Harold Melvin &the Blue Notes were an American soul and R&B vocal group. One of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s,the group's repertoire included soul,R&B,doo-wop,and disco. Founded in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,in the middle of the 1950s as The Charlemagnes,the group is most noted for several hits on Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International label between 1972 and 1976,although they performed and recorded until Melvin's death in 1997. Despite group founder and original lead singer Harold Melvin's top billing,the Blue Notes' most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass,their lead singer during the successful years at Philadelphia International. The remaining members of the Blue Notes have reunited for Soul Train Cruises in 2013,2015,and 2017.
"I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 single recorded by the Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Top Pop Singles chart for two weeks in 1969,from October 18 to October 25,replacing "Sugar,Sugar" by the Archies and replaced by "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley. The single was also a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Top R&B Singles for five weeks,from October 4 to November 1,replacing "Oh,What a Night" by the Dells,and replaced by another Motown song,"Baby I'm For Real" by the Originals.
"Family Affair" is a 1971 number-one hit single recorded by Sly and the Family Stone for the Epic Records label. Their first new material since the double A-sided single "Thank You "/ "Everybody Is a Star" nearly two years prior,"Family Affair" became the third and final number-one pop single for the band. In 2021,Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song 57th on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The cover version by John Legend,Joss Stone,and Van Hunt,won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
"I Wish It Would Rain" is a 1967 song recorded by the Temptations for the Motown label and produced by Norman Whitfield. The lyrics of this mournful song about a heartbroken man whose woman had just left him were penned by Motown staff writer Rodger Penzabene. The lyricist had just learned that his wife was cheating on him and in his sorrow and pain,Penzabene penned both this and its follow-up "I Could Never Love Another ." Tragically the distraught Penzabene committed suicide barely a week after the single's release.
"Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and was nominated for a 1965 Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.
"Ruby Baby" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally recorded by the Drifters. Their version was released as a single by Atlantic Records in 1956. It peaked at No. 10 on the US Hot R&B chart.
"Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble,Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert. It was originally released in 1975 by Harold Melvin &the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass,an act signed to Gamble &Huff's Philadelphia International label. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was subsequently covered by American singer Thelma Houston in 1976 and British duo the Communards in 1986,with both versions achieving commercial success.
"Fabulous" is a song by American singer Jaheim,featuring guest vocals by Tha' Rayne. It served as the first single from his second studio album Still Ghetto (2002). It was produced by KayGee and Eddie Berkeley,containing a sample from "Wake Up Everybody" by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. "Fabulous" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &Tracks chart,also reaching number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100,as well as number one on the Adult R&B Songs for three weeks from February 1,2003 to February 22,2003. An accompanying music video for it was shot in August 2002 in New Jersey,and includes appearances by Mary J. Blige and Tha' Rayne.
"Hip Hop Is Dead" is the first and title single taken from Nas' 2006 album of the same name. It is produced by and features will.i.am. It peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,as well as number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. On December 31,2007,the music video for "Hip Hop Is Dead" appeared at number 93 on BET's Notarized:Top 100 Videos of 2007 countdown,even though the video was released in December 2006.
The discography of the Roots,an American hip hop band,consists of fourteen studio albums,three compilation albums,two extended plays,and two live albums. The Roots began performing in 1989 as the Square Roots with rapper Black Thought and drummer Questlove. Rapper Malik B.,and bassist Leonard Hubbard joined the band in 1991. Over its history,Questlove and Black Thought have always remained with the Roots while their lineup of backing musicians has changed.
"Love Ballad" is a song by R&B/Funk band L.T.D. Jeffrey Osborne is the lead singer.
"All This Love" is a single by DeBarge,released on October 17,1982. The song was released as the third and final single from their second studio album of the same title on the Gordy label. The single would help DeBarge rise to R&B stardom. A cover version of the song was recorded by Patti LaBelle on her 1994 gold album Gems. A video for her version was also filmed.
The discography of American singer John Legend consists of ten full-length studio albums,five live albums,two video albums,three extended plays,51 singles and two promotional singles.
"What You Won't Do for Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bobby Caldwell. It was released in September 1978 as the lead single from his eponymous debut album (1978). It was written by Caldwell and Alfons Kettner,and produced by Ann Holloway. The song has been covered and sampled numerous times,including by Tupac Shakur in the posthumous 1998 hit "Do for Love".
"Give It to Me Right" is a song by Canadian R&B singer Melanie Fiona from her debut album,The Bridge (2009). Written and produced by Andrea Martin and Rod Argent,the track was sent to radio outlets as the album's lead single on February 28,2009. It samples the 1968 hit "Time of the Season" by the Zombies.
The Bridge is the debut album of Canadian R&B/soul singer Melanie Fiona,released under the SRC/Universal Motown label in June 2009. It was released in the United States on November 10,2009. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 57 on the Billboard 200 chart,where it later peaked at number 27. The album received generally favorable reviews. As of February 2012,the album has sold 450,000 copies in the United States.
Wake Up! is a collaborative studio album by American R&B recording artist John Legend and hip hop band the Roots,released September 21,2010,by GOOD Music and Columbia Records. It is Legend's fourth studio album and the Roots' tenth. The album was produced by Legend with band members Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and James Poyser,and features guest appearances by CL Smooth,Malik Yusef,Common,and Melanie Fiona,among others. Inspired by the 2008 United States presidential election,Legend and the Roots primarily covered 1960s and 1970s soul music songs for the album with social themes of awareness,engagement,and consciousness.
"Apache" is a song written by Jerry Lordan and first recorded by Bert Weedon. Lordan played the song on ukulele for the Shadows while on tour and,liking the song,the group released their own version which topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks in mid-1960. The Shadows' guitarist Hank Marvin developed the song's distinctive echo and vibrato sound. After hearing the Shadows' version,Danish guitarist Jørgen Ingmann released a cover of the song in November 1960 which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
"Devil or Angel" is a song written by Blanche Carter and originally recorded by the Clovers in 1955,where it went to number four on the US R&B Best Sellers chart. It was re-recorded by John Bailey after he left the Clovers and formed another Clovers group for Lana Records in 1965.
"Boa Constrictor" is a song written by Shel Silverstein and originally featured on his 1962 album Inside Folk Songs.
