This is how it's goin' down....

Old School Wednesday : Back In The Day, Volume 1.
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01 - The Brothers Johnson - Ain't We Funkin' Now
02 - The Whispers - It's a Love Thing
03 - The Intruders - I'll Always Love My Mama
04 - Sister Sledge - Thinking of You
05 - Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover
06 - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - Back Together Again
07 - Whatnauts - Help Is On The Way
08 - Sly & the Family Stone - Family Affair
09 - Tower Of Power - Below Us, All the City Lights
10 - The Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New
11 - Al Green - Have You Been Making Out O.K.
12 - Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet
13 - Teena Marie - Déjà Vu (I've Been Here Before)
14 - Minnie Riperton - Inside My Love
15 - The O'Jays - Help (Somebody Please)
16 - Lakeside - Real Love

There is a twist of course, which was our original theme. There are at least five tracks that have been sampled. Name the song and the track(s) that sampled them. I'll admit that two of those tracks I've been playing endlessly since they were dropped to me by no other than Todd Kelley. Mad props to him.

Enjoy.

On January 10th, Angela Bofill suffered a stroke and is now convalescing in Santa Rosa, California, which is why she's the impetus for this playlist:

Old School Wednesday : Angela and Company.

I originally started out with one song from Angela, but because of this news, I thought it would be great to expand and drop some of the greatest songs Angela has graced us with.

01 - Angela Bofill - Too Tough
02 - Fred Wesley - House Party
03 - Steely Dan - Do It Again
04 - Angela Bofill - Something About You
05 - Jermaine Jackson - I Think It's Love
06 - Caron Wheeler - Blue (Is The Colour Of Pain)
07 - Angela Bofill - Guess You Didn't Know
08 - First Love - Things Are Not The Same (Without You)
09 - Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown - Feel What I'm Feeling
10 - Angela Bofill - Under The Moon And Over The Sky
11 - The Jones Girls - We're a Melody
12 - Angela Bofill - This Time I'll Be Sweeter
13 - Rufus - Hollywood
14 - Angela Bofill - I Try

I'll never forgot I Try which was one of the cuts I played endlessly in high school after a breakup. Talk about a powerful song! Under The Moon and Over The Sky and Bet You Didn't Know are two other tracks that are rarely played.

With The Jones Girls, Rufus, and Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown on this playlist, some strong songs (from Steely Dan and Jermaine Jackson) as well as some other unforgotten cuts (from First Love, Fred Wesley, and Caron Wheeler), there's good stuff here.

Much thanks to Thierno and the one and only PhillyKat for the inspirations. Enjoy.

The passing of Lou Rawls had a profound impact on me this week, so I felt I should pay tribute to his legacy, As I started putting together the playlist, I soon realized that I had not paid tribute to Barry White as well. I also realized that there are quite a few singers out there who haven't been duly recognized. It is for this reason that this OSW is entitled:

Old School Wednesday : Remembrance, Volume I.

01 - Lou Rawls - Groovy People
02 - Barry White - It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me
03 - Lou Rawls - Let Me Be Good To You
04 - Barry White - For Your Love (I'll Do Most Anything)
05 - Lou Rawls - See You When I Get There
06 - Love Unlimited - Walking In The Rain With The One I Love
07 - Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
08 - Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love's Theme
09 - Lou Rawls - Lady Love
10 - Luther Vandross - My Sensitivity (Gets in the Way)
11 - Barry White - I Only Want to Be with You
12 - Luther Vandross - She Loves Me Back
13 - Barry White - Your Sweetness Is My Weakness
14 - Change - Searching (LP Version)

The Luther tracks here are tracks which weren't on The Luther Tribute, so they were included in this mix to round it out. Barry was also the mastermind of Love Unlimited and Love Unlimited Orchestra, which is why Walking In The Rain With The One I Love and Love's Theme are also in this playlist.

May Lou, Luther, and Barry rest in peace.
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It's a new year, and I've gotta do new things. It's hilarious that over the holidays, people close to you around Christmas and New Years say that they check out your site all the time, and they want more. (You guys know who you are). So, I'm officially out of my mini-hiatus. I've got to deliver the top 12 CDs of 2005 and the top 50 singles of 2005. And yes, my friends, the in-rotations have gotten to where I've got so much music that I'm overflowing with good tracks. Watch for 'em. True to my promise, I'll be getting more into my life's story this year, cause it's gonna be a great year.

Old School Wednesday: Welcome to 2006.

01 - Michael Jackson - Get On The Floor
02 - Brothers Johnson - Stomp
03 - Donald Byrd - Change (Instrumental)
04 - Alexander O'Neal - What Is This Thing Called Love?
05 - Gwen Guthrie - Outside In The Rain
06 - Jody Watley - Still A Thrill
07 - Prince and the Revolution - 17 Days
08 - Stevie Wonder - That Girl
09 - Al Jarreau - Golden Girl
10 - Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr. - Just the Two of Us
11 - Average White Band - A Love Of Your Own
12 - The O'Jays - Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)
13 - S.O.S. Band - Even When You Sleep
14 - Expose - Seasons Change

I was feeling Off The Wall, so I had to throw one of the tracks that got the least play.That track along with The Brothers Johnson and Donald Byrd set off the tone for me. I was feeling Alexander (especially since it's my favorite track off of All True Man), Gwen Guthrie, Jody Watley, and Prince and The Revolution , and then had to slow it down with Stevie, Al Jarreau, Bill Withers/Grover Washington, Jr., Average White Band, and The O'Jays. SOS Band and Expose round the set out.

Enjoy. Best wishes to everyone for 2006!!