my light (reel people)

boyz II men – cant let her go (motown)
whitney houston – love will save the day {remix} (ministry)
edwin starr – sos (motown)
tracy cruz – mind travel (ivory sky)
donnie – do you know (giant step)
alicia keys – you dont know my name (bmg)
d angelo – lady {remix} (emi)
jean wells – have a little mercy (bbe)

new n nice
allen stone – unaware (white)

hr 2
sounds of blackness – im going all the way (a&m)

fresh n firin
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansions)

deborah bond – you are the one (db/thrid logic)
james brown – give it up (ministry)
stephanie mills – never knew love (20th cent)
stevie wonder – yester me yester you (motown)

fresh n firin
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {terry hunter remix} (dome)

rebirth – this journey in (kajmere)
boyz II men – end of the road (motown)
erykah badu – back in the day (universal)
the stuyvesants – high stakes hustle (white)
reel people – cant stop (papa)
wildcookie – touchy touchy (tru thoughts)

hr 3
chic – i want your love (atlantic)
earth, wind & fire – let your feelings show (sony)
jill scott – so gone (warners)
boyz II men – to the limit (motown)
aretha franklin – until you come back (atlantic)

fresh n firin
sonny – special friend {spinna remix} (white)

gladys knight & the pips – midnight train to georgia (buddah)
futures – aint got time for nothin (phil int)

new n nice
lalah hathaway – im coming back (stax)

smoochie zone
joe – tonight (white)
the stuyvesants – yearning for your love (white)

oct 22

hr 1
dennis ferrer – how do i let go (defected)
sherrick – just call (warners)
the honey cone – want ads (castle)
lemar – 50/50 (sony)

new n nice
lalah hathaway – im coming back (stax)

marcos valle – parabens (far out)
en vogue – hold on (atlantic)
jessy dixon – love lifted me (soul jazz)

fresh n firin
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {terry hunter remix} (dome)

manhattans – kiss and say goodbye (sony)
nicci canada – take it back (white label)
dorothy morrison – i cant go without you (soul jazz)

hr 2
fresh n firin
sonnyboy – special friend {dj spinna remix} (giant step)

beyonce – love on top (sony)
art blakey & the jazz messengers – moanin (bluenote)
tracy cruz – happy (ivory sky)
donnell jones – you know whats up (arista)_
chairmen of the board – give me just a little more (sanctuary)

rare groove room
norman connors – captain connors (arista)

lianne la havas – dont wake me up (white)
windy city orchestra – windy city theme (harmless)

fresh n firin
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansion)

chi – lites – have you see her (global)
sabrina malheiros – estacao verao {kenny dope remix} (far out)
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)

hr 3
phyllis hyman – living inside your love (arista)
blaze – how deep is your love (shelter)
reel soul ft dawn tallman – quiet place (mn8)

70’s platform soul
teddy pendergrass – only you (phil int)

jo armstead – there’s not too many more (soul jazz)
usher – you make me wanna (arista)
jill scott – lovely day (hidden beach)
yada yada – discovery (thin air)

new n nice
lalah hathaway – this could be love (stax)

billy paul – bring the family back (phil int)
deborah bond – you are the one (db/thrid logic)
kevin mahogany – i love you (warners)

smoochie zone
rose royce – wishing on a star (wea)
al green – love and happiness (hi records)

oct 15

hr 1
patti jo – aint no love lost {remix} (bgp)
eli goulart – sunny (warners)
ella fitzgerald – get ready (motown)

fresh n firin
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansion)

tracy cruz – mind travel (ivory sky)
tracy cruz – electricity (ivory sky)
marvin gaye – whats going on (motown)
loose ends – a little spice (virgin)
michael jackson – wanna be where you are (motown)

80’s shoulder pad soul
change – you are my melody (atlantic)

beyonce – swing low sweet chariot (sony)
steve parks – moving in the right direction (solid smoke)
jean knight – mr big stuff (universal)

hr 2
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {terry hunter remix} (dome)
mystic merlin – just cant give you up (capitol)

new n nice
deborah bond – nothin matters (db / thrid logic)

d angelo – crusin (emi)
fontella bass – rescue me (universal)
blaze – found love (slip n slide)

new n nice
farrel newton ft jarrod lawson – everything (white)

alicia keys – fallin (bmg)
eugene wilde – gotta get you home (philly world)
candi staton – young hearts run free {remix} (bbe)
al green – how can you mend a broken heart (hi records)
jill scott – making you wait (warners)

hr 3
mark de clive lowe – feels like home (reel people)
fathers children – hollywood dreaming (ministry)

new n nice
tracy cruz – lets go back (ivory sky)

o jays – used to be my girl (phil int)
gladys knight – givin up (motown)
isley brothers – footsteps in the dark (epic)

80’s shoulder pad soul
joyce sims – come into my life (sleeping bag)

luistio quinterio – free my soul (bbe)
independents – i love you (bgp)
jesse fischer – dark water (white)
push – long gone (push)

smoochie zone
minnie riperton – lovin you (capitol)
judy clay / william bell – private number (stax)

oct 8

hr 1
fresh n firin
avery sunshine – ugly part of me {terry hunter remix} (dome)

lamont dozier – going back to my roots (sanctuary)
melisa morgan – fools paradise (capitol)
surface – happy (sony)
aretha franklin – its your love (arista)
funkadelic – knee deep (warners)

new n nice
jill scott – running away (hidden beach)

jackson 5 – i want you back {remix} (motown)
chante moore – loves taken over (mca)
earth, wind & fire – runnin {danny krivit remix} (sony)
deborah bond – say it (db/third logic)

hr 2
bill withers – lovely day (sony)
india aire – wonderful (universal)

fresh n firin
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix}

nothende – dance to this (soulandjazz)
alexander o neal – whats missing (tabu)
erma franklin – piece of my heart (atlantic)
lillo thomas – let me be yours (capitol)

new n nice
tracy cruz – love’s galaxy (white)

al jarreau – spain (warners)
janet jackson – funny how time flies (a&m)
r h factor – on the one {sa – ra remix} (sonar kollectiv)
bobby cauldwell – what you wont do (tk records)

new n nice
lenora jaye – the rain (fourth child)

hr 3
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)
walter jackson – its cool (chi sound)
bobby thurston – sitting in the park (prelude)
freda payne – band of gold (castle)
mass order – runaway love (columbia)

new n nice
deborah bond – think twice (db/third logic)

lou bond – the establishment {remix} (stax/we produce)
billy preston / syretta – with you im born again (motown)
roy ayers – poo poo la la (cbs)
deidre gaddis – what are we gonna do (111 east records)

smoochie zone
o bryan – doin alright (capitol)
dianne reeves – come in (bluenote)

oct 1

hr 1
angie stone – wish i didnt miss you (j records)

fresh n firin
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansion)

maxwell – sumthin sumthin (sony)
loose ends – hanging on a string {frankie knuckles remix} (virgin)
four tops – standing in the shadows (motown)

new n nice
deborah bond – you are the one (db)

alicia keys – you dont know my name (j records)
eric benet – spiritual thing (warners)
sly & the family stone – family affair (epic)

new n nice
lenora jaye – do you wanna (fourth child)

patrice rushen – message in the music (elektra)
sahara – love so fine (elite)
brand new heavies – never stop {remix} (ffrr)

hr 2
fatback – is this the future (spring)
shirley & jean carn – whatever it takes {mcabe remix} (expansion)
marvin gaye – heard it through the grapevine (motown)

new n nice
m swift ft donna gardier – love is (vithmic)

luther vandross – any love (epic)
reel people / omar – outta love {remix} (papa)

fresh n firin
avery sunshine – ugly part of me (terry hunter remix} (dome)

barry white – playing your game baby (mercury)
soul persona – she is (white label)
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)
sylvia robinson – pillow talk (all platinum)

hr 3
jermaine jackson – lets get serious (motown)
frankie knuckles / satoshi tomie – tears (ffrr)

new n nice
jill scott – running away (hidden beach)

issac hayes – ike’s mood (stax)
emotions – best of my love (sony)
lucy pearl – dont mess with my man (pookie)
the impressions – fan the fire (chi sound)
aretha franklin – until you come back (atlantic)

fresh n firin
erik rico – wonderful {latin remix} (lifetones)

smoochie zone
dexter wansel – sweetest pain (phil int)
john legend – rolling in the deep (white)
tracy cruz – love’s galaxy (white)

sep 24

hr 1
nothende – dance to this (soulandjazz)
en vogue – hold on (elektra)
tom & joyce – queiume (yellow)

new n nice
shirley & jean carn – whatever it takes {mccabe dub} (expansion)

marvin gaye – lets get it on {remix} (motown)
arnold blair – trying to get next to you (curtom)
rahsaan patterson – 6am {silk hurley remix} (dome)
mantronix – got to have your love (capitol)

rare groove room
johnny taylor – shoot for the stars (beverley glen)

tawatha – thigh ride (epic)

fresh n firin
leon ware – on the beach {at jazz remix} (expansion)

aretha franklin – respect (atlantic)
incognito – dont you worry bout a thing (talkin loud)

hr 2
deborah bond – nothin matters (db)
wildcookie – touchy touchy (try thoughts)
naked music – whats on your mind (om records)

80’s shoulder pad soul
sherrick – just call (warner)

maysa – the bottle (expansion)
reel people – golden lady (papa)
vesta williams – you and i (polygram)
keni burke – risin to the top (rca)
nuyorican soul / india – runaway {remix} (giant step)
georg levin – i got somebody new (sonar kollectiv)
stevie wonder – uptight (motown)
sweet charles – yes its you (demon)

hr 3
eighties ladies – turned on to you (uno melodic)
crusaders – street life (mca)
electric empire – baby your lovin (dome)

new n nice
soul persona – she is (white)

eugene wilde – gotta get you home (philly world)
blackbyrds – walking in rhythm (fantasy)
d angelo – lady {live} (emi)
kabanya chemise – sky blue (sonance)
liquid deep – angel {zepherin saint remix} (tribe)

smoochie zone
stylistics – hurry up this way again (phil int)
harold melvin & the bluenotes – i miss you (phil int)

sep 17

hr 1
earth, wind & fire – love together (sanctuary)
tania maria – come with me {maw mix} (concord)
the voices of east harlem – cashing in (goldmine)

new n nice
deborah bond – nothing matters (db)

sam & dave – soul man (atlantic)
fontella bass – rescue me (stax)
erik rico – thats the time (white label)
r kelly – step in the name of love (jive)

rare groove room
gary bartz – keep goin on (arista)

marvin gaye – through the grapevine {remix} (motown)
atmosfear – dancing in outer space (elite)
jill scott – lovely day (hidden beach)

hr 2
peven everett – testin me {latin remix} (abb)
lalah hathaway – if you want to (stax)
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)

new n nice
emile sande – climbing mountain (white)

amy winehouse – valerie {live} (universal)
micheal jackson – remember the time {remix} (epic}
lyn collins – think (polydor)
stevie wonder – all i do (motown)

new n nice
deborah bond – you are the one (db)

luther vandross – see me (epic)
jill scott – running away (hidden beach)
erik rico – still in love (white label)

hr 3
weysa dya – dream (white label)
o jays – cry together (phil int)
ledisi – stay together (verve)

80’s shoulder pad soul
skipworth & turner – thinking about your love (island)

diane jenkins – towaway zone (goldmine)
leroy hutson – all because of you (curtom)
deborah bond – highest mountain (db)
curtis mayfield – move on up (curtom)
jacksons – show you the way (phil int)

smoochie zone
jill scott – holding on (hidden beach)
tracey cruz – love’s galaxy (white)
billy paul – me & mrs jones (phil int)

sep 10
sep 10

hr 1
Ben  – Soulman (Motown)
Incognito – Put a little lovin in your heart {remix} (Dome)
Justin Timberlake – Señorita (JIve)
Donny Hathaway The Ghetto
Spyro Gyra – Morning Dance (Mca)

80’s shoulder pad soul
Loose Ends – Hanging On A String (Virgin)

Heston – Outside your window    (Dome)

new n nice
Tracy Cruz – Love’s Galaxy (white)

Kloud 9 – Love’s better with you {remix} (Expansion)
Rumer – Slow (Atlantic)
Ola Onabule – Be A Man (Rugged Ram)
Kym Sims – Too Blind To See It (Nuphonic)

hr 2
Chic – Open Up    (Atlantic)
Eric Roberson  – Summertime Anthem (Dome)
Eric Roberson – Fall (Dome)
Nuyorican Soul    - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (Talkin Loud)
José Feliciano – Light My Fire (Warner)
Loleatta Holloway – Runaway (Salsoul)
Omar – There’s Nothing Like This (Talkin Loud)
Patti Austin – You gotta be (White)
Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’

hr 3
Armand Van Helden Ft Duane Harden – You Don’t Know Me (ffrr)
Down to the Bone – We ve Always Got the music (White)
Lenny Fontana  – Spread Love (Nuphonic)

70’s platform soul
The Isley Brothers – Summer Breeze (Epic)

Tito Puente – Ran Kan Kan (Warners)
Solu Music Feat. KimBlee – Fade (Solu)
Ronny Jordan – So What! (Island)
Rje project – Surrender (White)
Bobby V – If I Cant Have You (White)

smoochie zone
Blue Magic – Sideshow (Atlantic)
Nina Simone – Feeling Good (Universal)

sep 3

hr 1
gil scot heron – the bottle {live} (arista)
beyonce – love on top (sony)
otis redding – try a little tenderness {live} (stax)

new n nice
marsha ambrosius – butterflies (sony)

bobby womack – inherit the wind {live} (sequel)
angela johnson – feel inside (dome)
brand new heavies – dream come true {live} (emi)
earth, wind & fire – in the stone (cbs)
alicia keys – diary {live} (bmg)

70’s platform soul
jackson 5 – who’s lovin you {live} (motown)

ledisi – autumn leaves {live} (lesun)
heatwave – boogie nights (gto)

hr 2
shalamar – make that move (solar)
erro – dont change {live} (blue erro)
ike & tina turner – bold soul sister (beechwood)

rare groove room
tashan – thank you father {live} (sony)

viola wills – dare to dream (streetwave)
stevie wonder – boogie on reggae woman (motown)
emotions – best of my love {live} (cbs)
philadelphia all stars – lets clean up the ghetto {remix} (strut)
lisa stansfield – people hold on {blaze remix} (tommy boy)

hr 3
george benson – on broadway {live} (warners)
m nahadr – over (mca)

nice n neo
eric roberson – couldnt hear me {live} (blue erro)

avery sunshine – ugly part of me (dome)
average white band – queen of my soul (atlantic)

smoochie zone
joss stone – for the love of you (relentless)
luther vandross – house is not a home (epic)

aug 27

hr 1
ashford & simpson – its seems to hang on (rhino)
angie stone – i aint hearing you (concord)
dramatics – get up and get down (stax)
aaliyah – more than a woman {maw remix} (virgin)
reel people – amazing (papa)

70’s platform soul
prince – soft & wet (warners)

r kelly – happy people (jive)
jackie wilson – the sweetest feeling (brunswick)
shara nelson – inside out {knuckles remix} (cooltempo)
ronnie laws – always there (bluenote)
emotions – best of my love (cbs)
john stoddart – lovely day (urban junction)

hr 2
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)
o jays – used to be my girl (phil int)
timmy regisford / arnold jarvis – masterpiece (apt)
eric gable – process of elimination (columbia)

new nice
wildcookie – touchy touchy (tru thoughts)

fontella bass – rescue me (stax)
tashan – love is forever (sony)
aaliyah – you are love (jive)
al green – take me to the river (hi recs)

80’s shoulder pad soul
kleeer – intimate connection (atlantic)

jean carn – dont let it go (phil int)
shaun escoffrey – days like this (oyster)
curtis mayfield – superfly {maw remix} (vega)

hr 3
maw – like a butterfly (susu)
leroy hutson – love the feeling (curtom)
faith evans – you gets no love (bad boy)
ashford & simpson – bourgie bourgie {claussell remix} (rhino)
three degrees – when will i see you again (phil int)

new n nice
ola – be a man (white)

aaliyah – never no more (blackground)
kenny thomas – breathe (white)
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – aint no mountain (expansion)
omar – outta love {4 hero remix} (papa)
sahara – love so fine (elite)

smoochie zone
jill scott – comes to the light (hidden beach)

aug 20

hr 1
sterling ensemble ft sara devine – life aint what it seems (vega)
jay z / kayne west – otis (def jam)

new n nice
lenny kravitz – sunflower (white)

sister sledge – thinking of you (atlantic)
starvue – body fusion (jasrac)

rare groove room
starpoint – bring your sweet lovin back (chocolate city)

four tops – when she was my girl (motown)
groupo x – waiting all day (white)
luisito quinterio – free my soul (bbe)
funkadelic – one nation under a groove (warners)

hr 2
carolyn franklin – sunshine holiday (rca)
fatback band – do the bus stop (ace)
pointer sisters – bring your sweet love (abc)

fresh n firin
erik rico – wonderful (lifetones)

teedra moses – another lover (white label)
valentine brothers – money’s too tight (bridge)
earth, wind & fire – thats the way of the world (cbs)
kelly price – and you dont stop (white)

new n nice
ben – soulman (motown france)

mr ali – rainy day (white)
billy paul – me & mrs jones (phil int)
gladys knight & the pips – giving up (motown)
average white band – pick up the pieces (atlantic)

hr 3
eric benet / chrisette michelle – take it (warners)
maddslinky ft omar – special {at jazz remix} (tru thoughts)
raphael saddiq – live without you (pookie)
odyssey – going back to my roots (rca)

rare groove room
michael wycoff – tell me love (rca)

jackie mooore – this time baby (cbs)
chaka khan – im every woman (phil int)
james brown – someone to talk to (polydor)

smoochie zone
emile sande – climbing mountains (white)
kindred / raheem devaughan – we all will know (expansion)

aug 13

hr 1
marion gaines singers – do your thing (soul jazz)
nathan haines – believe (chilli funk)
jon b – dont talk (sony)

70’s platform soul
chaka khan / rufus – do you love what you feel (mca)

vaughan mason – bounce rock skate roll (brunswick)
spyro gyra – shaker song (mca)
candi staton – young hearts run free {remix} (bbe)
q tip – vivrant thing (jive)
erykah badu – next lifetime (universal)
michael jackson – i wanna be where you are (motown)
sharon jones & the dap kings – dap dip (harmless)
eternal – stay {remix} (virgin)

hr 2
fresh n firin
erik rico – wonderful {afro latin rumble} (lifetones)

beverley knight – flavour of the old skool (dome)
o jays – i love music (phil int)
cheryl lynn – got to be real (sony)
loft soul – dear friend {dj spinna remix} (loft soul)

70’s platform soul
detroit spinners – could it be (atlantic)

faith evans – love like this (mca)
maxwell – this woman’s work (sony)
fontella bass – rescue me (stax)
teddy pendergrass – only you (phil int)
sister sledge – lost in music (atlantic)

hr 3
a taste of honey – boogie oogie oogie (capitol)

fresh n firin
manoo & francois – crying for love (reel people)

smokey robinson – quiet storm (motown)
minnie riperton – inside my love (capitol)
neyo – champagne life (def jam)
chic / johhny mathis – i love my lady (rhino)
shalamar – make that move (solar)

rare groove room
bobby hutcherson – la malanga {remix} (bluenote)

gene harris – latinfunklovesong (bluenote)

smoochie zone
janet jackson – got til its gone {remix} (virgin)
lynden david hall – sexy cinderella (emi)

aug 6
hr 1 – film soundtrack special*

isley brothers – fight the power (epic) *film – out of sight
aretha franklin – standing on (capitol) *film – bebe’s kids

new n nice
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)

supremes – stoned love (motown)
norman connors – once i’ve been there (arista)
lisa fischer – when youre a woman (wea) *film – 24 hr woman
reel people – golden lady (papa)
m swift ft donna gardier – love is (vithmic)
bobby womack – across 110th st (demon) *film – 110th st

new n nice
teri tobin – free (white)

pleasure – joyous (fantasy)
barry white – let the music play (mercury)
ramsey lewis – sun goddess (columbia)

hr 2
armand van helden – you dont know me (ffrr)

new n nice
wildcookie – touchy touchy (tru thoughts)

nothende – dance to this (souljazz)
cee lo green – old fashioned (elektra)
eric roberson / m swift – feeling (vithmic)
d train – youre the one for me (prelude)
d angelo – girl you need change (emi) *film – get on the bus

rare groove room
barbara mitchell – never had a love (mercury)

o jays – love train (phil int)
down to the bone / imaani – watch me fly (dome)
james mason – sweet power of your embrace (chiaroscuro)
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – aint no mountain {remix} (motown)

fresh n firin
yvette rovira – i remember love {dj spinna mix} (white)

hr 3
mark ronson – ooh we (elektra)
blackbyrds – walking in rhythm (fantasy)

fresh n firin
erik rico – wonderful {afro rumble remix} (lifetones)

ashford & simpson – uh ooh look out (virgin) * film – down in the delta
shawn kane – mistreated (interscope) *film – ali
matt bandy – little girl (white)
quincy jones – ai no corrida (a&m)
stylistics – cant give you anything (universal)
jill scott – so gone (warners)
joey diggs – your love keeps working (capitol) *film – bebe’s kids

smoochie zone
oleta adams – many rivers to cross (mercury) *film – jasons lyric
isley brothers – sensuality (epic)

jul 30

hr 1
the nite lters – k jee (rca)
erik rico – wonderful {afro latin rumble remix} (lifetones)
beyonce – love on top (sony)
byran loren – lollipop luv (virgin)
alicia keys – you dont know my name (bmg)

new n nice
wildcookie – touchy touchy (tru thoughts)

curtis mayfield – no thing on me (curtom)
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)
philip bailey – children of the ghetto (cbs)
ledisi – lets stay together (white)
eric roberson – summertime anthem (dome)
deidre gaddis – you (111 east records)

hr 2
stevie wonder – uptight (motown)
lauryn hill – doo wop {that thing} (sony)

fresh n firin
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)

heatwave – star of a story (gto)
jean knight – mr big stuff (stax)
donnell jones – you know whats up (arista)

fresh n firin
glenn underground – i am not in love (white)

randy crawford – street life (mca)
manzel & the soul syndicate – can you feel (dopebrother)

new n nice
m swift ft donna gardier – love is (vithmic)

roy ayers – she’s gotta find a lover (polydor)
floaters – float on (abc)

hr 3
teedra moses – another lover (white)
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)
maze – joy and pain (capitol)

new n nice
kabanya chemise – sky blue (sonance)

ronnie laws – lets keep it together (bluenote)
the family stand – ghetto heaven (atlantic)
bill withers – can we stand (sussex)
lillo thomas – sexy girl (capitol)

rare groove room
gary bartz – gentle smile (prestige)

diana ross – love hangover (motown)
john davis – bourgie bourgie (cbs)
jackson 5 – i am love (motown)

jul 30

hr 1
the nite lters – k jee (rca)
erik rico – wonderful {afro latin rumble remix} (lifetones)
beyonce – love on top (sony)
byran loren – lollipop luv (virgin)
alicia keys – you dont know my name (bmg)

new n nice
wildcookie – touchy touchy (tru thoughts)

curtis mayfield – no thing on me (curtom)
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)
philip bailey – children of the ghetto (cbs)
ledisi – lets stay together (white)
eric roberson – summertime anthem (dome)
deidre gaddis – you (111 east records)

hr 2
stevie wonder – uptight (motown)
lauryn hill – doo wop {that thing} (sony)

fresh n firin
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)

heatwave – star of a story (gto)
jean knight – mr big stuff (stax)
donnell jones – you know whats up (arista)

fresh n firin
glenn underground – i am not in love (white)

randy crawford – street life (mca)
manzel & the soul syndicate – can you feel (dopebrother)

new n nice
m swift ft donna gardier – love is (vithmic)

roy ayers – she’s gotta find a lover (polydor)
floaters – float on (abc)

hr 3
teedra moses – another lover (white)
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)
maze – joy and pain (capitol)

new n nice
kabanya chemise – sky blue (sonance)

ronnie laws – lets keep it together (bluenote)
the family stand – ghetto heaven (atlantic)
bill withers – can we stand (sussex)
lillo thomas – sexy girl (capitol)

rare groove room
gary bartz – gentle smile (prestige)

diana ross – love hangover (motown)
john davis – bourgie bourgie (cbs)
jackson 5 – i am love (motown)

jul 23

hr 1- a touch of soul episode 200

amy winehouse tribute – valerie {live} (universal)

lil louis – do u luv me (epic)
eric benet – better n better (white label)
jackey beavers – mr bumpman (buddah)
allure – enjoy yourself (mca)
ricardo marrero – feel like making love {remix} (fania)

rare groove room
marvin gaye – where are we going (motown)

joy jones – this too (future soul)
pure funk – nothing left is real (planet earth)
pete rock / leelah james – no more tears (bbe)

new n nice
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)

amy winehouse – back to black (universal)

fonce mizell tribute
donald byrd – think twice {remix} (bluenote)

hr 2
jackson 5 – i want you back {remix} (motown)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)

deloris ealy – honeydripper (dopewax)
herman kelly & life – a refreshing love (strut)
bobbi humphrey – uno esta (bluenote)
etta james / sugar pie desanto – in the basement (ace)
lou bond – the establishment{remix} (white)

fresh n firin
reel people ft dawn tallman – quiet place (mn8)

milton wright – keep it up (alston)
vicky d – this beat is mine (sam)
curtis mayfield – pusherman (curtom)
mica paris – should’ve known better (island)

hr 3
ann peebles – i cant stand the rain (harmless)
patrice rushen – number one (elektra)

fonce mizell tribute
l.t.d – love ballad (expansion)

damozel – everyday’s a party (mca)
loose ends – what goes around comes around (virgin)
teedra moses – missing you (white)
the jungle band – full speed ahead (charly)

fresh n firin
mark de clive lowe / ovasoul – feels like home (reelsoul)

lou courtney – i dont need nobody else (soul brother)
candi staton – trouble, heartaches (kent)
j. r. bailey – just me and you (polystar)
d angelo – crusin {remix} (emi)

amy winehouse – take the box (universal)
amy winehouse – i heard love is blind (universal)

jul 16

british soul special hr 1

tammy payne – take me now (talikn loud)
loose ends – stay a little while (virgin)
brand new heavies – dont let it go to your head (ffrr)

new n nice
beyonce – love on top (sony)

soul II soul – keep on movin (virgin)
hi tension – hi tension (island)
michael jackson – my girl (motown)
young disciples – apparently nothin (talkin loud)
light of the world – london town (ensign)

fresh n firin
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)

jamie cullum – i get a kick (inspired)
incognito – always there (talkin loud)
average white band – queen of my soul (warners)

hr 2
ronnie foster – argentina (cbs)
beverley knight – mama used to say (hurricane)
dusty springfield – the look of love (universal)
heather johnson – love is beautiful (nite grooves)
c & c music factory – share that beat of love (sony)

rare groove room
james brown / jb’s – pass the peas (polydor)

stock, aitken & waterman – roadblock (pwl)
john legend – rollin in the deep (white)
corinne bailey rae – like a star (emi)
bobby v – if i cant have you (white)

fresh n firin
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)

alexander o neal – if you were here tonight (tabu)
mcfadden & whitehead – aint no stoppin us now (phil int)

hr 3
fresh n firin
loftsoul – dear friend {dj spinna remix} (loftsoul)
lewis taylor – damn (island)
janelle monae – sincerely jane (bad boy)

rare groove room
fertile ground – spiritual war {remix} (counterpoint)

stevie wonder – never had a dream (motown)
sade – by your side {naked music remix} (sony)
cymande – the message (universal)

smoochie zone
jill scott – making you wait (warners)
kendrick johnson – hungry (white label)

jul 9

hr 1
ralph mcdonald – you are in love (tk recs)
leon ware – why i came to california (elektra)
l.h. family – lifted {rokstone remix} (polydor)
trackheadz ft zaki – feel (nrk)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)

dionne warwicke – move me no mountain (elektra)
mica paris – i wanna hold onto you {absolute remix} (island)
dwele – truth (virgin)
chairman of the board – give me just a little (castle)

rare groove room
madagascar – rainbow (arista)

moses mcclean – always (soul groove)

hr 2
sylvester – you make me feel (fantasy)
chimes – still havent found what im looking for (sony)
leroy hutson – paradise (elektra)
dina carroll – special kind of love (sony)

new n nice
rahsaan patterson – 6am (dome)

pieces of a dream – warm weather (elektra)
tashan – read my mind (def jam)
kindred – rhythm of life {king britt remix} (hidden beach)
four tops – reach out i’ll be there (motown)

fresh n firin
teedra moses – another lover (white)

kool & the gang – open sesame (mercury)
incognito – put a little love {remix} (dome)
atlantic starr – touch a four leaf clover (a&m)

hr 3
oran ‘juice’ jones – the rain (def jam)
nu life ft kenny bobien – my joy (nrk)

new n nice
jill scott – love soul bounce (warners)

craig david – whats ya flave (warner)
snoop doggy dogg – whats my name (interscope)
aretha franklin – respect (atlantic)

fresh n firin
mr ali – rainy day (white label)

donald byrd – lovin you (elektra)
billy preston / syretta – with you im born again (motown)
alyson williams / chuck stanley – im so glad (def jam)

smoochie zone
robert owens – reach inside (compost)
jill scott – so gone (warners)

july 2

hr 1
skyy – call me {blaze vocal mix} (salsoul)
dionne bromfield – foolish (universal)

70’s platform soul
leroy hutson – dudley do right (curtom)

evelyn king – love come down (rca)
mark de clive lowe / ovasoul – feels like home (reelsoul)
issac hayes – shaft (stax)

new n nice
jill scott – love soul bounce (warners)

players association – turn the  music up (vanguard)
jahiem – aint leavin (warners)
brandy – full moon {remix} (atlantic)
the sisters love – give me your love (soul jazz)
neyo – champagne life (def jam)

hr 2
phyllis hyman – you know how to love me (arista)
cee lo green – bridges (white)
ledisi – lets stay together (promo – jump the broom soundtrack)

fresh n firin
peven everett – burning hot (tribe)

trina & tamara – what’d you come here for (epic)
alexander o neal / cherelle – saturday love (tabu)
mandrill – its so easy lovin you (arista)
brand new heavies – never stop {blaze remix} (acid jazz)
issac hayes – cafe regio’s (stax)

80’s shoulder pad soul
change – you are my melody (atlantic)

jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)
amii stewart – friends (emergency)

hr 3
anthony david – body language (dome)
o jays – darling darling baby (phil int)
harold melvin & bluenotes – dont leave me this way (phil int)
pleasure – glide (fantasy)

soundtrack soul – shaft {remake}
r kelly – up and outta here (arista)

fresh n firin
carla prather – first kiss (white)

ben – soulman (motown france / wrasse)
mac band – roses are red (mca)
jill scott – rolling hills (warners)

smoochie zone
jacksons – show you the way (phil int)
kindred / raheem devaughan – we all will know (expansion)

jun 25

hr 1
omar ft stevie wonder – feeling you (tru thoughts)
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)
donny hathaway – the ghetto (atlantic)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)

maxwell – phoenix rise (sony)

******beverley knight interview*********
beverley knight – mama used to say (white)
beverley knight – fairplay (white)
beverley knight – damn (white)

al green – love and happiness (rca)
dionne bloomfield – foolish (white)
luisito quinterio – free my soul (bbe)

hr 2
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – aint no mountain (motown)
northend – tee’s happy (emergency)

70’s platform soul
pee wee ellis – that thang (charly)

cee lo – old fashioned (warners)
martine girault – revival (opaz)
pete kuzma / bilal – high & dry (bbe)

new n nice
down to the bone ft imaani – watch me fly (dome)

josh milan – your body (honeycomb)
odyssey – inside out (rca)
gregory porter – illusion (motema)

new n nice
jill scott – so gone (warners)

chic – i want your love (atlantic)
soundtrack soul
curtis mayfield – short eyes (curtom)

hr 3
loose ends – hanging on a string (virgin)
gecko turner – guapapasea (emi)

new n nice
northende – dance to this (soul n jazz)

r kelly – touched a dream (jive)
janelle monae – ba bop bye ya (bad boy)

fresh n firin
ovasoul ft mdcl – feels like love (reelsoul)

isley brothers – my love is your love (motown)
luther vandross – never too much (epic)
adriana evans – suddenly (expansion)

smoochie zone
lou bond – the establishment (we produce)
jill scott – making you wait (warners)

jun 18

hr 1
chic – chic cheer (atlantic)
janelle monae – letting go (arista)
funkadelic – knee deep (warners)
maze – twilight (capitol)

new n nice
ledisi – shut up (verve)

cameo – candy (polygram)

new n nice
down to the bone ft imaani – watch the sky (dome)

curtis mayfield & impressions – love me (curtom)
edna wright – oops here i go again (arista)

fresh n firin
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)

joss stone – for the love love of you (relentless)

hr 2
pointer sisters – send him back {remix} (atlantic)
dwele – kissing game (e1)
faze o – rising high (warners)
beyonce – fever (white)
maze – you (capitol)

fresh n firin
nothende – dance to this (soul n jazz)

incognito ft chaka khan – lowdown (dome)
raphael saadiq – stone rollin (sony)
teri tobin – free (white)
minnie riperton – lovin you (capitol)
universal robot band – barely breakin even (moonglow)

hr 3
new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love ((warners)

four tops – standing in the shadows (motown)
rebirth – love issue (kajmere)
walter jackson – coldest day (warners)
alicia keys – you dont know my name (bmg)

90’s neck nudger
ralph tresvant – sensivity (mca)

jacksons – your ways (epic)
groupo x – waiting all day (loft)

rare groove room
jon lucien – would you believe (arista)

bilal – little ones (white)
candi station – do right woman (kent)

smoochie zone
maze – we are one (capitol)
scar ft cee lo – what is this (virgin)

june 11

hr 1

fresh n firin
terri tobin – free (white)

james brown – i got the feeling (polydor)
wesley alexander – falling for you (tet kate)
patrice rushen – forget me nots (elektra)
aaries – dont give it up {mdcl remix} (white)
imagination – body talk (r&b)
patrice holloway – those dj shows (kent)

new n nice
jamiroquai – smile (white)

labelle – lady marmalade (epic)
dramatics – get up & get down (capitol)
glenn underground – i am not in love (white)
groupo x – waiting all day (loft)

hr 2
kelly price – and you dont stop (def jam)
keni burke – let somebody love you (expansions)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)

beginning of the end – come on baby (atlantic)
erykah badu – back in the day (motown)
o jays – i love music (phil int)
foreign exchange – take off the blues (nicolay)

fresh n firin
marlon d – nothing {soul collective mix} (white)

anita baker – sweet love (elektra)
robert owens – wonderful (compost)
fonda rae – touch me (unidisc)
al green – i want to hold your hand (ace)

hr 3
new n nice
nothende – dance to this (soul n jazz)

bobby womack – how could you break my heart (arista)
beverley knight – damn (white)

fresh n firin
ovasoul / mark de clive lowe – feels like home (reelsoul)

eddie holman – hey there lonely girl (black tulip)
aretha franklin – let it be (ace)
issac aesili – with you in my bed {hip soul mix} (soulab)
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)
three degrees – when will i see you again (phil int)
freddie hubbard – youre gonna lose (expansions)

smoochie zone
sylvia – pillow talk (all platinum)
roy ayers – third eye (polydor)

june 4

hr 1
new n nice
nothende – dance to this (soul n jazz)

gil scott heron – the bottle {live} (arista)
weeland & the urban collective – 2 of a kind (soulab)
prince – get off (warners)
barry white – im gonna love you (mercury)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (white)

staple singers – if youre ready (stax)
barrie k sharpe & diana brown – masterplan (ffrr)

fresh n firin
glenn underground – i am not in love(strictly jazz)

gil scott heron – inner city blues (arista)
jennifer lopez – get right {maw remix} (maw)
curtis mayfield – superfly {maw remix} (maw)
candi staton – young hearts run free {remix} (bbe)

hr 2
fresh n firin
marlon d – nothing {underground collective mix} (white)
brothers johnson – strawberry letter 23 (a&m)
ike & tina turner – bold soul sister (blue thumb)

80’s shoulder pad soul
serious intention – you dont know (easy street)

james brown – satisfied (polydor)
mcfadden & whitehead – aint no stoppin us now (phil int)
kelly price / aaron hall – love will set you free (def jam)

new n nice
anthony david – body language (dome)

deidre gaddis – what are we gonna do (11 east records)
gil scott heron – aint no such thing as a superman (arista)
wanda davis – save me (block)

hr 3
sylvester – i need you (fantasy)
errol reid – celebrate life (tom tom club)
dina carroll – special kind of love (a&m)
level 42 – starchild (polydor)

fresh n firin
yvette rovira – i remember love {spinna mix} (white)

michael jackson – wanna be where you are (motown)
donny hathaway – what a women really means (atlantic)
beyonce – flaws and all (white)

70’s platform soul
herb alpert – rise (a&m)

randy crawford – one day i’ll fly away (warners)
gil scot heron – the revolution will not be televised (harmless)

smoochie zone
alicia keys – fallin (arista)
gil scot heron – lady’s song (tvt)

may 28

champions league edition hr 1
fresh n firin
nothende – dance to this (soul n jazz)

hr 1 – robbie savage co present

solu – fade (hed kandi)
james brown – i feel good (polydor)
chaka khan – aint nobody (warners)
tom jones – aint no sunshine (universal)
mary j blige – family affair (bmg)

70’s platform soul
stevie wonder – dont you worry bout a thing (motown)

otis redding – sittin on the dock of the bay (atlantic)
michael jackson – dont stop til you get enough (epic)
adele – someone like you (warners)
oleta adams – get here (fontana)

hr 2
joyce sims – all n all (sleeping bag)
dj kawasaki – isnt she lovely (sony)
mica paris / bobby womack – wish i’d never met you (dome)
incognito – this thing called love (talkin loud)
stevie wonder – as (motown)

new n nice
raphael saadiq – stone rollin (sony)

uptown funk empire – you got to have freedom (soulab)
isley brothers – summer breeze (epic)
beverley knight – mama used to say (white)
neyo – champagne life (def jam)
reel people – star (papa)
average white band – queen of my soul (atlantic)

hr 3
rumer – slow (atlantic)
maze – joy & pain (capitol)
marvin gaye – rockin after midnight (cbs)
crystal waters – gypsy woman (a&m)

fresh n firin
peven everett – inspiration (tribe)

bobby valentino – if i cant have you (def jam)
norman connors – black cow (arista)
kloud 9 – love’s better with you {remix}(expansion)
darwin hobbs – everyday (dome)

new n nice
conya doss – all in you (blue transitions)

smoochie zone
tavares – never had a love like this (capitol)
incognito -  dont turn my love away (dome)

may 21

what’s going on album 40th anniversary salute

hr 1
marvin gaye – inner city blues (motown)
evelyn king – love come down (rca)
average white band – work to do (atlantic)
patti labelle – new day {louie vega mix} (def soul)
brand new heavies – never stop (ffrr)

new n nice
dionne broomfield – foolish (universal)

reel people ft imaani – amazing (papa)
edwin starr – s.o.s (motown)
sonna rele – what’s going on {live} (motown)
gregory porter – illusion (motema)

sonna rele – the sky is blue {live} (emi)
al green – lets stay together (rca)

hr 2
sonna rele – bring on the rain (emi)
o jays – used to be my girl (phil int)

fresh n firin
aaries  – dont give it up {mdcl remix} (white)

marsha ambrosius – butterflies {remix} (j records)

70’s platform soul
hues corporation – rock the boat (rca)

ruffneck – new life (realtime)
marvin gaye – what’s going on (motown)
marvin gaye – what’s happening brother (motown)
marvin gaye – flying high (motown)
marvin gaye – save the children (motown)

hr 3
pirahnahead – i do love you (whasdat)
jackie wilson – i get the sweetest feeling (brunswick)
shola ama – youre the only one {remix} (warners)
r kelly – just like that (jive)
anthony david – body language (dome)

soundtrack soul – austin powers movie
beyonce – work it out (sony)

musiq / kirk whallum – we’re still friends (mack)
sade – jezebel (sony)
kloud 9 – love’s better with you {remix} (expansion)

new n nice
robert owens – wonderful (compost)

smoochie zone
sam dees – child of the streets (atlantic)
skalp – for love ( v music)

may 14

hr 1
little sonny – eli’s pork chop (ace)
tony touch & total – i wonder why (tommy boy)
whitney houston – million dollar bill (arista)
jamie hawkins – lost my mind (elektra)

fresh n firin
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)

ray charles – i got a woman (atlantic)
joistarr – mr forever (white)
loose change – rising cost of love (harmless)

70’s platform soul
blackbyrds – walking in rhythm (fantasy)

patti jo – make me believe in you (sony)
rahsaan patterson – where you are (mca)
mica paris / will downing – where is the love (mca)

hr 2
michael watford – so into you (east west)
joyce sims – come into my life (sleeping bag)
heatwave – boogie nights (gto)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (warners)

vanessa freeman – the way (chilli funk)
eric benet / faith evans – georgy porgy (warners)
darrell banks – open the door (sanctuary)

80’s shoulder pad soul
skyy – first time around (salsoul)

temptations – papa was a rollin stone {remix} (motown)
candido – dancin and prancin (salsoul)
black men united – you will know {c j mac remix} (mercury)
gladys knight – giving up (motown)

hr 3
josh milan – your body (honeycomb)
ledisi – shut up (verve)
marvin gaye – stubborn kind of fellow (motown)
brandy – full moon {remix} (atlantic)

rare groove room
bennie braxton – come to me (phanleson)

sade – love is stronger than pride (sony)
robert owens – reach inside (compost)
syretta / billy preston – with you im born again (motown)
deniece williams – free (sony)
reel soul ft dawn tallman – quiet place (mn8)

smoochie zone
carmen rogers – its me (candigirl music)
tashan – outta my mind (power kingdom)

may 7

hr 1
fresh n firin
reel soul ft dawn tallman – quiet place (mn8)

lemar – 50/50 {remix} (sony)
joy jones – this too (future soul)
ramsey lewis – colours in space (sony)

new n nice
ledisi – shut up (verve)

smokey robinson – virgin man (motown)
amerie – one thing (sony)
l j reynolds – dont let nobody hold you down (mercury)
beverley knight – mama used to say (white)

rare groove room
norman connors – im your melody (capitol)

corinne bailey rae – is this love ? (emi)
bob marley – im still waiting (island)
candi staton – young hearts run free {remix} (bbe)

hr 2
fresh n firin
josh milan – your body (honeycomb music)

curtis mayfield & impressions – cant satisfy (curtom)
marsha ambrosius – butterflies (j records)
heston – greatest lover (dome)
minnie riperton – baby this love (capitol)
chic / johnny mathis – i love my lady (rhino)

fresh n firin
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)

brook benton – rainy night in georgia (atlantic)
deidre gaddis – what are we gonna do (111 east )

hr 3
smoove & turrell – slow down (jalapeno)
mass production – shante (cotillion)
jennifer hudson – no one gonna love you (arista)
funkadelic – one nation under a groove (warners)

new n nice
zepherin saint – love of my life {at jazz remix} (tribe)

aretha franklin – rocksteady (atlantic)
neyo – know your name (def jam)

70’s platform soul
maxi anderson – lover to lover (expansion)

r kelly – just like that (jive)
mood ii swing – cant get away {blaze remix} (defected)
gregory porter – illusion (motema)

smoochie zone
sonna rele – the sky is blue (emi)
mica paris / courtney pine – redemption song (island)

apr 30

hr 1
lalah hathaway – better and better {charles webster mix} (white)
emotions – best of my love (epic)

rare groove room
rome jeffries – good love  (rain records)

bigg robb – so addicted (white)
chic – i want your love (atlantic)
raphael saadiq – stone rollin (sony)

new n nice
deidre gaddis – what are we gonna do (111 east records)

rahmlee – think (headfirst)
zhane – hey mr dj (motown)
dexter wansel – let me rock you (phil int)
jamiroquai – blow your mind (sony)
sharon redd – beat the street (prelude)

hr 2
windjammer – i thought it was you (mca)
patrice rushen – remind me (elektra)

70’s platform soul
curtis mayfield – superfly (curtom)

beatchild – something forever (bbe)
diana ross – upside down (motown)
2000 black – so right (third ear)
reel people – golden lady (papa)

new n nice
manoo & francois – crying for love (papa)

erykah badu – bag lady {carib remix} (motown)
whispers – and the beat goes on (solar)
bobbi humphrey – the trip (bluenote)
the stylistics – cant give you anything (volt)

hr 3
trinia & tamara – what’d you come here (sony)
gilberto gil – maracatu atomico (elektra)
omar – there’s nothing like this (congo)
marlena shaw – california soul (universal)
luther vandross – my sensitivity (epic)
joss stone – for the love of you (relentless)

rare groove room
wornell jones – it must have been love (paradise)

leon ware – rockin you eternally (elektra)
beverley knight – fairplay (white)
phlash – think about it (archive)

smoochie zone
mint condition – caught my eye (shanachie)
rawls & middle child – something in the air (grooveattack)

apr 23

easter righteous r n b

hr 1
sisters – 3 days later (white)
ann nesby – in the spirit (a&m)
brand new heavies – stay this way (delicious)

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton (warners)

edwin starr – agent double o soul (motown)
allure – enjoy yourself (mca)
peven everett – feeling who you are (white)

book with a beat
al green – take me to the river (rca)

mary mary – heaven (sony)
stevie wonder – never had a dream (motown)
teedra moses – rescue me (white)
mantronix – got to have your love (capitol)

hr 2
beverley knight – fairplay {remix} (white)
luther vandross – are you using me {maw mix} (virgin)

80’s shoulder pad soul
surface – falling in love (salsoul)

bobby cauldwell – what you wont do for love (tk records)
aretha franklin – think (atlantic)
yolanda adams – unconditional (elektra)
gregory porter – illusion (sony)

new n nice
deidre gaddis – what re we gonna do (111 east east)

bernard wright – who do you love (emi)
webster lewis – el bobo (epic)
sly n the family stone – if you want me to stay (sony)
alexander o neal – wish you were here tonight (tabu)

hr 3
nu colors – no greater love (polydor)
paul randolph – believer (still music)
cheryl denis – i love you (bad boy)

fresh n firin
anthony david – body language (dome)

rumer – slow (atlantic)
marvin gaye – heard it through the grapevine (motown)
pam & dodi – dont have to (mca)
joe claussell – joe goes to africa (white)

new n nice
karen bernod – evolution (white)

smoochie zone
d angelo – everybody loves the sunshine (dabee)
anita baker – angel (beverley glen)
terry garmon – any way (expansion)

apr 16

hr 1
eric roberson – she went away {yoruba soul mix} (erro)
jill scott – lovely day (hidden beach)

80’s shoulder pad soul
shannon – let the music play

rae & christian – spellbound (grand central)
chic – chic cheer (atlantic)
horace brown – one for the money (motown)
corinne bailey rae – i wanna be your lover (virgin)

rare groove room
gary bartz – music is my sanctuary (capitol)

adeva – beautiful love (cooltempo)
jacksons – your ways (epic)
weeland & the urban soul collective – easy come (soulab)
aaries – all i ever think about (white)

hr 2
john legend – rolling in the deep (white)
precious wilson – i’ll be your friend (jive)
gil scot heron – the bottle (arista)
junior – mama used to say (mercury)
shirley jones – do you get enough love (phil int)
reel people – golden lady (papa)

fresh n firin
reel soul ft dawn tallman – quiet place (white)

sadao watanabe – nice shot (flying disk)
beatchild – something forever (bbe)
stevie wonder – signed , sealed , deliverered {remix} (motown)
l a boppers – watching life (mercury)
gabrielle – walk on by (arista)

hr 3
blackstreet – joy {uptown remix} (interscope}

new n nice
jill scott / anthony hamilton – so in love (white)

o jays – used to be my girl (phil int)
luther vandross – never too much (epic)
aaries – funny how time flies (white)

90’s neck nudger
jimi polo – express yourself (bmg)

fontella bass – rescue me (universal)
public annoncement – stepper friend (boss ent)
collins & collins – top of the stairs (expansion)

fresh n firin
smi ft shea soul – just fine (boglewaltz)

smoochie zone
intro – ribbon in the sky (atlantic)
cherisse – sometimes (white)

apr 9

british soul special*

hr 1
rodney franklin – i like the music make it hot (sony)
five star – let me be the one* (rca)
the dukes – mystery girl *(white)
amy winehouse – valerie * {live} (universal)
r kelly – happy people (jive)

new n nice
c & c music factory – share that beat of love {remix} (sony)

freeez – southern freeez *(beggars banquet)
alexander hope – wonderland (joint ventures)
dusty springfield – the look of love * (universal)
ron carroll – natural (101 music)
four tops – standing in the shadows (motown)

hr 2
mica paris – my one temptation *(island)
heston – greatest lover (dome)
tammy payne – take me now *(talkin loud)
eric benet – better and better (white)

90’s neck nudger
sade – love is stronger than pride *[remix} (sony)

real thing – you to me are everything *(pye)
hi tension – there’s a reason * (island)
claudette ortiz – cant get enough (white)

rare groove room
roy ayers – everybody loves the sunshine (polydor)

cheryl lynn – got to be real (cbs)
d angelo – spanish joint {remix} (emi)
mcfadden & whitehead – aint no stoppin us now (phil int)

hr 3
luther vandross – a house is not a home (epic)
mariah carey – fly away {remix} (sony)
jahiem – aint leavin (warners)
phyllis hyman – living inside your love (expansion)
imagination – body talk * (global)

new n nice
john stoddart – more than me & you (urban junction)

loose ends – stay a little while child *(virgin)
positive force – we got the funk (sugarhill)
paul johnson – initimate friends *(sony)

smoochie zone
corinne bailey rae – like a star *(emi)
marvin gaye – yesterday (motown)

apr 2

hr 1
fresh n firin
manoo & francois ft dyana fearon – crying for love (reel people)

james brown / marva whitney – things got to get better (polydor)
ce ce rogers – someday (atlantic)
patti labelle – its alright with me (expansion)

80’s shoulder pad soul
luther vandross – youre the sweetest one (epic)

ronnie laws – always there (bluenote)
tom jones – aint no sunshine (white)
ray charles – what’d i say (atlantic)

new n nice
marsha ambrosius – butterflies (j records)

viola / maw – little girl (nervous)
earth, wind & fire – earth, wind & fire (cbs)
dionne warwick – cant hide love (expansion)

hr 2
montana – heavy vibes (philly works)
change – mutual attraction (atlantic)
isley brothers – my love is your love (motown)
avery sunshine – i got sunshine (dome)
peven everett – burning hot (tribe)

70’s platform soul
a taste of honey – boogie oogie oogie (capitol)

marvin gaye – lets get it on {remix} (motown)
BBQ – genie (chysalis)
24k black – ghetto misfortunes (atlantic)
mondo grosso – souffles {louie vega mix} (nite grooves)
aretha franklin – until you come back (atlantic)
donny hathaway – the ghetto (rhino)

hr 3
adriana evans – seeing is believing (rca)
adriana evans – i’ll be there (rca)
adriana evans – love me (rca)
adriana evans – suddenly (expansion)

new n nice
bobby v – if i cant have you (def jam)

odyssey – going back to my roots (rca)
sly n the family stone – family affair (sony)
shur – i – kan – dubfunk (free range)
c & c music factory – share that beat of love {remix} (sony)

rare groove room
bohannon – song for my mother (dakar)

lizz wright – open your eyes you can fly (verve)
sonna rele – the sky is blue (emi)

mar 26

hr 1
mint condition – let me be the one (white)
loletta holloway – runaway (salsoul)
norman connors – captain connors (arista)
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – two can have (motown)
barkays – open your heart (mercury)

fresh n firin
loft soul – dear friend (loft soul)

aretha franklin – its just your love (arista)
joe quaterman & free soul – i got so much trouble (polydor)
jill scott – golden (hidden beach)
cameo – i just want to be (casablanca)
joi cardwell – run to you (eightball)

hr 2
al green – call me (harmless)
joyce sims – come into my life (sleeping bag)
eugene wilde – gotta get you home (philly world)
axus ft noami – callin u (guidance)
stevie wonder – if you really love me (motown)
chezere – where does your mind go (delabel)

rare groove
lowrell – mellow mellow right on (avi)

leroy hutson – all because of you (curtom)
nemah – stand up and believe (perception)
o jays – i love music (phil int)
kele le roc – my love (polydor)

hr 3
r kelly – just like that (jive)
marsha ambrosius – butterflies (j records)
alexander o neal – whats missing (tabu)

90’s neck nudger
alisha warren – discover me (rca)

james brown – stone to the bone (polydor)
club artists unite – sweet chariot (nervous)
charles wright – a mother’s love (dunhill)
chante moore – love’s taken over (mca)

new n nice
john stoddart – more than me and you (urban junction)

sara devine / freddie jackson – defintion of love (e1 music)
earth, wind & fire – devotion (cbs)
jones girls – feelings killings me (phil int)

mar 19

hr 1
george levin – i got somebody new (sonar kollectiv)
chaka khan – im every woman (warners)
neyo – know your name (def jam)

new n nice
marsha ambrosius – butterflies {remix} ( j records)

beginning of the end – funky nassau (atlantic)
gary bartz / tawatha agee – keep going on (arista)
jae mason – cloud of sunshine (harmless)

90’s neck nudger
c & c music factory – share that beat of love {remix} (sony)

jr walker – road runner (motown)
rahsaan patterson – where you are {silk 90’s mix} (universal)
erykah badu – bag lady {soul carib remix} (motown)
isley brothers – summer breeze (epic)
earth, wind & fire – boogie wonderland (cbs)

hr 2
diana ross – love hangover (motown)
teddy pendergrass – believe in love (elektra)
silhouette brown – who’s in charge (ether)

fresh n firin
soul element / peven everett – how bad i want you (tribe)

mary j blige – be happy (mca)
beatchild – something forever (bbe)
dwele – truth (virgin)
s.o.s band – sands of time {remix} (tabu)
bill withers – lovely day (cbs)

70’s platform soul
al hudson – spread love (abc)

jean carn / al johnson – im back for more (phil int)

hr 3
janet jackson – all for you (virgin)
mckoy – family (right track)
incognito – dont you worry bout a thing (talkin loud)
young disciples – all i have in me (island)

rare groove room
nu soul habits – cross my heart (motown)

otis redding – sitting on the dock (atlantic)
alicia keys – fallin (bmg)
quincy jones – tell me a bedtime story (a&m)
george benson – this masquerade (warner)

new n nice
boddi satva – who i am {at jazz love soul mix} (white)

jeffrey osborne – dont you get so mad (a&m)
nikki costa – loving you (stax)

mar 12

hr 1
sunkids – rescue me {maw mix} (yellorange)
earth, wind & fire – runnin (cbs)
armand van helden – flowerz (ffrr)
david grant – turn around (chrysalis)
stephanie mills / teddy pendergrass – two hearts (20th cent)
whitney houston – million dollar bill (arista)

new n nice
sara devine / freddie jackson – definition of love (e1)

raphael saadiq / stevie wonder – never give you up (sony)
donna summer – i feel love {maw mix}(white)
tashan – i want you (sony)
floaters – float on (abc)

hr 2
zhane – just like that (motown)
sunburst band – movin with the shakers (z records)
edwin starr – s.o.s (motown)

fresh n firin
mark de clive lowe / ovasoul 7 – feels like home (reel people)

margi coleman – let me down gently (priority)
al green – im so glad youre mine (harmless)
ultra nate – twisted (giant step)
ben e king – supernatural thing (atlantic)

80’s shoulder pad soul
collins & collins – top of the stairs (expansion)

reel people – golden lady (reel people)
aretha franklin – save me (atlantic)
tony ozier & funk all stars – im yours (white)
jean plum – here i go again (harmless)

hr 3
dj spinna / shaun escoffrey – music in me (bbe)
erik rico – children of the night (lifetones)
marsha ambrosius – butterflies (j records)

new n nice
chris rob – take time (white label)

erykah badu – green eyes (universal)
joe adams – sunny {regisford remix} (white)
terry callier – ordinary joe (chess)
stylistics – hurry up this way (harmless)

rare groove room
mellea – makin love in the fast lane (larc)

l j reynolds – key to the world (capitol)
blue magic – sideshow (atlantic)
richard earnshaw / imogen ryall – cry me a river (groovefinder)

mar 5

hr 1
louie vega / luisito quinterio – free my soul {remix} (bbe)
the honey cones – want ads (sanctuary)
atlantic starr – silver shadow (a&m)
erma franklin – i get the sweetest feeling (brunswick)

fresh n firin
mark de clive lowe / ovasoul – feels like home (white)

chairman of the board – give me just a little (sanctuary)
bobby nunn – dont knock it (motown)
john davis – bourgie bourgie (cbs)
archie bell & the drells – dont let love get you down (phil int)
barbara lynn – you left the water running (harmless)

new n nice
beatchild – the cure (bbe)

gladys knight – nitty gritty (motown)

hr 2
r kelly – not feelin the love (sony)
kool and the gang – ladies night (delite)
detroit spinners – could it be im falling (atlantic)
jd 73 – pure gold (z records)
heston – outside your window (dome)

rare groove room
tyrone davis – in the mood (columbia)

blaze / louie vega – love is on the way {ritual remix} (vega)
next – wifey (arista)
james brown – i got the feeling (polydor)
mr fingers – show me (black market)
blackbyrds – walking in rhythm (fantasy)
average white band – queen of my soul (atlantic)

hr 3
marsha ambrosius interview

marsha ambrosius – butterflies {remix} (j recs)
marsha ambrosius – far away (j recs)
marsha ambrosius – with you (j recs)

mica paris – you put a move on my heart (island)
queen emily – use me (malaco)
corinne bailey rae – closer (emi)
aretha franklin – daydreamin (atlantic)
adriana evans – suddenly (expansion)
kabayna chemise – sky blue (sonance)

smoochie zone
yahzarah – love come save the day (hard boiled)
nadine charles – journey (white label)

feb 26

hr 1
avery sunshine – i got sunshine (dome)
peggy lee – sitting on the dock (bluenote)
family of eve – i wanna be loved {kenny dope remix} (bbe)
bobby womack – california dreamin (bluenote)

fresh n firin
seal – weight of my mistakes {jimpster mix} (white)

cheryl lynn – got to be real (sony)
horace brown – one for the money (motown)
mandrill – stay tonite (arista)
tammi terrell – all i do (motown)
anthony david – something about you (dome)
beatchild – something forever (bbe)
anthony david – body language (dome)

hr 2
emotions – best of my love (cbs)
dj kawasaki – isnt she lovely (sony)
sly & the family stone – family affair (sony)
rhian benson – rewind (white label)
avant – nightlife (verve)
tania maria – come with me {maw mix} (concord)

rare groove room
garfield fleming – dont send me away (becket)

sylk 130 – gettin into it (ovum)
janelle monae – tightrope (bad boy)
reel people – golden lady (papa)
roberta flack / donny hathaway – back together again (wea)
stevie wonder – uptight (motown)

hr 3
breakwater – work it out (arista)
van hunt – out of the sky (capitol)
jimi polo – express yourself (rca)
sean mccabe / stephanie cooke – just a little bit (nite grooves)

70’s platform soul
isley brothers – harvest for the world (epic)
eric benet / chrisette michelle – take it (warners)
mimoon – come closer (white)
amina – falling (white)
revelations – how do i tell him (traffic)
slave – just a touch of love (cotillion)

smoochie zone
kabayna chemise – sky blue (sonace)
raheem devaughan – cornel interlude (jive)

feb 19

*grammy / brits / at jazz special*

hr 1
frank i – let the music (yoruba)
reel people – golden lady (papa)
aretha franklin – save me (atlantic)
jahiem – aint leavin (warners)*
loftsoul – dear friend {spinna mix} (loftsoul)
triquetra – half the time (tnt)

70’s platform soul
taste of honey – boogie oogie oogie (capitol)

quincy jones / john legend – tomorrow (sony)*
sunburst band – movin with the shakers (z records)
marvin gaye – abraham, martin & john (motown)
chic – i want your love (atlantic)
plan b – writings on the wall (atlantic)*

hr 2
mark de clive lowe / ovasoul – feels like home (white)
viola willis – dare to dream (streetwave)

fresh n firin
boddhi satva – who am i {at jazz love soul mix} (white label)*

randy crawford – streetlife (warners)
norman connors – i dont need nobody else (arista)
robert owens – heart n soul {christo remix} (compost)*
leela james / pete rock – no tears (bbe)
candi staton – young harts run free {remix} (bbe)
inner life – make it last forever {remix} (salsoul)

fresh n firin
anthony david – body language (dome)

hr 3
corinne bailey rae – like a star (emi)
sun singleton – moment {at jazz remix} (still novo)*
timmy regisford / arnold jarvis – masterpiece (tribe)
dj spinna / erik rico – melody (white)
o jays – used to be my girl (phil int)
kay suzuki – move on (superfically deep)*

rare groove room
smokey robinson – quiet storm (motown)

esperanza spalding – precious (heads up)*
billy paul – me & mrs jones (phil int)
janet jackson – got til its gone {mellow remix}(virgin)

smoochie zone
mint condition – caught my eye (shanachie)
christina aguilera – on our way (rca)

feb 12

hr 1
shalamar – make that move (solar)
harold melvin & the bluenotes – the love i lost (phil int)
estelle – all day long (atlantic)

80’s shoulder pad soul
tom browne – funkin for jamaica (arista)

lynae – life is a but a dream (maw)
roy ayers – our time is coming (maw)
lisa stansfield / coldcut – people hold on (big life)
bill withers – just the two of us (elektra)

soundtrack soul – for coloured girls
nina simone, ledisi,simone  – four woman (atlantic)

jon b – dont talk {blaze mix} (sony)

hr 2
teddy pendergrass – the more i get (phil int)
chaka khan – im every woman (warners)
stevie wonder – another star (motown)
carl carlton – she’s a bad mama jama (20th cent)
oleta adams – get here (spectrum)

fresh n firin
reel people – galatica suite (papa)

earth, wind & fire – in the stone (cbs)
ambrosia – believe in me (shelter)
james ingram – lean on me (maw)
tramps – the night the lights (atlantic)

hr 3
blaze – how deep is your love (shelter)

valentines smoochie zone
alicia keys – unthinkable (bmg)
marvin gaye – sexual healing (cbs)
isley brothers – footsteps in the dark (epic)

new n nice
zo – make luv 2 me (hard boiled)

jackson 5 – who’s lovin you (motown)
brendan guyatt – world (guyatt)
luther vandross – house is not a home {live in concert} (epic)
joss stone – for the love of you (relentless)
jamie foxx – creepin (sony)

feb 5

hr 1
dj kawasaki – isnt she lovely (sony)
janelle monae – tightrope {remix} (bad boy)
curtis mayfield – pusherman (curtom)
reel people – golden lady (papa)

soundtrack soul – fighting temptations movie
beyonce – fever (sony)

john stoddart – more than you and me (urban junction)

fresh n firin
sean mcabe / stephanie cooke – just a little bit (nite grooves)

maze – joy and pain (capitol)
eric benet / faith evans – georgy porgy (warners)
dr buzzard’s original savannah band – hard times (elektra)
champaign – how bout us (sony)

hr 2
oliver cheatham – get down saturday night (mca)
dexter wansel – let me rock you (phil int)
gil scot heron – the bottle (arista)
jesse & trinia – where is the love (capitol)

fresh n firin
kemeticjust – i got life (ntdal)

charles & eddie – would i lie to you (warners)
rumer – slow (atlantic)
carlos nino – find my way (stones throw)
anthony david – 4ever more (dome)
mica paris – should’ve known better (island)
r kelly – just like that (jive)
yahzarah – love come save the day (hard boiled)

hr 3
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – aint no mountain {remix} (motown)
sly n the family stone – everybody is a star (sony)
ami stewart – friends (defected)
marcus enochson – listen for it (ricanstruction)

rare groove room
universal robot band – barely breaking even (moonglow)

la mission – be thankful for what you got (round whirled)
nathan watson – reach out {sed soul mix} (strawberry moon)
incognito – always there {maw mix}
tavares – madam butterfly (capitol)

smoochie zone
jill scott – whenever you’re around (hidden beach)
chez sheperd – you got the magic (white label)

jan 29

hr 1
fresh n firin
timmy regisford ft arnold jarvis – masterpiece (tribe)

michael jackson – wanna be where you are (motown)
funkadelic – one nation under a groove (warners)
freda payne – band of gold (invictus)
archie bell & the drells – dont let  love get ya down (phil int)
jackie moore – this time baby (columbia)
breakwater – say you love me (arista)

80’s shoulder pad soul
joyce sims – come into my life (sleeping bag)

cunnie williams – spirit {maw mix} (peppermint)
india aire – brown skin {naked music remix} (motown)
stevie wonder – signed sealed delivered {remix} (motown)
faith evans – i still (e one)

hr 2
earth wind & fire – let your feelings show (sony)
rene & angela – i love you more (capitol)
GQ – make my dream a reality (arista)
eternal – stay {remix} (emi)

rare groove room
pleasure – glide (fantasy)

elgins – heaven must have sent you (motown)
heston – greatest lover (dome)
peven everett / soul element – how bad i want ya (white)
sister sledge – thinking of you (atlantic)
intro – ribbon in the sky (atlantic)
rachelle ferrell / will downing – nothing has ever felt (emi)

hr 3
chairman of the board – give me just a little (sanctuary)
inner life – make it last forever (salsoul)
sahara – love’s so fine (elite)
detroit spinners – i’ll be around (atlantic)

new n nice
hyer baby – when i found (white)

toni tony tone – anniversary (polygram)
kabanya chemise – skyblue (mosaic)
reel people – golden lady (papa)
r kelly – when a woman (jive)
three degrees – when will i see you again (phil int)

smoochie zone
marvin gaye – i want you (motown)
erykah badu – telephone (motown)

jan 22

hr 1
jon b – dont talk (sony)
etta james – in the basement (universal)
james brown – i got the feeling (polydor)
shuya okino – sun will shine (especial)

fresh n firin
john stoddart – more than you and me (urban junction)

fontella bass – rescue me (universal)
chic / johnny mathis – i love my lady (atlantic)

70’s platform soul
evelyn ‘champagne’ king – shame (rca)

avant – nightlife (verve)
hyer baby – when i found you (white label)
george michael – careless whisper {abicah soul mix}(white)
nina simone – seeline woman {maw mix} (verve)

hr 2
quincy jones ft chaka khan – stuff like that (a&m)
brand new heavies – stay this way (ffrr)
blaze – how deep is your love (shelter)
ike & tina turner – he’s the one (kent)
imagination – body talk (global)

all dayer anthem
rene & angela – secret rendezvous

chez sheppard – you got the magic (white)
donna summer – i feel love {maw mix} (white)
d j rogers – let my life shine (columbia)
stephanie mills – put your body in it (20th cent)

80’s shoulder pad soul
bobby nunn – dont knock it (motown)

deniece williams – free (columbia)

hr3
leon ware – rocking you eternally (elektra)
donald byrd – wind parade (bluenote)
usher – here i stand {abicah soul mix} (white)
harold melvin & the bluenotes – i miss you (phil int)
alicia keys – fallin (bmg)

fresh n firin
suff daddy – 5 o clock (white label)

minnie riperton – lovin you (capitol)
kendrick jackson – hungry (white)
alexander o neal – if you were here tonight (tabu)
conya doss – no more (doss records)

smoochie zone
hyer baby – let u go (white)
floacist / raheem devaughan – keep it going (shanachie)

jan 15

hr 1
erro – dont change (defected)
pointer sisters – send him back {remix} (atlantic)

new n nice
eric benet / chrisette michelle – take it (warners)

mary mary – shackles (sony)
isley brothers – its your thing (motown)
inner life – moments of my life (salsoul)
flowers – for real (goldmine)
aretha franklin – giving him something he can feel (atlantic)

fresh n firin
soul element ft peven everett – how bad i want ya (white)

bobby womack – how could you break my heart (universal)
rare groove room
four tops – tell em you love me (abc)

hr 2
chaka khan – im every woman (warners)
ruff endz – no more (arista)
stock, aitken & waterman – roadblock (universal)
roy ayers – running away (polydor)
marie st james – closer i get (yoruba)

rare groove room
charles williams – standing in the way (emi)

gabrielle – walk on by (arista)
jahiem – aint leavin (warners)

new n nice
estelle – all day long (atlantic)

la mission – be thankful for what you got (round whirled)
ananda project – love is beautiful (nite grooves)
weldon irvine – i love you (rca)
emily sante – climbing mountains (white label)
maddslinky ft omar – special {at jazz remix} (tru thoughts)

hr 3
supremes – come into my life (motown)

new n nice
heston – greatest lover (dome)

kem – youre on my mind (motown)
eternal – stay {remix} (emi)
plan b – prayin (atlantic)
curtis mayfield – superfly (vega remix) (curtom)

soul britannia
mirage – summer groove (flamingo)

kabayna chemise – skyblue (mosiac)
otis redding – sitting on the dock (atlantic)

smoochie zone
joss stone – for the love of you (relentless)
al green – how can you mend a broken heart (rca)

jan 8

nuggets of the noughties special

hr 1
diana ross – brown baby (motown)
darien – saturday (righteous music)
masters at work – backfired (maw)
james brown – think (polydor)
ledisi – in a sentimental mood (le sun)

fresh n firin
queen emily – use me (malaco)

dj spinna ft shaun escoffrey – music in me (bbe)
incognito ft chaka khan – lowdown (dome)
rebirth – stray away (kajmere)
bilal – sometimes (interscope)

hr 2
candi staton – young hearts run free (sony)
donny hathaway – the ghetto (atlantic)
cameo – candy (chocolate city)

80’s shoulder pad soul
fonda rae – tuch me (harmless)

anthony hamilton – lucille (arista)
antoinique – phenomenon (malaco)
blue six – love yourself (naked music)

70’s platform soul
al green – lets stay together (rca)

janelle monae – ba bop bye ya (bad boy)
darrell banks – open the door (sanctuary)
odyssey – going back to my roots (rca)

hr 3
marcell & the truth – never leave you lonely (basement boys)
alicia keys – diary (bmg)
osunlade / erro – everything in its right place (bbe)

nu n nice
rumer – slow (atlantic)

kem – love calls (motown)
teedra moses – caught up (tvt)
reel people – outta love (papa)
corinne bailey rae – like a star (emi)
raheen devauhgan – you (soulful house mix)

smoochie zone
gladys knight – midnight train (buddah)
freddie jackson – rock me tonight (capitol)

jan 1 - teena marie tribute  show

teena marie – im a sucker for your love (motown)
shay jones – are you gonna be there (id records)

80’s shoulder pad soul
cameo – the sound table (chocolate city)

queen emily – use me (malaco)
marvin gaye / tammi terrell – aint no mountain {remix} (motown)
sterling ensemble ft sara devine – life aint what it seems (vega)
o jays – put our heads together (phil int)
teena marie – portuguese love (motown)

rare groove room
fred wesley & the jb’s – im paying taxes what am i buying (polydor)

marlena shaw – california soul (universal)
glenn underground – trust yourself (large)
ralph tresvant – my sensitivity (mca)
rebirth – this journey in (kajmere)
teena marie – you make love in springtime (motown)
cee lo – old fashioned (atlantic)

soulful n sassy
hardsoul – back together (soulfuric)
beverley knight – flavour of the old school (dome)
andy cauldwell – i cant wait (om records)
rose royce – love dont live here anymore (wea)
teena marie – dear mr gaye (epic)

smoochie zone
john legend – hang on in there (sony)
teena marie – rose and the thorn (stax)

The Definitive Guide to African American Films released in – 70’s, 80’s, 90’s & 00’s

(in no particular order)

BLAXPLOITATION

1 Sweet Sweetback Badaass Song 1971

‘Recommended by the Black Panthers’.

Directed and starring Melvin Van Peebles, this was the first totally independent Black movie. Van Peebles funded the film himself, shooting it independently over a period of 19 days, performing all of his own stunts and appearing in several unsimulated sex scenes. Van Peebles gained additional funds with a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby to complete the film. Initially, the film was only screened in two theaters in the United States. But even with this limited, the response from the Black cinema going audience was incredible. People queued in their hundreds to see what was essentially the tale of a promiscuous black anti-hero as he makes his way towards Mexico to evade the white racist police. It went on to gross $4,100,000 at the box office. Huey P. Newton celebrated and welcomed the film’s revolutionary implications, and the film became required viewing for members of the Black Panther Party. The film is an important work in the history of American cinema. It paved the way for the success of future independent black films. According to Variety, it demonstrated to Hollywood that films which portrayed “militant” blacks could be highly profitable, leading to the creation of the blaxploitation genre. The musicians on the movie soundtrack were a young group unheard of at the time who went on to global fame as Earth Wind and Fire.

2 Shaft 1971

Who’s the Black private dick who’s a sex machine to all the chicks?

Following hot on the heels of Sweetback, Metro Goldwyn Mayer produced Shaft. According to Van Peebles the character of Shaft was originally a white detective.. “But after the success of Sweetback..they just added some muthafuckas and turned him into a Black one!” The white studios finally realised there was a whole market going uptapped – the Black film going audience who had grown tired of seeing Black actors as happy slaves or loyal side-kicks to the white hero. Directed by Black filmmaker Gordon Parks, andstarring Richard Roundtree in the title role, Shaft tells the story of a black private detective, John Shaft, who travels through Harlem and to the Italian mob in order to find the missing daughter of a black mobster. The classic soundtrack by Issac Hayes won an Oscar! Two sequels were made: Shaft’s Big Score in 1972, and Shaft in Africa in 1973. These were followed by a series of TV movies starring Roundtree as Shaft on CBS during the 1973-1974 TV season.In 2000, a movie sequel was made by John Singleton but don’t bother checking it out. Despite having the coolest man in Hollywood in the starring role, Samuel L. Jackson, it just can’t match the swagger of the original!

3 Superfly 1972

‘That’s the American dream ni**a! Well ain’t it?

Super Fly helped kick start the whole blaxploitation era, directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., and starring Ron O’Neal as Youngblood Priest, a black cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business. Super Fly is one of the few films ever to have been outgrossed by its soundtrack, and indeed the classic soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield (who also makes a cameo appearance) has stood the test of time much better than the movie.

I’m your momma, I’m your daddy, I’m that nigga in the alley,

I’m your doctor when you need, have some coke, have some weed,

You know me, I’m your friend, your main boy, thick and thin,

I’m your pusherman

Much loved by the hip-hop generation, dialogue from this movie has been sampled by the likes of Snoop Dogg and Jay Z.

4 Uptown Saturday Night 1974

This comedy was written by Richard Wesley, and directed by Sidney Poitier. Poitier also stars in this film, along with Bill Cosby and Harry Belafonte. Cosby and Poitier teamed up again for Let’s Do It Again (1975) and A Piece of the Action (1977). Although their characters have different names in each film, the three films are considered to be a trilogy.

5 Car Wash 1976

This comedy starred Bill Duke, Melanie Mayron, and Antonio Fargas, and is a comedy about a “day-in-the-life” of a Los Angeles, California car wash, its employees, and its owner, Mr. B. In an episodic fashion, the film covers a full day, during which all manner of strange visitors make appearances, including Richard Pryor as a preaching ‘wonder-man’, but the film is best remembered for the hit song from its soundrack recorded by Rose Royce, written and produced by Norman Whitfield, was a #1 hit and one of the biggest hit singles of the Disco era.

Other titles incl – The Mack, Foxy Brown, Coffy, Cleopatra Jones, Black Caesar, Hell Up In Harlem

80’S MUSICALS

6 Fame 1980.

The film follows a group of students through their studies at the New York High School of Performing Arts. The film is split into sections corresponding to auditions, freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. The film ranked number 42 on Entertainment Weekly‘s 2006 list of the “50 Best High School Movies”. It is best remembered for the theme tune sung by Irene Cara. Also, thanks to its lead male character Leroy, it popularised cane rows as an acceptable hair style for Black men! The film has spawned a television series and spin-off, a stage musical, and a 2009 film remake.

7 Flashdance 1983.

When this movie was released I remember film critic Barry Norman describing it as ‘The only dance movie I’ve ever seen, where the camera dwells longer and more lovingly on the dancers’ crotch, than on her feet.” Since I was a horny young teenager at the time, and since the crotch in question belonged to Jennifer Beals, I certainly wasn’t complaining!

Flashdance opened to bad reviews by professional critics but was a surprise box office success, becoming the third highest grossing film of 1983 in the USA. Its soundtrack spawned several hit songs, among them “Maniac” by Michael Sembello and the Academy Award-winning “Flashdance… What a Feeling“, performed by Irene Cara.

It tells the story of eighteen year-old Alexandra (Alex) Owens (played by Jennifer Beals) who is a dancer in a tavern at night and a welder at a steel mill during the day, and dreams of being accepted by a prestigious dance school, the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance and Repertory.

Hip Hop culture hits the cinema in 1984. The East Coast/West Coast beef that dominated hip-hop in the late 90’s was fortold a decade earlier on celluloid, when two movies about the fledgling hip-hop scene, set on the two different coasts of the US, giving two very different views of hip-hop, were released in the same year.

Whatever their lack of artistic merit these two movies from the 80’s helped kick start the rise of hip-hop culture worldwide. Before these movies it was an underground subculture of New York’s Black and Hispanic community. After this point it rose from strength to strength to become the worlds dominant youth culture.

8 Beat Street 1984

Set in the South Bronx, Beat Street follows the lives of a pair of brothers and their group of friends, all of whom are devoted to various elements of early hip-hop culture. Kenny Kirkland is a budding DJ and MC, and his younger brother Lee is a hardcore b-boy who dances with the New York City Breakers. Kenny’s best friends are Ramon a graffiti artist known by his tag, “Ramo”, and Chollie his self-styled manager/promoter. Although not of much interest to those outside of hip-hop culture (which, lets face it, was most people in the mid 1980’s) this film was required viewing for any self respecting B-Boy, as it featured cameo’s from many of hip-hops biggest stars at the time including Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force, Jazzy Jay, Doug E. Fresh, the New York City Breakers, the Rock Steady Crew, Treacherous Three, Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five – and hip-hop Godfather Kool DJ Herc.

9 Breakdance/Breakin 1984

Whilst Beat Street was an authentic slice of New York’s hip-hop culture in all its forms, Breakdance was the Hollywood version. Its is basically the story of nice white girl Kelly, a struggling young jazz dancer who meets up with two break dancers, Ozone and Turbo from the other side of the tracks, who have a bitter rivalry with another crew, Electro Rock. A million miles from the birthplace of hip-hop in the South Bronx, it was all palmtrees and sunshine, legwarmers, and leotards, studded leather gloves, and smouldering sexual tension. (Remember this was the era of Miami Vice on TV!) But hip-hop fans ate it up for its rare glimpses of the still devoloping artforms of breakdancing and body popping. And of course like any self respecting Black movie it had a slamming soundtrack that featured “There’s No Stoppin’ Us” by Ollie & Jerry, “Tour de France” by Kraftwerk, “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan and “Reckless” by Ice T, who had a brief cameo in the film.

EDDIE MURPHY MOVIES

In his first three movies, whether he’s a cop, or a con-man, or a convict, Murphy plays virtually the same character, a fast talking wise guy who’s out of his natural environment, but through quick wittedness and charm, manages to come out on top.

10 48 Hrs. 1982

starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy as a cop and convict respectively, who team up to catch a cop-killer. The title refers to the amount of time they have to solve the crime. This was Eddie Murphy’s film debut (in his Golden Globe-nominated role). 48 Hrs. is often credited as being the first “buddy cop” film. The genre evolved throughout the 1980s and 1990s with features such as Beverly Hills Cop, Running Scared, Lethal Weapon, Tango & Cash, Bad Boys, and Rush Hour. The film spawned a 1990 sequel, Another 48 Hrs.There were two more sequels that represented low points in Murphy’s career.

11 Trading Places 1983

This is basically a modern reworking of the Prince and Pauper story with Dan Akroyd playing Louis Winthorpe III a Harvard educated, silver spoon fund manager, and Eddie Murphy playing street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) who switch places.

12 Beverley Hills Cop 1984

Murphy stars as Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit cop, who heads to Beverly Hills, California to solve the death of his best friend (although the trailer says that he’s on vacation). The soundtrck spawned Alex F – by Harold Faltemeyer – an irrestible piece of 80’s sythetic pop that was to give birth to the Crazy Frog years later.

EDDIE MURPHY STAND-UP MOVIES

For viewers who are only familiar with Eddie murphy’s family friendly fare of recent years such as Daddy Day Care and the Dr Doolittle and Nutty Professor franchises, the fact that in his younger days he was the f’ing and blinding, sexist, racist, and homphobic heir to Richard Pryor’s comedy crown will come as a shock. But in the 80’s Eddie Murphy ruled the stand up comedy kingdom. He took the raw explicit style that Richard Pryor had made famous in the 70’s, and ran with it. Though Pryor was undoubtedly a comedy genius, his standup was sometimes rambling and lacking focus. Murphy’s on the otherhand was air-tight and sharp as a pin. Also unlike Richard Pryor, whos stand up performances on film, on stage, and on record, gave his fans a steady stream of comedy gold, Murphy only made two stand up movies. Thankfully both of them are classics.

13 Delirious – 1983

The 70-minute show, released in 1983, showcases his most racy material. The word “f**k” is used a total of 230 times, and “shit” is used 171 times. This stand-up routine was infamous for its depiction of a homosexual Mr. T, and for making fun of James Brown’s singing mannerisms, particularly the scratchy nature of Brown’s voice and the nearly indecipherable nature of his lyrics. X-rated, outrageous, and dangerous.

14 Raw 1990

After the runaway success of Delirious, Murphy came back 7 years later with this. Raw is a brilliant critique of the cut and thrust of moodern relationships in America, basing it around the messages in the popular songs of the time Nothing Goin On But the Rent and What Have You Done for Me Lately? He jokes that he intends to go deep into Africa to find a ‘bush bitch’ who has no concept of Western culture in order to get a wife who (he hopes) will not divorce him.

Other titles include, Harlem Nights, Life,

SPIKE LEE & THE BLACK RENAISSANCE

As a scan through our list so far will testify, the 80s were dominated by musicals, comedies and interacial buddy movies. In music as with in film the Black Power aesthetic of the 70’s was all but forgotten, and proper Black movies were a thing of the past. That was util Shelton Jackson Lee kicked in the door with his debut She’s Gotta Have it. The arrival of that movie was remiscent of that of Sweet Sweetback 15 years earlier. Something that Black sudiences had been waitng for but had not even realised it. In the interim period, thanks to the likes of Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Mr T, and Carl Weathers audiences had gotten used to Black men being the action hero, but what they hadn’t been seeing, and was conspicous by it’s absence, was Black people in loving/romantic/sexual situations. Black men were allowed to fire guns, throw punches, and crack jokes but not be sexual. It seemed as though Hollywood was happy to see Black men being aggressive, but not being romantic. Spike Lee changed all of all of that with his first movie. After kickin’ open the door for Black filmmakers at the end of the 80’s, Spike Lee led a rennaisance in Black cinema that, fuelled by hip-hop culture, lasted throughout the 90’s.

15 She’s Gotta Have it – 1986

She’s Gotta Have it had enough Black people having sex in it to make up for its absence from the screen in the previous 10 years. It tells the story of Nola Darling (portrayed by Tracy Camilla Johns) a young, attractive, sexually-independent Brooklynite who juggles three suitors: the polite and well-meaning Jamie Overstreet, the self-obsessed model Greer Childs, and the immature, motor-mouthed bicycle messenger Mars Blackmon played by Spike Lee himself. Nola is attracted to the best in each of them, but refuses to commit to any of them, cherishing her personal freedom instead, even though each man wants her for himself. As well as breaking cinema’s sexual taboos, She’s Gotta Have It is also credited with depiciting the new types of African American’s that had grown up in the wake of the civil rights movement – the Buppie, the B-Boy and The Bap. (See Nelson’s George’s book for more details). Spike’s iconic b-boy character Mars Blackmon, went on to be the star of Nike’s TV commercials for the Air Jordan shoe.

16 Do the Right Thing - 1989

The film deals with issues of racial conflict in the multi-ethnic community of Bedford-Stuyvesant, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, during the hottest day of the summer. Director Lee stars in the film, alongside Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, and John Turturro. The film is also notable in that it marks the feature film debuts for Martin Lawrence, and Rosie Perez.

It has come to prominence again of late as it reported to be the first film that dating Barack Obama and his then girlfriend Michelle went to see.

The song “Fight the Power“ by Public Enemy is not only on the soundtrack but is crucial to the narrative of the film, as its blasted from a huge boombox toted by central character Radio Raheem.

17 Jungle Fever – 1991

A very ambitious project this attempted to tackle the twin subjects of interacial relationships and the drug epidemic in the same film. After been criticised for featuring a sanitised drug-free version of the ghetto in Do the Right Thing, Spike looked the crack epidemic full in the face in this 1991 movie, (the subtext perhaps being the the twin evils of drugs and mixed relationships were destroying the fabric of the Black community). The plot centers on the interracial romance between a successfully married Black architect, Flipper Purify (played by Wesley Snipes), and an Italian-American secretary, Angie Tucci (Sciorra). The subplot considers the problems of drug abuse, with Flipper’s brother Gator (an Oscar worthy performance from Samuel L. Jackson) as a crack addict, and a minor role for Halle Berry as his crack addicted girlfriend. It also features a brief cameo from Queen latifah

18 Hollywood Shuffle 1987

Another of the pioneering Black filmakers of the 1980’s was Robert Townsend. This comedy satirizes the stereotyping of African Americans in both film and television and details the frustrations of Black film makers and actors with a Hollywood system that only wanted to see the usual racial stereotypes or Eddie Murphy. It was directed and produced by Robert Townsend, and written by Townsend, and Keenen Ivory Wayans. Many of the cast and crew later became involved in the Fox TV sketch comedy series In Living Color (1990-1994), and the style of humor is similar.

Other titles worth checking out – School Dayz, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Metero Man, Girl 6, Summer of Sam, 25^th Hour, Inside Man

‘HOOD MOVIES – BLAXPLOITATION FOR THE 90’S?

Once the likes of Spike Lee and Robert Townsend , had kicked the Hollywood door open, the hip-hop generation wanted a piece of the pie. Just as hip-hop infilitrated the cinemas in the mids 80’s, it returned in the 90’s. But this time it wasn’t in movies documenting the new musical subculture, but rather as rappers taking on serious dramatic roles about urban America. The list of ex-rappers who have tried their hand at acting is endless, (LL Cool J, Queen Latifah being two of the more successful examples) but there are a few who have made the move so well, that they have eclipsed the success of their original careers.

19 Jasons Lyric

This makes the list as it features a fresh faced Jada Pinkett ( now Mrs Will Smith ) and boasts a soundtrack  of soulful r n b playas of the day.

When two African-American teenagers fall in love on the drug-ridden streets of Houston, they need courage to stay together and resist violent temptation in this urban drama.

Starring: Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett, Bokeem Woodbine, Treach

Starring: Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett, Bokeem Woodbine, Treach, Eddie Griffin, Forest Whitaker

Director: Doug McHenry

20 House Party 1990

Written and directed by Reginald Hudlin this hip-hop comedy starred rappers Kid and Play as well as Paul Anthony, Bow-Legged Lou, and B-Fine from Full Force, and Robin Harris (who died of a heart attack nine days after House Party was released). The film also starred the likes of past and future famous faces, such as Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell and Gene “Groove” Allen (of Groove B. Chill), John Witherspoon, with a cameo by funk legend George Clinton.

21 Boyz n Tha Hood – 1991

Starring Ice Cube in his first dramatic role Boyz n the Hood is a painful coming of age story written and directed by John Singleton. Co starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett, and Laurence Fishburne, it depicts life in poor South Central Los Angeles, California, an area blighted by the effects of broken families and gang violence. Both director John Singlton and rapper turned actor Ice Cube were shock discoveries. The film was nominated for both Best Director and Original Screenplay at the 1991 Academy Awards, making Singleton the youngest person ever nominated for Best Director and the first African–American.

22 New Jack City 1991

A crime-thriller/neo-noir film starring Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, and Mario Van Peebles (son of Melvin Van Peebles) who also directs. Snipes stars as Nino Brown, a rising drug dealer and crime lord in New York City during the crack epidemic. Nino and his gang, the Cash Money Brothers (CMB), become the dominant drug ring within New York City when crack cocaine is introduced to the city streets during the 1980s and mid 1990s. They convert an entire apartment complex (“The Carter”) into a crack house. Ice-T plays a detective who vows to stop Nino’s criminal activity by going undercover to work for Nino’s gang. New Jack City was the first theatrically released film for director and co-star Mario Van Peebles.

23 Juice – 1992

Although 2 Pac was a rapper before he turned to movies it was his role in this 1992 movie rather than his first 2 albums that won him worldwide attention. In this story, he played the character Bishop, a trigger happy teen, for which he was hailed by Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers as “the film’s most magnetic figure”. Another classic hip-hop movie with a long list of cameos from New York’s finest, this was also the big screen debut from Omar Epps. He went on to star with Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice and with Duane Martin in Above the Rim. After his death, three of Shakur’s completed films, Bullet, Gridlock’d and Gang Related, were posthumously released.

24 Deep Cover 1992

This was a uncover-cop buddy movie with a difference. Laurence Fishbourne plays LAPD cop Russell Stevens who goes undercover to infiltrate a drugs cartel. Nothing particualrly original there, but the twist comes when he teams up with Jewish lawyer David Jason, played Jeff Goldblum, who though from the outside appears to be a law abiding citizen, really wants to be a drugs lord. It is the teaming up of these two very different men, who should both be on the right side of the law, but both cross that line so spectacularly, that give the movie its dramatic tension.

For the hip-hop trainspotters the soundtrack included the title track that introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg to the world, and was the genesis of the Death Row Record lable.

25 Bad Boys – 1995

More than any other, Will Smith is the poster boy for all ‘rappers turned actors’, winning acclaim on the silver screen that he never quite managed behind the mic. After forging a successful TV career with his sit-com The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (in which he just played a version of his rap persona) here, he built up a new persona for himself – similar to the one Eddie Muyrphy had honed to perfection in Beverley Hills Cop 11 years earlier – the quick talking, trigger happy, cop. His pairing with comedy actor Martin Lawrence resulted in great screen chemistry that led to a box office smash and sequel.

26 Friday 1995

West Coast rapper Ice Cube made his name in hip-hop as the ‘nigga ya love to hate’ and for his movie debut in Boyz N Tha Hood he played pretty much the same role. So his first movie as writer, star, and executive producer was a surprise. An easy going comedy about an easy going homeboy who still lives with his parents, and hangs out with his weed smoking best friend Smokey. This was the movie that shot comedian Chris Tucker (who was later to star in the Rush Hour franchise) to fame.

27 Set It Off 1996

This action/crime/drama directed by F. Gary Gray, let the ladies in on the action having four strong female leads. Starring Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise (in her theatrical debut), as four close friends in Los Angeles, California who decide to plan and execute a bank robbery. They decide to do so for different reasons, although all four want better for themselves and their families.

Other titles include Menance II Society, Fresh, Dead Presidents (very soulful soundtrack), Clockers

In Too Deep, , Sugar Hill, Above The Rim, Mo’Money

BUPPY LOVE

Just as the shoot-em-up hip-hop movies of the early 90’s were starting to wear thin, there came a new genre, showing the lives and loves of American’s Black middle class, who all had upscale lives, successful careers, beautiful homes and who’s only concern was their complicated love lives.

28 Mo Better Blues 1990

Mo’ Better Blues is a sexy stylish jazz musical was directed by Spike Lee and starred Denzel Washington, and Wesley Snipes, It follows a period in the life of a fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (played by Denzel Washington) as a series of bad decisions result in his jeopardizing both his relationships and his playing career. The film focuses on themes of friendship, loyalty, honesty, cause-and-effect and ultimately salvation.

The soundtrack to the film was composed and played by Branford Marsalis Quartet and Terence Blanchard but also featured the jazz/rap hybrid Jazz Thing by rap duo Gangstarr.

29 Boomerang - 1992

After his career hit a slump at the end of the 80’s, Eddie Murphy moved with the times and hit gold again with this Black romantic comedy, directed by Reginald Hudlin. Eddie Murphy stars as Marcus Graham, a hotshot advertising executive who also happens to be an insatiable womanizer and male chauvinist. But his lifestyle of serial womanising is thrown off balance when caught between his new boss Jacqueline, played by Robin Givens, and the nice girl next door played by Halle Berry. As well as employing an all Black cast Murphy also moved with the times by utilising a slamming soundtrack that featured songs by Boyz II Men, and Toni Braxton, and was executively produced by Babyface.

30 Waiting to Exhale – 1995

During the late 80’s and early 90’s, the Black male cinema going audience had plenty to keep them returning to their local picture houses, but the Black female audiences were still feeling neglected, with roles for Black female actors confined to being the male hero’s love interest. Still, they had the novels of Terry McMillian to keep them entertained. Then someone had the bright idea of putting one of her novels up on the screen. Waiting to Exhale starred Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon and was adapted from the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. The story centers on four female friends living in the Phoenix, Arizona area and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are “holding their breath” until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man.

The original music score was composed by ladies choice Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.

31 Love Jones 1997

Rather than hip-hop or R&B the musical backdrop here was Jazz and spoken word poetry. Once Halle Berry had left Black movies to enteer the mainstream, Nia Long took her place as the actress of choice to play those girl-next door roles. Larenz Tate plays the spoken word artists who pursues her. Isaiah Washington, Bill Bellamy, and Lisa Nicole Carson lead the supporting cast.

32

Soul Food 1997

Soul Food is told through the eyes of 11-year-old Ahmad (Hammond), follows the trials of the Joseph family, a close-knit Chicago family that gets together to have Sunday dinner every week, with plenty of soul food to go around. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film stars Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, and Mekhi Phifer. The film centers on the trials of an extended African-American family, held together by longstanding family traditions which begin to fade as serious problems take center. Moral of the story ? The family that eats Soul Food together, stays together.

Other titles include The Best Man, The Brothers, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Obsessed

MUSICAL/HISTORICAL BIOPICS

Naturally, after finally getting an opportunity to tell the stories of ordinary Black folk on the big screen, some filmakers also wanted to tell the story of our heroes, musical, political and otherwise. The biggest budget of these once again came from Spike Lee with his 1992 biopic of Malcolm X, followed with Will Smiths portrayal of Muhammed Ali, but there were also the smaller budget more low key portrayals of musical hereos like Jamiee Foxx’s portrayal of R& B singer Ray Charles , or Cadillac Records the story of pioneering record label Chess

33 The Five Heartbeats 1991

A musical drama directed by Robert Townsend, who co-wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Wayans. The plot of the film (which is loosely based on the lives of several artists; The Dells, The Temptations, Four Tops, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke and others) follows the three decade career of the fictional band The Five Heartbeats. The film depicts the rise and fall of a Motown inspired soul act through the eyes of the film’s main protagonist Donald “Duck” Matthews (portrayed by Townsend).

34 Malcolm X 1992

directed by Spike Lee about the African-American activist and black nationalist Malcolm X. The story is based on The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. Denzel Washington was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role. Every self respecting Black person should know the life story of Malcolm X, but the story of the making of the film is nearly as interesting.

Once Warner Bros. agreed to greenlight the project, they wanted Academy Award-winning Canadian film director Norman Jewison to direct the film. Jewison, director of the classic civil rights film In the Heat of the Night, was able to bring Denzel Washington into the project to play Malcolm (the two would later work on The Hurricane). Soon a protest erupted over the fact that a white director, Jewison, was slated to make the film. Spike Lee was one of the main voices; since college, he had considered a film adaption of The Autobiography Of Malcolm X to be his dream project. Lee and others felt that Malcolm’s story had to be told by a black director. They eventually got there way when the studio and director gave way to protest. But that was not the end, but merely the beginning of Lee’s struggle. There were those in the Black community that felt that a sex symbol like Denzel Washington was not suitable to play the lead role, and that given his controversial earlier movies, Lee was not a suitable director. Then there were the financial problems. The film was saved by the financial intervention of prominent African Americans, some of whom appear in the film’s final photo montage during the closing credits, including Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Janet Jackson, and Prince. Their contributions were made as donations; as Lee noted: “This is not a loan. They are not investing in the film. These are black folks with some money who came to the rescue of the movie. As a result, this film will be my version. Not the bond company’s version, not Warner Brothers’. I will do the film the way it ought to be, and it will be over three hours.” Money well spent.

35

When we Were Kings (1996 ) /Soul Power (2009)

These two documentaries tell the same story, of the epic 1974 boxing match between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman which became known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. Whilst the former concentates on the boxing aspect of the event and features exerpts of the match itself, the later focusses on the three day music concert that took place as part of the same event, and features music from BB. King, The Spinners, and James Brown. But clips of Don King, James Brown, & Muhammed Ali, who feature in both all in their prime, just talking, are worth the price of the admission alone!

36 Amistad 1997

Directed by Steven Spielberg based on the true story of a slave mutiny that took place aboard a ship of the same name in 1839, and the legal battle that followed. It shows how, even though the case was won at the federal district court level, it was appealed by President Martin Van Buren to the Supreme Court, and how former President John Quincy Adams took part in the proceedings. Though a powerful portrayal of the evils of th slave trade, the picture came in for some criticism at the time of its release as yet another example of movies where helpless Black savages are saved by the all powerful white men.

37 The Hurricane – 1999

Directed by Norman Jewison, and starring Denzel Washington. The script was adapted by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon from the books Lazarus and the Hurricane by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton and The 16th Round by Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.The film tells the true story of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, whose conviction for a triple murder was set aside after he had spent almost 20 years in prison.

38  Ali 2001

The biographical film directed by Michael Mann tells the story of boxing icon Muhammad Ali (played by Will Smith) from 1964 to 1974 featuring his capture of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, banishment from boxing, his return to fight Joe Frazier in 1971, and, lastly, his reclaiming the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight of 1974. This was the role that proved Will Smith was real actor and not just another rapper trying his luck. He transforms his body to look like a convincing boxer and inhabits the role. After seeing it you won’t think of another actor who could have done a better job.

39

Ray – 2004

Ray, portrays the life and career of blind R&B singer Ray Charles, between 1930 and 1966 and stars Jamie Foxx in the title role. Foxx won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Actor for the role. Before shooting could begin, director Taylor Hackford brought Foxx to meet Charles, who insisted that they sit down at two pianos and play together. After two hours, he stood up, hugged Foxx, and gave his blessing, proclaiming, “He’s the one… he can do it.” Charles was expected to attend a showing of the completed film, but died before it opened. The movie is the all-time number one biopic per screen average, opening on 2006 screens and making 20 million dollars.

40 Dreamgirls – 2006

A period piece set in the 1960s and 1970s with a primarily African-American Ensemble cast, Dreamgirls is adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name which contains several allusions to the lives and careers of Motown Records act The Supremes, a connection the film version expands upon. Dreamgirls follows the lives of Effie White, Deena Jones, and Lorrell Robinson, three young women who form an R&B singing trio from Detroit, Michigan called “The Dreamettes.” Thanks to manipulative agent and record executive Curtis Taylor, Jr., the Dreamettes become famous but conflict arises when Curtis transforms “The Dreamettes” into the pop-friendly “Dreams,” particularly when he has Deena replace Effie as both lead singer of the group and as his romantic interest. The film adaptation of Dreamgirls stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Jennifer Hudson, who won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Effie White.

41 Cadillac Records 2008

Written and directed by Darnell Martin the film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and the musicians who recorded for Chess Records.The film stars Adrien Brody as Chess, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Columbus Short as Little Walter, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, and Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James.

42 Panther

43 The Tuskeegee Airmen

44 The Great Debaters  – 2007

THE NEW KINGS OF COMEDY

Chris Rock – Stand up

45 Bring The Pain 1996,

46 Bigger & Blacker in 1999,

47 Never Scared in 2004.

It is without doubt that I state that Chris Rock is the funniest comedian at work today. He took the title from Eddie Murphy in the 90’s , just as Eddie took it from Richard Pryor in the 80’s . After a few minor cameo roles in films like Beverly Hills Cop, and New Jack City it was 1996’s Bring the Pain, that reinvented Rock as one of the best stand-ups in the industry. His routine, which featured commentaries on race in America, stirred up a great deal of controversy. Continuing with the explicit and near to the knuckle style discussing sex and relationships as his predecessors, Rock also discusses politics and race relations in a way that Murphy never did. He stirred up mass controversy for his ‘Niggas Vs Black people’ routine, that every Black person needs to hear.

“Theres a civil war going on right now between Niggas and Black people.

And niggas have got to go!”

As we’ve already outlined, there is a long tradition of African American comedians crossing over into movie stars. In complete contrast to Pryor & Murphy, Rock’s dramatic movie roles have all been awful, so rather than abandoning the stand up circuit for an easier life as a leading man, stand-up is where he has maintained his popularity and profile.

48 The Original Kings of Comedy 2000

As well as the dominance of Black comedians Pryor, Murphy, and Chris, there is a wealth of other comedy talent in America bubbling under the mainstream.Cable TV show, the Def Comedy Jam showed the depth and breadth of Black comedy talent in the U.S. Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac were four of the biggest names of this ‘underground’. Although able to pack venues with their loyal fans in the US, to the rest of the world, and to white America, they were relatively unknown . The Original Kings of Comedy, directed by Spike Lee, revealed them to a wider audience. Filmed in front of an audience in Charlotte, North Carolina, the comedians give the audience their views about African American culture, race relations, church, and families. Bernie Mac, and Cedric the Entertainer went onto to successful movie careers in their own rights.

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NB – THIS FILM SCREENS 8PM QUAD CINEMA, MKT PLACE, DERBY FRI 5 FEB 2010

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49 – Glory

50 – Lady Sings The Blues

A nicely constructed set which blended her brilliant back catalogue with newer material in a nigh on two hr stage show, complete with funky fish net tights !

For me the second half was the highlight as the band eased back from its full on aural assault, to allow Jill’s soulful vocals to breathe and blossom in Brixton.

The operatic ending demonstrated her power and range and confirmed for me, her status as the premier soul practioner on the planet ! (seen her 6 times now..still bad)

standouts – ’so gone’ and the spoken word piece done in almost funky house / drum n bass style

Describes as reggae’s Motown – Lovers Rock was a major part of my musical upbringing alongside soul and funk in the 70’s. …wanna know more about it before checking out the film?..read this review from the Jamaican Observer newspaper

one night only – Quad, Market Place, Derby Fri 2 Dec 8pm..www.derbyquad.co.uk

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The roots of lovers’ rock lie in the early days of reggae, with Jamaican and American singers such as Ken Boothe, John Holt and Johnny Nash enjoying international hits with reggae versions of well-known love songs. But in the 1970s, the distinctive lovers’ rock genre emerged in Britain. It featured, mostly, female singers performing romantic ballads to a reggae rhythm.
Popular Jamaican reggae of the time talked about Rastafarianism and the world of the Jamaican ghetto. The dancehall music of the current day is all about violence and a crude sexuality. But lovers’ rock was different from both forms. It did not deal with political subjects or spirituality. And it was not crude or misogynistic like so much present day reggae. Instead it dealt exclusively with affairs of the heart.
As such, it particularly appealed to women. And it was perhaps more accessible than Jamaican reggae to British-born youngsters who had never heard of Trench Town or Marcus Garvey.
Most black dances of the era would end with a few popular lovers’ rock. The women loved them and the men knew it put their female partners in the mood for romance.
One of the earliest lovers’ rock tunes was produced by the London sound system run by Count Shelly. He issued Ginger Williams’s Tenderness in 1974. In 1975, Lloydie Coxsone’s legendary sound system produced the haunting Caught You In A Lie by Louisa Marks.
Then, Jamaican Dennis Harris opened a recording studio in south-east London with songwriter/producer Denis Bovell and guitarist John Kpiaye as the in-house players. They produced reggae cover versions of Motown and Philadelphia soul ballads with vocals from TT Ross, Cassandra and the harmony trio Brown Sugar, featuring Caron Wheeler.
Eventually, Harris formed a label called Lovers’ Rock and the new music had its name. Perhaps the biggest single lovers’ rock record of the time was Janet Kay’s Silly Games. It went to number two on the British charts and never fails to bring the house down when she sings it today.
Lovers’ rock gradually lost popularity in the 1990s. But revival concerts remain hugely popular. And in Japan they cannot get enough of it. Lovers’ rock stars like Janet Kay and Carol Thompson continue to make a good living touring Japan. And Janet Kay has produced seven successful albums for Sony Music Japan.
So there is, potentially, a big audience for this new film by Barbados-born Menelik Shabazz. He is a brilliant filmmaker, potentially a British Spike Lee, who has never had the commercial success he deserves. He will be hoping that lovers’ rock enthusiasts flock to his new movie.

Josh Milan Presents Honeycomb Music Volume 1

Legendary producer/songwriter Josh Milan (from the soulful supergroup Blaze) reveals his brand new Honeycomb Music project with the release of a fantastic double album dripping with soulful gems on his very own label! ‘Honeycomb Music Volume 1’, recorded in Josh’s own home, is dedicated to putting the real instrumentation and genuine heart felt soul back into dance music, Josh culls in a combination of amazing soulful pioneers and brand new upcoming talent to feature on the album alongside his fantastic band, touching every aspect of soul music in the process. The result of 2.5 year labour of love is a stunning collection of heartfelt songs and a lush tapestry of true dancefloor soul.

“The artists on this project all have a lot to offer. To really make a statement I thought it would be better to put a group of talented people together. This way the music is way more colourful. This project is a feel good project so as you’re listening I hope you’re feeling good”. says Josh Milan.

Kicking off with an interesting spoken introduction from Josh himself which poses food for thought, featured on the album are lots friends including Cassio Ware on ‘Wake Up’ who Josh has known for ‘over 20 years; THE Queen of Gospel, Dawn Tallman on ‘GOD’, who performed most of the backing vocals on the album and who Josh cooks fried chicken for everytime she comes over to record. Another big hitter is the legendary lead singer of genre slashing cult band, The Family Stand, Sandra St Victor, who appears on ‘I Am Better’ & the Brainstorm 70’s funk band inspired ‘Yourself’. Also making an appearance are the distinct thunderous voice of Brooklyn’s Alex P Suter and her band on ‘Hole That I’m In’; multitalented artist, soulful veteran and Brooklyn urban socialite, Crystal Johnson on ‘Who Am I’; one of Nu-Soul’s best loved New York diva’s, Angela Johnson on ‘Forever I Do’; Bronx born, Quincy Jones’ label mate T’Zelle on ‘Kipepeo’; the trail-blazin soulja of soul also from Connecticut, Lamone on ‘Your Eyes’; and of course not forgetting the unmistakeable voice of woman behind the recent soulful smash ‘Till You Go Home’, Chinahblac.

New talent hails from New York City by way of Miss Cinnamon Brown, (who possibly has the best disco name ever!) who debuts on the fantastic house groove ‘Under The Moonlight’, along with another new discovery from Josh and also making their debut, Brooklyn’s worldly rhythm inspired band Honey Sweet on ‘Raul Rosario, We Miss You’. All penned by Josh along with co-writes with Angela, Crystal, Lamon and Cassio, ‘Honeycomb Music Volume 1’ started with Josh and his beloved keyboard after which his band members Jerard Snell (Drummer) and Leighton Rambaran (Bass) joined in the fun, along with a number of musicians from around the globe who were invited to put their own stank on the music.

Josh Milan is one of those rare artists in this business whose music is truly timeless. You can play his remix (along with then co-producer Kevin Hedge) of Cold Cut featuring Lisa Stansfield’s pop dance hit, ‘People Hold On’, today and it still sounds as fresh as it did 16 years ago, or Blaze’s, ‘Can’t Win for Losing’, you’ll find lyrics that are forever relevant. His catalogue totals over two-hundred published works, making it the largest catalog produced by any single entity in the genre. As artist and businessman, Josh has been involved in almost every facet of the music business, from producing and performing to managing and distributing music, not many can come close to the artistry and business of Josh Milan.

Blaze (Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge and Chris Herbert) started writing music together in 1984. The three decided to form a production team after Chris made an introduction and encouraged them to become a recording group with a focus on good songs. “Songs have always been our main production focus.” Josh Milan explains. “It’s the lyrics and melodies of our musical heroes that have influenced us the most.” Josh has influences that range from Stevie Wonder to James Taylor and beyond. But it’s the combination of deeply soulful melodies, his blend of Afro, Jazz, Soul and Gospel, and the positive world views in their lyrics that makes most people compare his music to the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire.

Josh started to develop demo recordings in the style of the day’s popular club music. As a result the guys turned out song after song for other artists and producers to record. Some included ‘This Time’ by Colonel Abrams knock off Hunter Hayes, ‘One Man’ by Chanelle and ‘Reachin’ by Phase II. The three signed their first record deal with Quark records in 1985, producing three major club hits of the time; ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’, ‘If You Should Need A Friend’ and ‘Can’t Win For Losing’. The Blaze sound caught the ear of then Motown Vice-president of A&R, Timmy Regisford, who immediately put them to work on numerous Motown projects as their sound captured the spirit of dancers in the clubs and the hearts of radio listeners in New York. As remixers they have worked on projects for Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Macy Gray, Jamiroquai, Lisa Stansfield, Babyface, and countless others. As overdub musicians, they have worked with DJ/producers David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, Timmy Regisford, Masters At Work among many.

Blaze went on to produce three more albums – ‘Basic Blaze’ onSlip-n-Slide/UK, ‘Natural Blaze: The James Toney Jr. Project’ on Life Line/Japan and ‘Spiritually Speaking’ on Slip-n-Slide/UK. Also, you will find many compilation albums that comprise some of his greatest hits, a few are: “6 Hubert St.” on Avex/Japan, “Pure Blaze” on Easy Street/US, ‘Blaze Productions” on Playhouse/Germany and ‘Spiritually Speaking . . .Then and Now’ on West End/US. In 1995, Josh scored his biggest co-writing success with a song called ‘Hideaway’ performed by De’lacy reaching top 10 in the uk charts, Josh also co-wrote charts hits for Amira ‘Desire’ and himself with the #1 dance hit, ‘Breathe’. This helped him to become one of the most sought after writers, producers and remixers in the business. Musically, Josh has collaborated with super DJ/Producer Louie Vega (one half of the production team Masters at Work) to assist him with producing his first solo album, ‘Elements Of Life’. In addition he has made many guest appearances as vocalist for artist such as Yukihiro Fukutomi, Louie Vega, and Chieko Kinbara to name a small few. Josh’s artistry takes on many turns. He is a Jazz music collector, a photographer and a painter.

Finally, after 25 years on the scene and celebrating 20 years of writing and producing, Josh Milan is a talent force to be reckoned with! Armed with a brand new label, and a plethora of talent at his fingertips he is just as current as he was then, producing relevant hits today as he did back in 1985.

Josh Milan Presents Honeycomb Music Volume 1
Release date: 5th September 2011
Label: Honeycomb Music

Tracklist
CD 1
1. Josh Milan – Introduction
2. T’zelle – Kipepeo
3. Angela Johnson – Forever I Do
4. Crystal Johnson – Who Am I
5. Cinnamon Brown – Under The Moonlight
6. Sandra St Victor – Yourself
7. Dawn Tallman – GOD

CD 2
1. Lamone – Your Eyes
2. Cassio Ware – Wake Up
3. Sandra St Victor – I Am Better
4. Honey Sweet – Raul Rosario, We Miss You
5. The Alexis P Suter Band – Hole That I’m In
6. Chinahblac -Till You Go Home