Graham Central Station

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Graham Central Station
Larry Graham (10398796105).jpg
Band founder Larry Graham in 2013
Background information
Origin Oakland, California, United States
Genres
Years active1973–1979, 1997–1998, 2012
Labels Warner Bros., WEA, Star Maker, P-Vine, Rhino
Spinoff of Hot Chocolate aka Hot Choc’let
Past members Larry Graham
David Vega
Hershall Kennedy
Willie Sparks
Patryce "Chocolate" Banks
Robert Sam

Graham Central Station was an American funk band named after founder Larry Graham (formerly of Sly and the Family Stone). [1] [3] The name is a pun on New York City's Grand Central Terminal, often colloquially called Grand Central Station.

Contents

Background

Origins

While still with Sly & the Family Stone, Larry Graham came into contact with Patryce Banks. They formed an ensemble called Hot Choc’let aka Hot Cocolate. [4] [5] According to the I Rock Jazz website, Graham intended to build a band around Banks and his role would be that of composer and producer. The band was playing a gig at a San Francisco club and towards the end of the performance, the audience encouraged Graham to do the last song with the band. Things clicked there. This led to Graham replacing the bass guitarist with himself, and the name of the band was changed from Hot Chocolate to Graham Central Station. [6] Due to his involvement with the group, he left Sly & the Family Stone. [4]

The Graham Central Station line up was Graham, Willie Sparks, Patrice Banks, David Vega, Robert Sam, and Hershell Kennedy. [7] According to The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music, Vega, Kennedy, Sparks and Banks were from Hot Chocolate. [5]

Career

Highlights

In 1974, they released the single "Can You Handle It?". It peaked at number 9 on the R&B charts [1] and number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. Graham Central Station's biggest hit was "Your Love", which charted at number 1 on the R&B charts in 1975. [1] The same year they issued a cover version of the Detroit Emeralds 1972 hit "Feel the Need in Me". [8] It reached number 18 on the R&B charts and this would be the bands only hit in the UK peaking at number 53. [9] The group also integrated gospel music into their repertoire, and played with the dichotomy between the funk/rock star image and the "sanctified" gospel group image. Some of their recordings feature the Tower of Power horn section.

In 2011, Graham Central Station opened for Prince on Prince's "Welcome 2 America" tour. [10]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positions Certifications Label
US
[13] 		US R&B
[14]
1974 Graham Central Station 4820 Warner Bros
Release Yourself 5122
1975 Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It 224
1976 Mirror 467
1977 Now Do U Wanta Dance 6712
1978 My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me 10518 WEA
1979Star Walk13644Warner Bros
1997By Popular Demand——P-Vine
1998 GCS 2000 (produced with Prince)—— NPG
2012Raise Up—65Moosicus Records
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

YearTitleChart positions
US R&B
[9] 		US Pop
[9] 		UK
[9]
1974"Release Yourself"56―—
"Can You Handle It?"949―
1975"Feel the Need"18―53
"Your Love"138―
"It's Alright"1992―
1976"Entrow (Part 1)"21—―
"Love"14—―
"The Jam"1563―
1977"Now Do-U-Wanta Dance"10—―
"Stomped Beat-Up and Whooped"25――
1978"Is It Love?65――
"My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me"18――
"Star Walk"85——
1979"(You're a) Foxy Lady"37——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wynn, Ron (n.d.). "Graham Central Station: Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. ↑ Dove, Ian (February 15, 1975). "Three Soul Groups Sing at Music Hall". The New York Times . p. 16. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Graham Central Station Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
  4. 1 2 Aced Out Podcast, July 01, 2020 - EPISODE 11: Patryce “CHOC’LET” Banks (GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION)
  5. 1 2 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music, By Colin Larkin · 1997 - ISBN   9780753501542 - Page 181
  6. ↑ I Rock Jazz, 01/10/2013 - INTERVIEWS, Bass Icon Larry Graham: Accidents of Fortune
  7. ↑ Muphoric Sounds, December 30, 2010 - IN THE TRUNK: “Graham Central Station” (Audio) By Robert Liu-Trujillo
  8. ↑ Classic Rock History - Best SongsTop 10 Graham Central Station Songs - Eric Kamau, #4- Feel the Need
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Graham Central Station Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Review: Prince's Welcome 2 America Tour". Culturebrats.com. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Vallejo musicians inducted into West Coast Blues Hall of Fame". Timesheraldonline.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Graham Central Station's David 'Dynamite' Vega has passed away". Prince.org. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Larry Graham – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Larry Graham – TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
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