If you're looking for a straight, unfiltered shot of full-strength Chicago-style traditional jazz, this disc pulls no punches. Three of the four opening tracks are incendiary Commodore blowouts. Bob Haggart whistles during the opening and closing choruses of his own "Whistlin' the Blues," which comes as a bit of a breather after all that stomping. The next six selections were released on the Manhattan record label, available to the public as souvenirs to be purchased at Nick's Tavern, a hot spot for old-fashioned jazz in Greenwich Village. Four of these tracks feature the exciting baritone saxophone of Ernie Caceres, who exchanges a few words with Muggsy Spanier at the beginning of yet another whistling tune, "Feather Brain Blues"…
"Just Dance" is the debut single by American recording artist Lady Gaga. The song was produced by RedOne and co-written by RedOne, Gaga and Akon, while also featuring labelmate Colby O'Donis. It was released in 2008 as the lead single from Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame…
Like Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang before them, Crown Heights Affair artfully bridged the gap between funk and disco, guaranteeing their records new life via sampling by successive generations of rappers and DJs. Originally dubbed New Day Express, the group formed in Brooklyn, NY, in 1967, originally comprising lead vocalist Philip Thomas, guitarist William "Bubba" Anderson, bassist Arnold "Muki" Wilson, keyboardist Stan Johnson, and drummer Raymond "Sugar Ray" Rock. Crown Heights Affair's roster soon expanded to include saxophonist Darryl Gibbs, trumpeter James Baynard, and trombonist Julius Dilligard, Jr.
The times were crying out for a pop star like Lady GaGa – a self-styled, self-made shooting star, one who mocked the tabloid digital age while still wanting to wallow in it – and one who's smart enough to pull it all off, too. That self-awareness and satire were absent in the pop of the new millennium, where even the best of the lot operated only on one level, which may be why Lady GaGa turned into such a sensation in 2009: everybody was thirsty for music like this, music for and about their lives, both real and virtual…
Robinsongs present three Crown Heights Affair albums "Dance Lady Dance"; "Sure Shot"; and "Think Positive" on a double CD release. The package is packed full of Dance & Disco classics from the late Seventies & early Eighties. Disc Two is the "Think Positive" album in it's entirety and kicks off with the single 'Somebody Tell Me What To Do', a classic Crown Heights Affair track. This album also features 'Love Rip Off'. Package features sleeve notes by Christian John Wikane, who interviewed William Anderson of Crown Heights Affair specifically for this package.
When Sony/Columbia began its ambitious Legacy reissue project, those who followed their jazz titles knew it was only a question of time before the massive Billie Holiday catalog under their ownership would see the light in its entirety. The question was how? Years before there was a host of box sets devoted to her material, but the sound on those left something to be desired. Would they remaster the material in two- or three-disc sets with additional notes? Would it be one disc at a time? Would the material be issued as budget or midline material or at full price? The last item could be ruled out based on the label's aggressive and very thorough packages of single discs by Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and others.