Patti Austin – Only A Breath Away 12”

Posted on May 19, 2012 by djrichiep
Patti Austin - Only A Breath Away 12” Patti Austin - Only A Breath Away 12”


The A Side:
Only A Breath Away (Extended Mix) 7:14

The B Side:
Only A Breath Away (Edit) 4:15

The Brief:
Today’s post is the 12” release of Patti Austin’s “Only A Breath Away” featuring the “Extended Mix”.

The Source:
Label: Qwest Records
Catalog#: 0-20571
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

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Patti Austin – Only A Breath Away 7″

Posted on May 18, 2012 by djrichiep
Patti Austin - Only A Breath Away 7" Patti Austin - Only A Breath Away 7"


The A Side:
Only A Breath Away 4:15

The B Side:
Summer Is The Coldest Time Of Year 5:15

The Brief:
“Only A Breath Away” is the second of two singles released from Patti Austin’s 1985 album ‘Gettin’ Away With Murder‘. The single was written and produced by Monte Moir for Flyte Tyme Productions. It failed to chart on any of Billboard’s major US charts.

The Source:
Label: Qwest Records
Catalog#: 7-28573
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Patti Austin | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

World Class Wreckin Cru – Turn Off The Lights 12″

Posted on May 17, 2012 by djrichiep
World Class Wreckin' Cru - Turn Off The Lights 12" World Class Wreckin' Cru - Turn Off The Lights 12"


The A Side:
Turn Off The Lights (Vocal) 5:42

The B Side:
Turn Off The Lights (Instrumental) 5:42

The Brief:
In 1988 the World Class Wreckin Cru released “Turn Off The Lights” as a single. The song was written by the group’s founder Alonzo Williams who co-produced the track with Dr. Dre. Williams, Dre and DJ Yella provided vocals while Michel’le sang the female lead part. The song reached the Top 40 on the R&B charts and spent 11 weeks on the Hot 100. That same year, Dre and Yella’s group N.W.A. released the landmark ‘Straight Outta Compton’ album. Quite a contrast in music styles, don’t you agree?

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot 100 3/26/88 93 84 11
Hot Black Singles 1/9/88   33 26


The Source:
Label: Kru-Cut Records
Catalog#: KC 006
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 1/3 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in World Class Wreckin Cru | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Rainy Davis – Still Waiting 7″ Promo

Posted on May 16, 2012 by djrichiep
Rainy Davis - Still Waiting 7" Promo Rainy Davis - Still Waiting 7" Promo


The A Side:
Still Waiting 3:40

The B Side:
Still Waiting 3:40

The Brief:
Denise Lorraine Davis is known by her stage name Rainy Davis. At the request of Amir Bayyan, (personal friend of the Jacksons), Rainy Davis wrote “Sweetheart” with producer Pete Warner for Janet Jackson. When the demo was finished all the songs for Janet’s ‘Control’ album, had been chosen. Amir Bayyan, Christine Bayyan and Chris Lord Alge suggested to Davis that she release the song herself, and as a result it became a hit on R&B radio. The single’s success resulted in a record deal with Columbia Records and the album ‘Sweetheart’ was released in 1987. One of the singles from that album was Rainy’s cover of Prince’s song “Still Waiting”.

The song made its debut on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles this day in 1987.

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot Black Singles 5/16/87   41 9


The Source:
Label: Columbia Records
Catalog#: 38-07072
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Rainy Davis | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Enchantment – Don’t Fight The Feeling 7″ Promo

Posted on May 15, 2012 by djrichiep
Enchantment - Don’t Fight The Feeling 7" Promo Enchantment - Don’t Fight The Feeling 7" Promo


The A Side:
Don’t Fight The Feeling 3:53

The B Side:
Don’t Fight The Feeling 3:53

The Brief:
Enchantment toured and played together for the better part of the early 1970’s before getting a record contract and releasing their first LP in 1977. The 45 single in today’s post comes from the last LP the band recorded ‘Utopia’. The song is a “quiet storm” type ballad that I used to play when I was on the air at my college radio station, WABR, in 1983.

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot Black Singles 2/11/84   64 5


The Source:
Label: Columbia Records
Catalog#: 38-04332
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1983

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Enchantment | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Patti Labelle – If You Asked Me To 12″ Promo

Posted on May 14, 2012 by djrichiep
Patti Labelle - If You Asked Me To 12" Promo Patti Labelle - If You Asked Me To 12" Promo


The A Side:
If You Asked Me To 3:56

The B Side:
If You Asked Me To (Dub) 4:08
If You Asked Me To (Instrumental Suite) 4:14

The Brief:
This song is a favorite of the Fun-Wife so, when I saw this promo 12” I picked it up for her. The song is from Patti Labelle’s ninth solo album ‘Be Yourself’ of 1989. The song was written by Diane Warren who has penned 93 songs that have charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 including nine #1 singles. Patti’s version of “If You Asked Me To” also appeared on the movie soundtrack for Licence To Kill.

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot 100 10/7/89 86 79 5
Hot Black Singles 7/1/89   10 21


The Source:
Label: MCA Records
Catalog#: L33-17571
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 1/3 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Patti Labelle | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby 12″

Posted on May 12, 2012 by djrichiep
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby 12" Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby 12"


The A Side:
Ice Ice Baby (Radio Mix) 4:28
Ice Ice Baby (Club Mix) 4:59
Ice Ice Baby (Instrumental Mix) 4:22
Ice Ice Baby (Acapella Mix) 3:46

The B Side:
Play That Funky Music (Radio Mix) 4:39
Play That Funky Music (Instrumental Mix) 4:36
Play That Funky Music (Acapella Mix) 4:32

The Brief:
You love it. Or you hate it. You praise it. Or trash it. But, here’s the thing, at the end of the day, it is what it is. I never recorded a #1 single; Vanilla Ice did, so my hat’s off to him. I know right!?!?

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot 100 9/8/90 72 1 21
Hot Black Singles 9/15/90   6 18
Hot Dance/Disco 10/27/90   28 8


The Source:
Label: SBK Records
Catalog#: V-19724
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 1/3 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1990

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Vanilla Ice | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Candyman – Knockin’ Boots 12″

Posted on May 11, 2012 by djrichiep
Candyman - Knockin' Boots 12" Candyman - Knockin' Boots 12"


The A Side:
Knockin’ Boots (Radio Mix) 4:07
Knockin’ Boots (12″ Mix) 4:35
Knockin’ Boots (Instrumental) 4:05

The B Side:
Knockin’ Boots (St. James Remix) 5:10
Keep On Watcha Doin’ 3:36
Keep On Watcha Doin’ (Instrumental) 3:36

The Brief:
Candell Manson is best known as Candyman, the rapper who hit the Top 10 in 1990 with the single “Knockin’ Boots”. After backing Tone Loc, Candyman signed with Epic Records and released his debut LP ‘Ain’t No Shame In My Game’. “Knockin’ Boots” was the Power Pick/Sales song of the week on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 20, 1990.

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot 100 9/1/90 91 9 23
Hot Black Singles 9/15/90   5 19


The Source:
Label: Epic Records
Catalog#: 49 73437
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 1/3 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1990

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Candyman | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance 12″

Posted on May 10, 2012 by djrichiep
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance 12" Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance 12"


The A Side:
The Humpty Dance (Mini-Hump Radio Mix) 4:40

The B Side:
The Humpty Dance (Bonus Hump Mix) 6:28
The Humpty Dance (Humpstrumental Mix) 3:16

The Brief:
As the 80s ended and the 90s began, a change began in popular music or a change in my perception of popular music began. A change I didn’t/don’t really care for. Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance” is one of those songs that helped usher in that change in my opinion (as well as the other records I’m posting this week). It isn’t necessarily a song I don’t like; it just seems to fit the mold of what I perceived in the 90s. A gimmick produces a single that becomes a smash hit, driving an album of average to way below average songs that didn’t meet the expectations of the single. Maybe I just have a more romanticized view of the 80s cause that’s where I spent my teen years but, it seems to me that the songwriting and musicianship in the 80s produced more consistent and balanced albums than the 90s did. A trend that I feel has continued right on to the present day…

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot 100 3/17/90 81 11 23
Hot Black Singles 2/17/90   7 21
Hot Dance/Disco 3/3/90   20 13


The Source:
Label: Tommy Boy Records
Catalog#: TB 944
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 1/3 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Underground | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince – Parents Just Don’t Understand 12″

Posted on May 9, 2012 by djrichiep
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Parents Just Don't Understand 12" DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Parents Just Don't Understand 12"


The A Side:
Parents Just Don’t Understand (Extended Mix) 5:35
Parents Just Don’t Understand (Single Edit) 5:12

The B Side:
Parents Just Don’t Understand (Instrumental) 5:35
Live At Union Square, November 1986 4:03

The Brief:
“Parents Just Don’t Understand” was the lead single from rap music’s first double-vinyl LP release ‘He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince in 1988. The song and video received airplay on radio and MTV gaining wide exposure for the rap duo.

The Billboard Charts:

Chart Debuted Debut Pos. Peak Pos. Wks on Chart
Hot 100 5/21/88 75 12 19
Hot Black Singles 4/16/88   10 20


The Source:
Label: Jive Records
Catalog#: 1092-1-JD
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 1/3 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988

The Equipment:
Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa Phono Cartridge
Yamaha RX-Z1 A/V Receiver
Sony PCM-R300 DAT Deck
Turtle Beach Catalina sound card
Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Scanner
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII

The Software:
Cool Edit Pro
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006
Microsoft ICE

Continue reading →

Posted in DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments