| Release Yourself | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 | |||
| Studio | The Record Plant, Sausalito, California | |||
| Genre | Funk [1] | |||
| Length | 37:40 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. Records | |||
| Producer | Larry Graham | |||
| Graham Central Station chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
Release Yourself is the second album by Graham Central Station, released in 1974. The cover photograph was taken at Old Saint Hilary's Church, Tiburon, California. [3]
All songs written by Larry Graham except where indicated
The album peaked at number twenty-two on the Billboard Top Soul Albums in 1974.
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Pop Albums [4] | 51 |
| Billboard Top Soul Albums [4] | 22 |
Larry Graham Jr. is an American bassist and baritone singer, with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. In 1980, he released the single "One in a Million You", which reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. He is credited with the invention of the slapping technique on the electric bass guitar, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as "thumpin' and pluckin'".
Graham Central Station was an American funk band named after founder Larry Graham. The name is a pun on New York City's Grand Central Terminal, often colloquially called Grand Central Station.
Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. The band has had a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success. They have had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100; their highest-charting songs include "You're Still a Young Man", "So Very Hard to Go", "What Is Hip?", and "Don't Change Horses ".
A Whole New Thing is the debut album by funk/soul band Sly and the Family Stone, released in 1967 on Epic/CBS Records. The album was released to mixed criticism and failed to make an impact from a commercial standpoint and did not chart. CBS Records executive Clive Davis prevailed upon band leader Sly Stone to create a more commercial album; the result was the album Dance to the Music. Unlike later Sly and the Family Stone albums, A Whole New Thing was recorded live in the studio instead of being overdubbed and featured less of a pop feel than later releases such as Dance to the Music and Stand!. The lead vocals are shared between Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, and Larry Graham; Rose Stone would not join the band until they began work on Dance to the Music.
"Everybody Is a Star", released in December 1969, is song written by Sylvester Stewart and recorded by Sly and the Family Stone. The song, released as the B-side to the band's 1970 single "Thank You ", reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970 at a time when chart position for both sides of the single were measured equally and not independently. "Star" was intended to be included on an in-progress album with "Thank You" and "Hot Fun in the Summertime"; the LP was never completed, and the three tracks were instead included on the band's 1970 Greatest Hits compilation. The single was the final classic-era Family Stone recording; it would be 23 months until the next release, the single "Family Affair" in late 1971.
Songs for Beginners is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. Released in May 1971, it was one of four high-profile albums released by each member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping Déjà Vu album of 1970, along with After the Gold Rush, Stephen Stills and If I Could Only Remember My Name. Songs for Beginners peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and the single "Chicago" made it to No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has been certified a gold record by the RIAA.
Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley is the debut solo album by Robert Palmer, released in 1974. It was his first effort after three album releases co-fronting the band Vinegar Joe.
Sun Goddess is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis, released on Columbia Records in 1974. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Sun Goddess was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Stompin' at the Savoy – Live is an album by American R&B/funk band Rufus with singer Chaka Khan, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1983.
Come 2 My House is the ninth studio album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan released on the NPG Records label in 1998.
Bringing Back the Funk is a studio album by Brian Culbertson released in 2008 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
Headin' Home is the sixth solo album by one-time Spooky Tooth keyboard player Gary Wright, released in 1979.
Don't It Feel Good is a 1975 funk/jazz-funk album by Ramsey Lewis released on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
Places and Spaces is an album by American trumpeter Donald Byrd, that was released on Blue Note in 1975.
Graham Central Station is the debut album by former Sly and the Family Stone bass player Larry Graham's new band Graham Central Station.
Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It is the third album by Graham Central Station. Released in 1975, the album peaked at number four on the Billboard Top Soul Albums. The single "Your Love" was a number-one hit on the Soul Singles chart.
Mirror is the fourth album by Graham Central Station, released in 1976. The album peaked at number seven on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
Now Do U Wanta Dance is the fifth album by Graham Central Station. Released on April 1, 1977, the album peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Top Soul Albums.
My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me is album by Larry Graham & Graham Central Station. Released in 1978, the record marked the first time that Graham called his band Larry Graham & Graham Central Station. The album peaked at number eighteen on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
Feel the Night is an album by American guitarist Lee Ritenour, released in 1979. It was produced by Ritenour.
It was a boom year for the funk: 1974 had cult faves from Mandrill (Mandrilland), Graham Central Station (Release Yourself), the Main Ingredient (Euphrates River), and Rasputin's Stash (The Devil Made Me Do It).
