Stylistics; Jimmy Maelen

[maarten]

Just had to get some feedback from my favorite board. I have found these two great records, with two tracks that simply have to be played over and over. They are:

(1) Searching - The Stylistics (Philadelphia International Records 1981 LP "Closer than close"). It is as good as "It started out" from their one-year-previous album "Hurry up this way again". This is an awesome awesome track!!! (anybody who can afford to call up Dexter Wansell just to do the handclaps must be somebody in the music business )

(2) Squeeze Play - Jimmy Maelen (Pavillion/CBS LP 1980 "Beats workin' "). This is a stand-out track from a mediocre album, typical of its time. Jimmy Maelen is a percussionist you can find on many albums from the mid 70's to the mid 80's. And this is his solo-effort. "Squeeze play" is a classic disco tune, long and full orchestra and percussion of course. Excellent break towards the end, followed by a piano solo (I am always a sucker for piano solo's :oops: ).

Just wanted to know if anyone knows these songs and shares my enthousiasm?

PS As I write this, I am playing "This is heaven" by Howard Johnson. I still don't understand why they made this classic sassy song the b-side to "So fine".

[SandraDee]

The b-side to my copy of Howard Johnson's 'So Fine' is the lovely 'Keeping Love New'.

[maarten]

"Keeping love new" has got to be the other beauty from this album.

The 12" I have is A&M SP-12048. I am pretty sure it is a US pressing.

It is, of course, all produced with excellence by the fantastic Kashif. Who, by the way, has a new album out on his own independent label - can anybody give us a review (album not for sale on Amazon!):

Kashif -- Music From My Mind . . . CD . . . $19.99 (Item: 80189)
Brooklyn Boy, 2003 (2CDs)

The first album in years from the mighty Kashif -- kind of mainstream soul during the 80s, emerging here as a strong underground talent for the 21st Century! The album's actually Kashif's first in over 12 years -- and it's got a sound that's quite different than his earlier work. The quality of the songs is extremely high (with 12 years of writing to back them up) -- very groove-conscious, and put together with a simple but effective style that really sends of most of them right over the top from the first few notes. Kashif's vocals have mellowed nicely with age, and the production of the set is lean, clean, and a bit electric without getting too flashy. Plus, as a bonus, Kashif's also made this one a 2CD set -- featuring one disc of all new material, plus a bonus disc of older classics from the first Kashif album! New titles include "Superfly", "Black Woman", "So Emotional", "Chill Chill Chill", "Tossin Turnin", "Sexy Girl", "Wonderin", and "Crazy Luv" -- and older titles include "Stone Love", "Just Got To Have You", "The Mood", "Rumors", "Say Something Love", and "Don't Stop My Love". (From the Neo Soul CD page.)