Chicago - Aloha Mama

From Chicago's best album (unless you're a fan of Chicago).

Aloha Mama

Chicago

from Chicago 13 (1979)

Chet Baker - My Future Just Passed

Insulation for the soul.

My Future Just Passed

Chet Baker

from She Was Too Good To Me (1974)

Todd Rundgren - Healing Part I

Listen.

Healing Part I

Todd Rundgren

from Healing (1981)

Patti Labelle - Get Ready (Lookin' For Love)

Gumbo disco. Production from N'Orleans legend, Allen Toussaint.

Get Ready (Lookin' For Love)

Patti Labelle

from Released (1980)

Jobriath - Ooh La La

Unhelpfully hyped and mismanaged, Jobriath was almost forgotten by the time of his 1974 LP, Creatures of the Street - an album I'd implore you to check out. The standout track for me is this soulful glam number with a cheeky southern twang (that caricature accent a little reminiscent of Mick Jagger's...)

Ooh La La

Jobriath

from Creatures of the Street (1974)

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Everytime I Look At You

From the near-flawless - and my personal favourite H&O Record - Abandoned Luncheonette.

Everytime I Look At You

Daryl Hall & John Oates

from Abandoned Luncheonette (1973)

Bob James - Caribbean Nights

Just love this track - from Hubert Laws' effortless flute improv to Bob James' signature smooth keys, and that Beach Boys-esque bridge is the icing...

Caribbean Nights

Bob James

from Touchdown (1978)

Chic - City Lights

Am gonna let the LP cover do the talking for this one, which says more than words ever could...

City Lights

Chic

from Tongue In Chic (1982)

The Deele - Working (9 to 5)

Le grind.

Working (9 to 5)

The Deele

from Street Beat (1983)

The Trammps - Scruboard

A song to keep you warm - taken from their debut LP...




Scruboard
The Trammps
from The Legendary Zing Album (1973)

Al Green - (No No) You'll Never Hurt Me Again

Recorded for the 1977 Belle Album sessions, this [somehow] didn't make the final cut. For me it stands up to any of his previous hits, a real gem...



(No No) You'll Never Hurt Me Again
Al Green
from The Belle Album - Expanded Edition (2006)

I Wanna Be Where You Are

An homage to the song penned by Leon Ware and T-Boy Ross, originally performed by Michael Jackson, and retroactively refreshed by the likes of Willie Hutch, José Feliciano (en español), Ware himself on Marvin Gaye's I Want You and on his own 1976 release, Musical Massage. A masterpiece incidentally - go buy!


I Wanna Be Where You Are
Michael Jackson
from Got To Be There (1972)





I Wanna Be Where You Are
Willie Hutch
from Fully Exposed (1973)





I Wanna Be Where You Are
Marvin Gaye
from I Want You (1976)





I Wanna Be There
Leon Ware
from Musical Massage (1976)





Ahora Si Quiero Amar
José Feliciano
from Escenas De Amor (1982)

Roy Ayers - Poo Poo La La

A brilliant duet with Miki Howard, "the kinda woman that would trim your toenails at 5 o'clock in the morning..."




Poo Poo La La
Roy Ayers
from In the Dark (1984)

Ashford & Simpson - Love It Away

This one from '82, although I always thought it had more of a late 70's vibe with that Nile Rodgers-esque production. Oh and that's not Barry White and Patrice Rushen on the LP cover (contrary to popular belief)...




Love It Away
Ashford & Simpson
from Street Opera (1982)

Elton John - Born Bad

From Elton's justifiably overlooked Victim of Love. This track stands out as a fun camp disco caper which should be played loud and not taken too seriously (the latter somewhat of a given considering the song's title).




Born Bad
Elton John
from Victim of Love (1979)

Teena Marie - It Must Be Magic

tilt me.




It Must Be Magic
Teena Marie
from It Must Be Magic (1981)

Finis Henderson - Skip To My Lou

fairy tale funk.




Skip To My Lou
Finis Henderson
from Finis (1983)

Imagination - So Good So Right

self-explanatory.




So Good So Right
Imagination
from Body Talk (1981)

Mick Jackson - Blame It On The Boogie

the oft overlooked original.



Blame It On The Boogie
Mick Jackson
from Weekend (1978)

Giorgio Moroder - Cacaphoney

musical interpretation of a hangover...




Cacaphoney
Giorgio Moroder
from Midnight Express OST (1978)