bedsitter23 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bedsitter23) wrote2012-06-09 08:59 am
bedsitter23) wrote2012-06-09 08:59 am
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Raised on Radio #15- Shalamar
Shalamar is one of the great lost bands of the Hot Hits era. I mentioned Kool and the Gang earlier, but this group (which came together as Soul Train dancers) were one of those early 80s bands that were a big success on the R&B charts, transitioning from disco, but brought a big guitar-bass-drums sound that appealed ed to rock ears too.
There's probably three things people know about Shalamar.
- It launched Jody Watley, who ended up being even more popular than the band
- They gave us "Dancing in the Sheets" from Footloose (#17 in 1984)
- As anyone knows from watching Chappelle Show, the band in later years brought in Mikki Free, and even though he was a dude, guys thought "that b---- looks fine like a mutha----"
Shalamar had nine hits reach the Billboard Top 100, and although only three cracked the Top 40 ("Second Time Around" made it to #8 in 1979), they were consistent hitmakers on the R&B chart until 1987.
I always was a big fan of "Dead Giveaway". It reached #22, but in the era of the Jacksons, Rick James, and Prince, I thought it was as good as any of them.
There's probably three things people know about Shalamar.
- It launched Jody Watley, who ended up being even more popular than the band
- They gave us "Dancing in the Sheets" from Footloose (#17 in 1984)
- As anyone knows from watching Chappelle Show, the band in later years brought in Mikki Free, and even though he was a dude, guys thought "that b---- looks fine like a mutha----"
Shalamar had nine hits reach the Billboard Top 100, and although only three cracked the Top 40 ("Second Time Around" made it to #8 in 1979), they were consistent hitmakers on the R&B chart until 1987.
I always was a big fan of "Dead Giveaway". It reached #22, but in the era of the Jacksons, Rick James, and Prince, I thought it was as good as any of them.