"REAL MUSiC EXPRESSES fEELiNGS AND iNVOkES THOUGHT. MUSiC iS UNiVERSALLY UNDERStOOD WiTHOUT LANGUAGE; it WAS BELOW AND BEfORE SPEECH; AND MUSiC iS ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL WORDS".
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Showing posts with label flyte tyme productions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flyte tyme productions. Show all posts
Bluey Robinson crooned out a sublime rendition of the New Edition classic "Can You Stand The Rain."
Originally produced and composed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
courtesy of Flyte Tyme Productions Inc.
Before Pharrell & Chad formed The Neptunes, and even before L.A. Reid and Babyface got their break, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis were the go-to production team and they gave birth to the "super-producer" in the pop and urban music scene. After being hired and fired from The Time by their high school friend/boss Prince, for missing a show and "giving away" their "sound" (The Minneapolis Sound/MPLSound) to another group, The S.O.S. Band, the pair went on to create music for folks ranging from Janet Jackson to the new wave group Human League. They are second to Quincy Jones in Hit songs on Billboard and Awards.
TRACKLIST
Grammy Intro
Herb Alpert f/ Janet Jackson – Diamonds (Cool Summer Mix)
Howard Johnson – Older Girl
Alexander O’Neal – Fake
Thelma Houston – You Used To Hold Me So Tight (Original 12″ Mix)
Emerging from the shadows of the most famous family in showbusiness to become a superstar in her own right, Janet Jackson was one of the biggest female pop icons of the 80s and 90s, scoring huge international hits with songs such as What Have You Done For Me Lately? and Nasty.
This film examines Janet's phenomenal career, from her early success as a teenage actress in hit US sitcom Diff'rent Strokes to multi award-winning pop star rivalling her brother's success with ten number one singles on the American Billboard charts and worldwide album sales of over 65 million.
The struggle to control both her creative and personal life is central to Janet's development as an artist and key to understanding her story -
from escaping the clutches of her overbearing father to the thirst for new challenges in her groundbreaking collaborations with former Prince protege's and band members of the group The Time and The Original 7ven, super producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Flyte Tyme Productions Inc.)
Dubbed the 'Queen of Radio' in America, she always seemed capable of maintaining her broad-base appeal - until the infamous 2004 American Super Bowl appearance alongside Justin Timberlake.
Featuring an exclusive interview with Janet Jackson and contributions from the likes of Jimmy Jam, Janet's brother Jackie Jackson, actor Deborah Allen and British pop talent Estelle.
On a wintry night in 1983, two musicians left a recording studio in Atlanta...
They were headed back to the airport. They had been in town to produce two songs for a reputable local band. They were on their way to San Antonio where, alongside their own bandmates, they were scheduled to open for a major recording artist. But they never made it. As fate would have it, while recording, a severe weather front had swept in over Georgia from the North East, grounding all air traffic in heavy snow. It was a night that would forever change their lives.
When they were finally reunited with their band, the musicians were summoned to a small, crowded room for a meeting. Brought together by Prince in 1981, as part of his own initial record deal with Warner Bros., The Time was made up of high school friends, 7 in all, formed from two local Minneapolis groups. As the band's de facto founder and talent promoter, Prince accused the two musicians of moonlighting while under a strict edict to neither write nor produce outside of the band. Despite not being encouraged to write or produce for the band, the judgment was unequivocal, if far from unanimous: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were fired.
Unable to convince any others to follow them out the door and with little more than a four-track tape recorder, a bass guitar and a Fedora full of songs, the two musicians left for Los Angeles.
"Wait and see," Prince is said to have remarked at the time, "...you'll never hear from those guys again."
Replacements were soon enlisted to support debonair frontman Morris Day and the remaining members: Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Jerome Benton and Jesse Johnson. Prince continued to press ahead and fame quickly followed for the band in 1984 when they were featured in his film debut Purple Rain, a cult classic that would see The Time enjoy crossover success. Subsequent singles Jungle Love and The Bird propelled their third album, Ice Cream Castles, to #24 on the U.S. chart, eclipsing their first two releases.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta-based S.O.S. Band had already reached #2 on the U.S. R&B Chart with Just Be Good To Me, written and produced by a little-known production partnership called Jam and Lewis.
Seven years later, Jam and Lewis briefly returned to The Time for Prince's Purple Rain sequel, Graffiti Bridge, and to record a new album. Certified Gold by the RIAA in 1990, Pandemonium became their most successful release, topping Ice Cream Castles and spawning the US R&B Chart No.1 single Jerk Out. But the reunion was short-lived. In 2008, rumors of a new album surfaced once more after Rihanna joined the original seven members onstage for a blistering performance of Jungle Love/Umbrella at the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony.
30 years after they first came together and 21 years since they last recorded as a group, they've finally reunited on their own terms as The Original 7ven (the band formerly known as The Time). Their new album, Condensate, is accompanied by a new film documentary on the group's history -- premiering this week at The Grammy Museum -- and an international tour schedule planned for 2012.
For their part, since their first stint with The Time, Jam & Lewis have earned plaudits as one of the most prolific production duos in music history, working with the likes of Janet Jackson, brother Michael, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Usher, Mary J. Blige and countless others. Throughout their partnership they have registered millions of sales on over 100 albums that have exceeded either gold, platinum or multi-platinum status. To date, they have notched up an incredible 15 No.1 pop hits and 25 No.1 R&B chart-toppers and bagged more Grammy Awards than even Prince himself. Of their relationship with Prince, the two producers are characteristically sanguine and their bandmates all remain clearly upbeat in interviews when quizzed about their friend and former partner. The Time's own toxic history with the prolific star is complicated, well-documented and better explored elsewhere. Yet, suffice to say, it is laden with long-standing baggage on both sides, only some of which perhaps remains on an Atlanta airport carousel.
Nevertheless, The Time are considered worthy successors to their funkadelic forebears and remain synonymous with the very Sound of Minneapolis: that infectious hybrid of funk, rock, pop, soul and New Wave that, according to the Rolling Stone Album Guide, "...loomed over mid-'80s R&B and pop, not to mention the next two decades' worth of electro, house, and techno."
That this supergroup have reformed under a new name speaks volumes. Whether Prince claimed his rights and refused them the option to return as The Time will feel academic to most fans, particularly if the searing bass-line and infectious hook of their first single #Trendin' is anything to go by. The new track opens The Original 7ven's account with a solid airplay contender as the #1 added song this week on U.S. urban radio and a sure-fire resolution not to rest on past successes. With its timely, tongue-in-cheek reference to the baying twitterati, the new track fizzes with the fresh energy one can always expect from accomplished live musicians who are clearly having fun on their first record in 20 years. No, this isn't will.i.am 'phunk', it's morris.e.day and Funk with an 'F'.
An essential refresher to the genre, the new album opens in flawless and familiar color: Strawberry Lake is a bright, upbeat fanfare that welcomes back old friends doing what they do best. Title track Condensate, introduced in classic skit style, struts confidently and delivers on that trademark cocktail of humour and swagger only Morris Day and Jerome Benton can serve up. If I was Your Man and Faithful sparkle as genial additions to the oeuvre, fashioning warm and accessible counterpoints to Sick, an axe-driven funk jam which finds Jesse Johnson in rude health, relishing every lick and 'kissing the sky' in the process. Conversely, Cadillac is a low-riding gem which sizzles with subtle, yet playful, energy and sass. The swinging One Step and equally rowdy Toast To A Party Girl are tremendous fun, vividly alluding to the band's live promise in the months to come. Naturally, one cannot expect The Time purists to immediately fall-in behind the more modish tracks such as the lead single and Hey Yo but, crucially, it is through these very songs that The Original 7ven offer insight into their new identity and relevance.
The Original 7ven's updated sound is still masterfully rooted in the band's trademark Minneapolis signature which their older, primary audience will appreciate and recognize instantly. Younger newcomers will feel a greater affinity to the more contemporary tracks on the 14-song release, while spotting a leitmotif that pervades the repertoire of later artists from Outkast to Snoop Dogg. In short, Condensate marks a mighty return to the fore for a beloved ensemble that has rightfully earned its own status as music royalty.
★★★★★
'Condensate', the new album
by The Original 7ven
Released October 18, 2011
Throughout Prince's career, he has been involved with a succession of protégés and "side projects." These envelop more fascinating insights into Prince's production and songwriting techniques. Many of the artists have become stars in their own right. Perhaps most famous and successful of all of Prince's musical projects have been The Time.
The story of The Time began in late 1980, when Prince decided to put together a R&B/funk band. His reasons for doing so still remain a mystery to this day, despite various sources maintaining that the group was put together as a favour to Morris Day. Supposedly Morris had originally written "Partyup," which Prince wanted so much that he offered to get Morris a group together and get them a record contract.
From Flyte Tyme To The Time
Using the remnants of a local group called Flyte Tyme, Prince created a new six-piece band with Morris as the singer. Flyte Tyme, named after a song by jazz artist Donald Byrd, had existed in different incarnations since 1974.
The nucleus of The Time were Flyte Tyme members Terry Lewis (bass), Monte Moir and Jimmy Jam Harris (keyboards), and Jellybean Johnson (drums), all from Minneapolis.
Cynthia Johnson was one of Flyte Tyme's early lead singers until she left to sing with Lipps Inc., who had a huge 1980 hit with "Funkytown."
Sue Ann Carwell did a stint as lead singer before getting a solo contract, and then Alexander O'Neal took over. He was Prince's first choice as singer in the re-formed group, but he declined Prince's offer.
Originally to be the drummer in the group, Morris Day instead became The Time's singer. At the time of the formation, he played in a group called Enterprise.
To complete the group, they needed a guitarist. Morris remembered a young, talented guy who had auditioned for Enterprise, called Jesse Johnson, from Rock Island, Illinois. Prince flew back from the Dirty Mind tour on the strength of Morris' boasts to see Jesse play. He was subsequently drafted to play guitar in the group, and came to Minneapolis in April, and everything looked set.
Prince got The Time a contract with Warner Bros. He had already recorded most of the album on his own, prior to any involvement of the band members, except Morris.
Prince's bass player André Cymone was going to write some songs, but he claims Prince more or less muscled him out of the project.
from right to left: jimmy jam and terry lewis
from right to left: jesse johnson (guitar), monte moir (keys), jellybean (drums), jimmy jam (keys), terry lewis (bass), front and center: morris day
- music that comes from the heart, goes straight to the heart -
“We always talk about R&B, we always talk about black music, Hip Hop, and rap, but we have left one thing out of what our music has always represented as black people and that is soul…we’re going to need as much soul as we can get”
quote from (Legendary Music Producer) - Terry Lewis
BiOGRAPHY:
One listen to SOLO’s version of Sam Cooke’s “A change is gonna come” and you get it. SOLO is SOUL. A group of three dynamic male vocalist and an upright bassist SOLO is blessed with the textures and harmonies that harkens back to the great soul acts of our past. Today they remain the music industries heir apparent to the male groups of the Motown, Chess, and Philly Soul heydays.
A true urban American dream; super producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis discovered the group while they sang on a New York City street corner in the SOHO district. Jam & Lewis signed SOLO to their Perspective/A&M records label and released their self-titled debut “SOLO”. Under the Executive direction of Jam & Lewis “SOLO” was one of the best albums to be released in the 90’s and was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award. Unfortunately female group TLC won the award. The album sold more than 700,000 copies, garnered two top ten singles (“Heaven” and “Where do you want me to put it”) and rocketed the group to stardom full of hardcore fans.
Dubbed the Temptations of the 90’s SOLO’s live shows are the stuff of legends. Anyone who was present at the group’s 96 Essence Festival performance would tell you how blessed they were to be packed into the standing room hot box of the Sky Lounge to hear real singers sang! The group set the music industry abuzz traveling the world by opening up for artist such as the Queen herself Aretha Franklin, R Kelly and the famous Down Low Tour, Michael Bolton, Patty Labelle, Gladys Knight, Maze and Frankie Beverly, Chaka Kahn, The Notorious BIG, and so many others.
the year is 1982 at a james brown concert. mj was on top of the world with 'beat it' and 'billie jean' and prince was making noise with 'little red corvette' and '1999'.
rare and the only footage of all three on one stage!
The songs on Second Chance were co-written and co-produced by some of music's most notable hitmakers, including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface, Mike City, Michael Angelo, Mishka, the Avila Brothers and Ron Fair.
El DeBarge Interview
Q: What do you want to tell us with this album? What is your message? A: I want the world to know that tomorrow is full of second chances, and all your fears should be left behind you. Q: Why did you write the song "Second Chance"? A: I wrote "Second Chance" to commemorate all the struggles I went through, and I feel it speaks to struggles in the souls and the hearts of people who are going through what I went through and who want a second chance. Q: How are you feeling being back? A:I'm very grateful to be back. It's joyful, it's scary, it's all of that. Q: Describe your connection to your fans. A: I love my fans. I like being up close and personal with them, so I really like being on tour more than I like just being in the studio. Q: Are you a spiritual person? A:I have a close relationship with God. From the moment I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is to get on my knees and pray. He's everything to me. He's my music. He's my source of creativity. He's my breath. Q: What is the El DeBarge sound, and how has it changed and evolved over the years? A: The El DeBarge sound is soulful, it's joyful, it's filled with intricate harmonies. It talks about life, it talks about love... it hasn't changed, though. It's the same. Q: What's your songwriting process like? Where do you draw inspiration from? A:I draw inspiration from walking down the street, from driving, from being in crowds and just vibing off people, but I like to begin my songwriting process with sitting at thepiano. That way I can critique and develop what I'm hearing musically. Q: You've overcome a lot in the past few years. What would be your message to fans? A:I lost a lot of time, I lost a lot of good friends, but I'm back, though there were some serious consequences. You don't want to go down that road. You don't need to experiment with drugs. Some people say that experience is the best teacher, but you don't need to experience that. Just learn from my mistakes. Q: You've said recently that self-denial was your first step toward drug abuse, and you lost touch with reality. What's the best way of staying true to yourself? A: Keep people around you that were in your joy period of life. That's the most authentic period of your life, and that's mostly your childhood and your teens, rather than your "good times" or "bad times," and don't ever lose that. Don't succumb to the new "friendships" that just come out of nowhere. That's not going to do it. That will get you in trouble right there. Q: What brings joy to your life? A:A good song makes me feel joyful. I like hearing chords and pretty melodies; I brighten up if I hear something that sounds good. Simple things like that – watching the sun come up, watching the sun set - and last, but definitely not least, a beautiful woman.Q: Can you talk about some of your favorite tracks on the album? A: One of my favorite tracks is "How Can You Love Me So Much, Girl?" produced by the Avila Brothers and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Another is "Serenading You." That's for lovers who really want to serenade their woman, and it's written by Mike City. I have quite a few of them. Q:What can your fans expect from you? A:Oh, we're going to have a good time when I get back on stage. It's going to be so joyful! We're going to sing some of the old songs, some of the new songs – we're just going to have some fun.
tracklist - deluxe version
CD 1
01. Lay With You (Feat. Faith Evans) 02. Heaven 03. Close To You 04. Format (Feat. 50 Cent) 05. When I See You 06. How Can You Love Me 07. Serenading 08. 5 Seconds (Feat. Fabolous) 09. Joyful 10. Sexy Lady 11. Sad Songs 12. The Other Side 13. Second Chance
CD 2
01. Silent Night 02. Christmas Without You 03. Heart Full Of Love
from right to left:
