| Imagination | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 30, 1980 | |||
| Recorded | July–October 1980 | |||
| Studio | Studio Masters, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Soul, boogie, funk, R&B | |||
| Length | 42:13 | |||
| Label | SOLAR Records | |||
| Producer | The Whispers, Dick Griffey, Leon Sylvers III | |||
| The Whispers chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Imagination is the tenth studio album by American R&B/soul vocal group the Whispers, released on November 30, 1980, by SOLAR Records.
The album contains two singles which made the U.S. Hot R&B charts: "It's a Love Thing", which peaked at number two in early 1981; and "I Can Make it Better". Both singles were produced by SOLAR Records' main in-house producer Leon F. Sylvers III. Also featured in the album is "Up on Soul Train", the theme song used on the syndicated television series Soul Train from 1980 to 1983; it was composed by the creator, producer, and host of Soul Train, Don Cornelius.
The music video to the single "It's a Love Thing" is notable for having an early appearance from then-unknown actress Daphne Maxwell Reid. [2] As of September 2016, the song appears in a L'Oreal commercial for Preference Mousse Absolue.
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
| Year | Single | Chart positions [7] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Dance | ||
| 1980-1981 | It's a Love Thing | 28 | 2 | 4 |
| "I Can Make It Better" | 105 | 40 | 4 | |
Janet Jackson is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, released on September 21, 1982 by A&M Records. Janet Jackson is described as a dance and contemporary R&B record. Songwriters Angela Winbush and René Moore contributed to much of the album's lyrics. Moore and Winbush share production credits with Foster Sylvers, Jerry Weaver, and Bobby Watson. On release Janet Jackson charted on the Billboard 200 and in New Zealand. Three singles from the album had little impact on Billboard Hot 100 charts, among them "Young Love", "Come Give Your Love to Me" and "Say You Do", though these singles achieved success on the R&B charts. Jackson performed "Young Love" and "Say You Do" on American TV shows American Bandstand and Soul Train in 1982. The cover artwork of Jackson's body submerged in water was based on a photo of Elizabeth Taylor. Worldwide, the album has sold 300,000 copies.
The Sylvers were an American R&B family vocal group from Watts, Los Angeles, California. The Sylvers were a popular act during the 1970s, recording the hit singles "Fool's Paradise", "Boogie Fever", and "Hot Line". Prior to becoming the Sylvers, the four eldest members recorded as the Little Angels, appearing on shows such as You Bet Your Life and Make Room for Daddy, and opening for such acts as Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles. During this time, they released two singles: "Santa Claus Parade" b/w "I'll Be a Little Angel" on Warwick Records and "Says You" b/w "Olympia" on Capitol Records.
The Bar-Kays are an American funk band formed in 1964. The band had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" in 1967, "Son of Shaft" in 1972, and "Boogie Body Land" in 1980.
The Whispers are an American vocal group from Los Angeles, California, who have scored hit records since the late 1960s. They are best known for their two number one R&B singles, "And the Beat Goes On" in 1979 and "Rock Steady" in 1987. The Whispers scored 15 top-ten R&B singles, and 8 top-ten R&B albums with two of them, The Whispers and Love Is Where You Find It, reaching the No. 1 spot. They have earned two platinum and five gold albums by the RIAA.
SOLAR was an American record label founded in 1977 by Dick Griffey, reconstituted out of Soul Train Records only two years after it was founded with Soul Train television show host and creator Don Cornelius.
Dynasty was an American band, based in Los Angeles, California, created by producer and SOLAR Records label head Dick Griffey, and record producer Leon Sylvers III. The band was known for their dance/pop numbers during the late 1970s and 1980s. Keyboardist Kevin Spencer and vocalists Nidra Beard and Linda Carriere originally comprised the group.
Lakeside is an American funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit "Fantastic Voyage".
Leon Frank Sylvers III is an American singer, songwriter, disc-jockey, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. He was a member of the family group The Sylvers and became one of the most successful producers in black music in the late 1970s to the mid-1980s through his association with Dick Griffey's SOLAR Records. Artists such as J Dilla, Dr. Dre, and Madlib have sampled songs written and produced by him.
Carrie Lucas is an American R&B singer, born in Carmel, California. In 1976, she was signed to Soul Train Records. Lucas released six studio albums over seven years, with Soul Train and Solar Records.
"The Second Time Around" is a 1979 hit by Los Angeles-based group Shalamar. The song is the first single from their album, Big Fun. Released in August 1979, the single went to number one on the soul chart and was their most successful hit on the Hot 100 pop chart, reaching number eight in early 1980. "The Second Time Around" also went to number one on the disco/dance chart in January 1980. The song was produced by Leon Sylvers III, who cowrote the song with William Shelby.
Three for Love is the fourth album by American R&B group Shalamar, released in 1980 on the SOLAR label. It was produced by Leon Sylvers III and features the 'classic' Shalamar line-up.
III is the third album by the R&B band the S.O.S. Band, released on the Tabu label in October 1982. It was produced by Ricky Sylvers and Gene Dozier.
Just Gets Better with Time is the sixteenth studio album by American R&B/Soul group The Whispers. It was released on April 9, 1987 via SOLAR Records. This album features their highest charting pop single, "Rock Steady," which peaked inside the top 10 at number 7. The song also reached number 1 on the U.S. R&B chart. The album had four more singles released into the following year. Although none of these additional singles brought further pop success, and the first follow-up single, "Special F/X" only reached the UK charts, the group maintained a strong presence on the R&B charts. The album's title track, "Just Gets Better with Time", reached number 12 and "In The Mood," now a quiet storm radio staple, charted four spots lower at number 16. The fifth and final single, 1988's "No Pain, No Gain" reached a dismal 74 on the R&B chart, while limping to number 81 in the UK.
The Second Adventure is the third album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group Dynasty (band).
Concept is the ninth album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers.
The Whispers is the ninth studio album by American R&B/soul vocal group The Whispers, released on October 20, 1979 by SOLAR Records. It was the first hit album for the veteran group, peaking at number one on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart, as well as number six on the Billboard Top LPs chart.
Whisper in Your Ear is an album by the Whispers released in 1979 on the SOLAR Records label. This album peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.
Open Up Your Love is an album by The Whispers. Released in 1977, this album reached number 23 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart. This was their last album on Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey's Soul Train Records before transitioning over to manager Dick Griffey's SOLAR Records.
So Good is a studio album by the American vocal group the Whispers, released on July 26, 1984, via SOLAR Records. The album reached number eight on the Billboard Soul Albums chart. Phylis Hyman sang on "Suddenly".
"It's a Love Thing" is a song by American R&B group The Whispers, released in January 1981 as a single from their 1980 album Imagination.
