OSW: The Yay Area

In tribute to the Greater Oakland Area, better known as.....

Old School Wednesday: The Yay Area.
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Podcast/mix available here. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.]

01 - Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People
02 - Tower Of Power - So Very Hard To Go
03 - The Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
04 - Con Funk Shun - Straight From The Heart
05 - Michael Cooper - To Prove My Love
06 - Club Nouveau - Why Do You Treat Me So Bad
07 - Theresa - Broken Puzzle
08 - LaRue - There's Love Out There
09 - Channel 2 - Dreams Don't Come True
10 - En Vogue - Hold On
11 - Foster-McElroy - Dr. Soul
12 - Digital Underground - Kiss You Back [Smack on the Cheek Mix]
13 - Tony Toni Tone - (Lay Your Head On My) Pillow
14 - Pebbles - Stay With Me
15 - Rosie Gaines - Closer Than Close

Thanks to Theresa's knowlege, I was able to come up with this list. What did she have to say? Well, read on:

First, Props to EJ for allowing me to contribute on a long-standing “sacred” tradition – OSW. Thank you Mr 31 Flavors! This weeks collection of Yay Area music is especially close to my heart and I’ll tell you why. In some way, shape or form, I know most of these folks! And these songs hold a personal significance for me.

Sly & The Family Stone: Everyday People: We start it off with a dude who used to DJ for KDIA and was let go for playing all his own music! Mr Sly Stone himself – wow the Blonde Mohawk and silver suit at the 2006 Grammys was, well…. interesting…..I really like this tune and the Grammy folks sure let him be himself though KDIA did not! This tune just flat makes me happy.
Tower of Power: – “Aint nothing I can say, nothing I can do….” This is a song of conviction - LOVE IT!!– I think the Incognito folks were taking notes from ToP.
Pointer Sisters – He’s so shy – Why do I have a vision of Isaac from Love Boat on this one. Did y’all see that episode? This isn’t my fav PS tune but they did their thang as always. We move on to:
ConFunkShun – Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate are great guys. Who can deny the power of the music that came from them? I met Michael when he came to King Jay records to do the “Prove My Love” project. He has always been that “uncle” figure that you stay in awe of – The signature of the early Foster/McElroy sound is SUPA strong on this cut – Big ups to Mike holdin it down on this one. Hated the album cover!
Aah... Club Nouveau…Jay King singing in the verse – Lawd…nuff said. Well this song has an interesting history since Michael Marshall used it in his production of “I Got 5 on it” – seceret message there? I’ll leave it at that.
Broken Puzzle!!!! Ha! I love this song! It is one of the best on the album - very well produced. Theresa sure does sang this heartbreak song – Didja know this song had a third verse that never made it onto the album? – sigh….Lyrics written By Valarie Watson of Club Nouveau.
LaRue – There’s Love Out There – only thing missing from this song? My girl Jaquie LaRue singing in it. AAAAAHHH! Channel 2 – these kids could sing – what happened? I do love this tune, though not so classic Denny & Tommy.
EnVouge – The baddest chick group in a while – I LIKE this song – is this the first time a female covered that Michael Jackson piece? DR Soul, Tommy was the Master impressionist – I loved that about him; such a funny guy. These guys will always be dear to me. Diggin Mc Lyte on the rap!
The Underground – Digital, that is. Shimme, Shimme, coco pop- What is Chocolate Crossover? I soooo dig this song - except for the physical abuse part. Hahahaha! Something about Q-tip on this is nice.
The Tony’s as they are called here – This was so the bomb album! These guys took it up a notch on this production effort. Hats off!
Pebbles – still I like her faster cuts better – but this was aiight.
Miss Rosie Gaines – a master vocalist – her voice is like an instrument. I love seeing her live. She is such a nice lady she has this mesmerizing aura…she’s amazing! Go to her website so you can hear her sing “Welcome to my website! Its muy cool! www.rosiegaines.com.

Take it light!

[Note - if you leave a comment, don't worry, I'll get to approving it - working on getting the kinks out for you to see them as soon as you leave them, so don't sweat it.]

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4 Comments

james madison said:

Hey E! First off...Happy Birthday!! (Belated) Make it a month long celebration, Man!

Good stuff here, Man. Channel 2 - I think this team (Bros. and Sister I believe) did a track in '88 called In Debt To You. Good track..funny/good vid too...If I remeber correctly it had John Canaa Terrell in it from Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It."

The vid showed the Bro./Sister as they grew up taking care of each other and having each others back. Well once they are older the John Canada character thinks he can "push up" hard on ole Sis..but Big Bro was right there..holding J Canada by the neck and kicked him out the house.

Always good to hear Confunkshun and Tower Of Power..The Poiter Sisters..Wow. I did not know they were from Oaktown!
Funny. i sit back here late nights in NYC..or afternoons depending if the show is pre-empted by Baseball, watching the Soul Train Classics and Don Cornelius mentioned Tower Of Power on last weeks episode. Yeah, this is cool. My Mom and my Grandparents always watched Soul Train...Not just to entertain my brothers and I but b/c they enjoyed the music as well.

Good trip down the ole lane o' memory...Good to hear some care free Rap too....a group I miss. Digital Underground!!!! LOOOVED Kiss You Back....I remember that old B/W Video too..and a much happier Tupac. I always found it interesting how he never had anything bad to say about them and vice versa..I got the impression they REALLY liked each other and did not want D.U. to hinder his (Tupac) growth. I never hear them talking about him at every turn, living off of him. I miss that group..(Loved "Dowhutyalike"..song and vid too!)

Whew! Apologies about the ramble, Man. Always a good party here! A virtual time and party machine! Music and Memories.

July 18, 2007 1:25 AM

Thierno said:

Hi EJ. Hope all is well. Been kinda busy but I never forget to check in on the OSWs. This week's installment keeps up with the tradition. That Pebbles track is one of my favorites from her. The sounds is so fresh and that guitar Solo by Babyface is just classic.

Cheers

July 18, 2007 10:23 AM

Nikki said:

The Bay area always came with the funk.

July 19, 2007 9:13 AM

Havethetime said:

I've been looking for the Channel 2 - In Debt To You mpeg. I cannot find a copy. Does anyone HAVE the mpeg please?

October 9, 2007 7:24 PM