Day 5 – Johnny Kemp – Just Got Paid

OK, only a few hours to go until everybody’s favourite day of the week and time for a New Jack Swing Classic! Don’t really know too much about Johnny Kemp other some snipper’s from Wikipedia: he was born in Nassau, Bahamas and then moved to Harlem in 1979 (yeah, told you not much info!). This was his one hit, but what a great one! It sums up how every Friday should be – pay day, feelin’ good and party hunting! Yeah! This video is the 12″ version which can be found on New Jack Swing Mastercuts Volume 1 – packed full of New Jack jams! Also, if you’re in NYC on September 8 you can see Johnny perform this song live at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar, West 72nd, Manhattan. Time to go party huntin’…..

Day 4 – Karyn White – Secret Rendezvous

So, sticking with the LA & Babyface production sound of 1988 we have the debut solo album by Karyn White. Karyn was already semi-known because of her work with Jeff Lorber on his 1986 album ”Private Passion”. In fact, you can see Karyn on Facts Of Love and Back In Love. These are both great tracks in their own right. But in teaming up with LA & Babyface, her self-titled debut album went Platinum, and contained the hit singles “The Way You Love Me,” “Secret Rendezvous,” “Superwoman” and “Love Saw It”. Except for Secret Rendezvous, all the tracks hit the top spot on the US R n’ B chart. This album is still one of my faves with many great tracks. It’s also interesting that for her follow-up album ”Ritual Of Love” in 1991 that she chose to link up with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. This in turn produced the hit single Romantic.

Anyway, to those immortal lyrics…….happiness is when I think of you and when we get together and rendez-vous! SLAMIN’! Check those dance moves!

Day 3 – Sheena Easton – The Lover In Me

Whilst Jam & Lewis were doing their thing, LA & Babyface were busy writing and producing up-tempo hits of their own for Paula Abdul, Karyn White, The Whispers, Pebbles and many others. Just as Jam & Lewis used a certain type of synth and beat to create their sound, LA & Babyface started using these very catchy orchestral samples to create theirs. In November 1988, Sheena Easton released her 9th album titled ‘The Lover In Me’ on MCA records, which featured many LA & Babyface tracks. In total the album reached number 44 on the US chart, was certified Gold by RIAA, and peaked at number 30 on the UK charts. The title track became a major hit by itself, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart. It reached number 15 in the UK. Once again, I hadn’t seen this video until recently but it’s so 80’s that it’s so ace! I kinda want to step into that club tonight! Anyway, this album is another must-buy as it features so many great tracks, including Days Like This; No Deposit, No Return; and Fire And Rain.

As Freaky Dee used to say – this one is ”stone cold slammin”’!

Day 2 – Alexander O’ Neal – Criticize

There were 2 awesome production stables for up-tempo soul and dance in the late 80’s and early 90’s. On the one side was LA & Babyface, and on the other was Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. More videos from both houses coming up later this week, but for now let’s look at Jam And Lewis, who were responsible for many hits by Janet Jackson, New Edition, SOS Band, Cherrelle and Ralph Tresvant. A key album for Jam and Lewis, and one which was typical of their sound, was Alexander O’ Neal’s 1987 album ”Hearsay” which mixed soulful vocals, funky beats and electronic synths. Fake was the first single to be taken from the album and is perhaps one of the finest “Minneapolis Funk” tracks ever recorded (according to Wikipedia). However, this single wasn’t Alex’s biggest single in the UK – that honour went to Criticize.

Criticize was the 2nd Single to be released from Hearsay and reached number 4 on the UK Single Charts. I love this song to bits! The video has Alex locked in a club full of women performing his songs – aces!

It’s all been a bit quiet as of late on richii.com, so to add some new content over the next 10 days, there’s going to be 10 new videos! With so many websites now hosting music videos, it’s now possible to view some rare vids which rarely got shown in the UK unless you had MTV! In fact, I hadn’t seen today’s clip until just a few minutes ago.

Day 1 – Dennis Edwards – Don’t Look Any Further

Last Sunday I was in Brooklyn, and as I stepped outside into the blue skies and sunshine of Dean Street, I heard this track being played by a car in the street, and it had all the makings of a ”jam”! Anyway, some facts:

This single was released in 1984 (now I feel old, that’s over 20 years ago!)
It features Siedah Garrett on vocals
Dennis Edwards was born February 3, 1943 in Birmingham (Alabama, not England!)
Dennis Edwards was one of the lead singers of the Temptations

Anyway, here’s the video. Like I say, I hadn’t seen this until a few minutes ago, so you’ll need to watch out for those red gloves belonging to Siedah Garrett which sneak up on Dennis! This is a perfect summertime ”jam”!

So, Thursday is the day everyone goes to the Polls. Well, at least if you live outside of London! Anyway, as important as this vote is to send Mr Blair your message, another important vote awaits you! And you can even live in London to take part in the vote!

The Campaign For Little Britain aims to turn Greenwich Avenue and the surrounding area in New York City into Little Britain! Here’s the “party political broadcast”! Make sure you vote at Campaign For Little Britain!!

Has this week’s response from the Mr Blair got you down about driving in the UK? Tax, tax, tax, and MORE tax! Did he really listen to that petition you signed? Well, fear not because there’s now a MUCH BETTER petition to sign!

BRING “STREET HAWK” ON TO DVD

What with Airwolf, Knight Rider, The A Team and MV already being released by Universal on DVD, isn’t it time this fab show got a chance?

Was it really 22 years ago that this was on TV:

BRING “STREET HAWK” TO DVD Sign it now!!

P.S. After viewing that trailer, I know you want more, so check out this great clip of Street Hawk’s Hyperthrust!! Super techie good stuff!

P.P.S. Airwolf Season 3 hits stores on 22 May! WICKED!!

I didn’t catch Top Gear this week, but someone was telling me all about the week’s challenge – to drive across Alabama State without getting shot. Normally, that sounds kind of lame. However, as part of the challenge they ended up scribbling ‘Hilary for president’, ‘Country and western is rubbish’, and ‘Man love rules OK’ on each others cars!

Anyway, thanks to this wonderful Internet thing, here’s the video of this feature!!!

Maybe I should re-think that trip to Birmingham, Al!