We are in the fourth quarter of 2019 right now, and therefore, it was time for me again to browse my vinyl collection and randomly picked three old records and a more recent one to introduce those to you. If you missed the vinyl selection of the 2019's Q1, Q2 and Q3, feel free to have a look at them first. Enjoy the following presentation of the next four records of my vinyl collection.
The Reddings - The Awakening (1980)
The Reddings was an American funk, soul and disco band founded by the sons of singer/songwriter and producer Otis Redding, Dexter (bass and vocals) and Otis Redding III (guitar). They teamed up with Mark Lockett who played the drums, keys and sang as lead vocalist.
"The Awakening" was their first album released on CBS Records (Sony Music) in December 1980. The album's single "Remote Control" went to #6 on the Billboard Hot Soul single charts and peaked at #89 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Remote Control" continued to receive airplay around the world in countries like Belgium, France, Italy, and The Netherlands. The band recorded the album together with producers Russell Timmons and Nick Man in downtown Washington, D.C.
Have a listen to my album's favourites "Remote Control" (Track #1), "The Awakening Pt. 1" (Track #5) and "Doin' It" (Track #7).
Cameo - Word Up (1986)
"Word Up!" is the twelfth album by American funk/R&B group Cameo that initially consists of 14 band members. The album was released on the label "Atlanta Artists" (Mercury Records, Universal Music) in 1986 and made Cameo one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and includes two of their biggest hit singles, "Word Up!" (Track #1) and "Candy" (Track #2). Reaching platinum status in the United States and gold in the United Kingdom, it peaked at #1 on Billboard's US Top R&B Albums, #8 on Billboard 200 and #7 on the UK album charts.
As of 2009, some of the original members continued to perform together, while two others were hired by the hip hop group Outkast. In 2015, Cameo announced a new residency show at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, opening in March 2016.
Harvey Mason - M.V.P (1981)
Harvey William Mason is an American jazz drummer, record producer, and member of the jazz quartet Fourplay. However, he also released eleven albums as his own solo project until 2014. "M.V.P" was his fifth solo album and the last album in collaboration with the label Arista Records (Sony Music), released in 1981. He also produced the album hiring the cream of the crop of primarily West Coast-based musicians and singers from the jazz, rock, pop, R&B and recording session scenes.
My favourite tracks on the album are "We Can Start Tonight" (Track #2) and "On and On" (Track #5).
Harvey Mason is the father of Harvey Mason Jr., who is also a very successful, Grammy-nominated record producer and songwriter. His credits include Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Mary J. Blige, Neyo, 50 Cent, Backstreet Boys, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, Craig David, Fifth Harmony, John Legend, Luther Vandross and many more. In summer 2019, Harvey Mason Jr. was elected to be the chairman of The Recording Academy.
I Prevail - TRAUMA (2019)
"Trauma" is the second studio album by the American metalcore band I Prevail, released on Farless Records (Concord Music Group) in March 2019. The album was the fourth best-selling album of the week in the US upon release, while its first single, "Breaking Down", hit the top 10 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs charts in May 2019. "Trauma" peaked at #14 of US Billboard's 200.
The album's creation was heavily affected by the bands earlier rise to fame, complications, and struggles with depression. The band was entirely in control of the album's sound and direction, unlike their prior album, "Lifelines", that was criticised to have a generic instead of a band's original sound. I Prevail spent 10 months of 2018 recording their last album "Trauma".
My personal favourites on the record are the songs "Bow Down" (Track #1), "Paranoid" (Track #2), "Low" (Track #10) and "Deadweight" (Track #12).
Another four vinyl records will be presented next year, in Q1 of 2020. Stay tuned for the next randomly picked records from AP's vast vinyl collection!
