Dynasty appreciation thread

[whitesockedfunk]

I can’t get over the fact how much I enjoy Solar act Dynasty. A lot of their songs are just so catchy and still sound so fresh, with the right production and great vocals. They were basically a vehicle for Solar super producer Leon Sylvers, but the band members were very talented in their own right, often co-writing the songs on their albums. On the Solar Galaxy of Stars dvd, their performance is my favourite of the 4 bands featured. It’s a shame they never hit the big time like Shalamar did, but at least we have 4 great albums and one mid-eighties mediocre one… (Out of Control: too many synths!)

Some of my favorite Dynasty songs:

I Don’t Wanna Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)
I’ve Just begun To Love You
Adventures In The Land Of Music
Here I Am
Do Me Right
Does That Ring A Bell
The Only One
Love In The Fast Lane

Any other Dynasty fans on here??

[Cory Ander]

I can’t get over the fact how much I enjoy Solar act Dynasty. A lot of their songs are just so catchy and still sound so fresh, with the right production and great vocals. They were basically a vehicle for Solar super producer Leon Sylvers, but the band members were very talented in their own right, often co-writing the songs on their albums. On the Solar Galaxy of Stars dvd, their performance is my favourite of the 4 bands featured. It’s a shame they never hit the big time like Shalamar did, but at least we have 4 great albums and one mid-eighties mediocre one… (Out of Control: too many synths!)

Some of my favorite Dynasty songs:

I Don’t Wanna Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)
I’ve Just begun To Love You
Adventures In The Land Of Music
Here I Am
Do Me Right
Does That Ring A Bell
The Only One
Love In The Fast Lane

Any other Dynasty fans on here??

I liked Dynasty also but in my opinion most of the acts that recorded for Solar sounded similar, not surprising since most of them used the exact same group of writers, musicians and producers. It's strange you brought this up because I recently bought a copy of "The Jammin' National Anthem" album by former Slave singer Steve Arrington, and it uses some of the Solar musicians and writers also, but wow, what a mismatch. A singer as soulful as Arrington needs songs, arrangements and production that match his awesome pipes, but these songs are primarily keyboard dominated and poppish and quite forgettable. And one thing Solar did that tickled me is when both Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel left Shalamar, they replaced them with 2 unknown look a likes and hoped no one would notice the difference, and the group sank like a stone.

[kdavid13]

Huge fan of the SOLAR label and all the artists (well to be honest only Carrie Lucas/Whispers/Shalamar/Dynasty).

That said ; I must admit that I play Dynasty's Greatest Hits quite often.

[70spop]

The only Dynasty I know of/have is the song "I've Just Begun To Love You", which is on an Old School Funk cd I have. I hadn't listened to the song until pretty recently, but now I LOVE it. I like that early '80s Solar sound.

Edit: I just reread the list up top, and I also have/like "I Don't Wanna Be A Freak...."

Brian

[SandraDee]

When I first heard the 'Adventures In The Land Of Music' album I fell in love with the title track; it's so haunting & classy. It isn't the usual Solar sound which I also love.

[drh]

Yeah Solar forever!! Whispers, Shalamar, Lakeside, Midnight Star and of Course Dynasty. I absolutely love their "Groove Control" as a welcome song for spring, "Love in the fast lane" is the most melodic and cool one, and "Your piece of the rock" is catchy too. "Don't waste my time in 1988 was a great comeback single, I played it a thousand times.

[Zef]

Loved DYNASTY

I've just begun to love you
Do me right
Here I am
Does that ring a bell (remix)
Love in the fast lane
Give it up to love
Adventures in the land of music

Being some of my favourites. Glad they are being remembered!

[SandraDee]

I'm surprised nobody here has mentioned 'Satisfied' from their 1st LP as it's one of their more 'disco' tracks IMO.

[DyscoSouljah]

:icon_razz:

I'm surprised nobody here has mentioned 'Satisfied' from their 1st LP as it's one of their more 'disco' tracks IMO.

You're right! That's a great song. Love it a lot!

[totouk]

I'm surprised nobody here has mentioned 'Satisfied' from their 1st LP as it's one of their more 'disco' tracks IMO.

I bought the Adventures In The Land Of Music at the time and agree with you the title track is amazing. I love the album apart from Something to Remember for some reason Satisfied always sounds like a Shalamar song, I was surprised recently when I bought the Greatest Hits on itunes and it is a Dynasty song - still great song.

toto

[SandraDee]

I love the album apart from Something to Remember for some reason

Me too! That's the only track that's no good.:icon_confused:

[andyy]

I have some vinyl 12 inch records of Dynasty always found they were underated and deserved higher chart status they made some great records and i love the Solar Sound .
Their biggest hit i dont want to be a freak here in the UK is my least favourite. I love these tracks better Ive just Begun to Love You
Groove control. Here I am, Does That ring a bell and Love in The fast Lane .I personally think with many groups and artits the flair and sound sound similar so the solar sound is no exception i always say Mtume Lucas sound very distinctive and similar sound.