Today’s trax includes Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, David Simmons, Steve Arrington, Hardsoul featuring Ron Carroll

Ooh child – Dee Dee Sharpe Gamble – (Former Cameo-Parkway artist and hit-maker was assigned to her husband’s label Philadelphia International Records … from her first P.I.R. album came this said trak which was originally a hit for “The Five Stairsteps” also known as ‘The Burke Family’ – real life siblings)

Locked up in a groove – David Simmons (Sounding similar to Teddy Pendergrass vocally – rumour has it that he was offered the job to replace him with The Blue Notes … assigned to local production company/label ‘W.M.O.T’ where he was produced by Butch Ingram with their musical family support unit)

Crazy about you – Steve Arrington (Former ‘Slave’ drummer and vocalist who later fronted his ‘Hall of Fame’ band … releasing his retrospective double cd on Tummy Touch which also includes some of his Salsoul & Atlantic catalogue)

Back together – Hardsoul featuring Ron Carroll (Dutch brothers Rogier & Greg Van Bueren are Djs/producers and label owners … they commissioned Chicago based Ron as co-writer and vocalist for this trak who is known for his productions on Afterhour & Body Music Records)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPS5zGZmrcI

CHRISTMAS Trax includes The Whispers , August Darnell, Material feat. Nona Hendryx, Dj Spen and the MuthaFunkaz

A very special holiday – The Whispers (The Whispers were assigned with ‘Soul Train Records’ which later became ‘Solar’ – the acronym for ‘Sound of Los Angeles Records … trak was culled from their “Happy holidays to you” album which was written by fellow label mate Mark Wood of ‘Lakeside’)

Christmas on river side drive – August Darnell (Re-imagining his composition which was recorded by Gichy Dan … August joined his sibling Stony Browder to create Dr. Buzzard Original Savannah Band and later formed Kid Creole & the Coconuts with Andy Hernandez)

It’s a holiday – Material featuring Nona Hendryx (Material was known for ‘Industrial Funk’ trax for their early releases headed by Michael Beinhorn & Bill Laswell … Nona was the main writer for female trio Labelle also co-vocalist known for ‘Lady Marmalade’ amongst others)

Holy Ghost – Dj Spen & the MuthaFunkaz (Sean Spencer was the writer of ‘Girl you know it’s true’ which was a hit for “Milli Vanilli” which was originally recorded by ‘Numarx’… the MuthaFunkaz are an assemblage who came together because of Baltimore’s Basement Boys Records/Productions)

Today’s trax includes Dynamic Superiors, Tuxedo Junction, Mtume, Cookie Watkins

Happy song – Dynamic Superiors (A near forgotten Motown group who released four albums on said label were originally from Washington … Extravagant Tony Washington was the lead vocalist of this quintet whose early death temporarily halted the group – from the album “Give and take”)

Volga Boatman – Tuxedo Junction (More familiarly known as “The Song of the Volga Boatmen” – this trak was a mega hit for Glen Miller Orchestra in the Early Forties … Disco producers extraordinaire ‘Laurin Rinder & Michael Lewis’ put this studio band together for Butterfly Records)

Hip dipped skipped a beat – Mtume (Band featured James Mtume, Reggie Lucas, Hubert Eaves, Howard King & Tawatha Agee and others … Mtume & Lucas produced Stephanie Mills and Phyliss Hyman amongst others … whilst Eaves & King became Boogie specialists D-Train & The Strangers/Network respectively)

Love can save – Cookie Watkins (Cookie has been performing across America in a variety of venues to live audiences for a number of years … released on Strictly Rhythm Records – written by Tim Titsworth and mixed by George Morel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuvlzEwQIeA