ALMOST OVER YOU

SHEENA EASTON

SONGWRITER: Jennifer K. Kimball & Cindy Diane Richardson

COUNTRY: SCOTLAND

ALBUM: BEST KEPT SECRET

LABEL: ONE WAY RECORDS

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1983

 

         Sheena Shirley Easton(née Orr; born 27 April 1959) is a Scottish singer and actress. Easton came into the public eye in an episode of the first British musical reality television programme The Big Time: Pop Singer, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.

         Easton's first two singles, "Modern Girl" and "9 to 5", both entered the UK Top Ten. She became one of the most successful British female performers of the 1980s.

         A six-time Grammy nominee in the US, Easton is a two-time Grammy Award winner, winning Best New Artist in 1982 and Best Mexican-American Performance in 1985, for her duet with Luis Miguel on the song "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres". She has received five US Gold albums and one US Platinum album. She has recorded 15 studio albums, released 45 singles total worldwide, and had 20 consecutive US singles, including 15 US Top 40 singles, seven US Top Tens and one US #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1981 and 1991. She had 25 top 40 hits internationally. In Canada, Easton scored three gold and two platinum albums. She has sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Easton became the first and only recording artist in Billboard history to have a top 5 hit on each of Billboard's primary singles charts: "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" (pop and AC), "We've Got Tonight" with Kenny Rogers(country and AC), and "Sugar Walls" (R&B and dance).

        Easton's other hits include the James Bond theme "For Your Eyes Only", "Strut", "U Got the Look" and "The Arms of Orion" with Prince, "The Lover in Me", and "What Comes Naturally". She has worked with prominent vocalists and producers, such as Prince, Christopher Neil, Kenny Rogers, David Foster, Luis Miguel, L.A. Reid & Babyface, Patrice Rushen, and Nile Rodgers.

        Best Kept Secret is the fourth album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton. It was released in 1983 on EMI Records.

            Easton's first album to be recorded entirely in the United States, Best Kept Secret was produced by Greg Mathieson, Jay Graydon, and Trevor Veitch. Easton had planned to collaborate again with Christopher Neil, the London-based producer of her previous three albums, but it had eventuated that she and Neil had disparate ideas regarding her new album's material and style. Easton had also hoped that David Foster, who had produced her interim hit duet with Kenny Rogers, "We've Got Tonight", would produce some solo tracks for her, but Foster's schedule did not permit this.

       The songs on Best Kept Secret alternated between dance tracks in the Eurodisco style of the recent Laura Branigan hit "Gloria"— which Mathieson/Graydon/Veitch had been responsible for— and ballads. The album's lead single was the dance track "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" which became Easton's third solo hit to reach the US Top Ten with a Nº 9 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Grammy nominated. The second single was the ballad "Almost Over You" (Nº 25) and another rock track "Devil in a Fast Car" was subsequently issued as a single to reach Nº 79.

I saw an old friend of ours today

She asked about you, I didn't quite know what to say

Heard you've been making the rounds 'round here

While I've been trying to make tears disappear

 

Now I'm almost over you

I've almost shook these blues

So when you come back around

After painting the town

You'll see I'm almost over you

 

You're such a sly one with your cold, cold heart

Maybe leaving came easy, but it tore me apart

"Time heals all wounds", they say, and I should know

'Cause it seems like forever, but I'm letting you go

 

Now I'm almost over you

I've almost shook these blues

So when you come back around

After painting the town

You'll see I'm almost over you

 

I can forgive you and soon I'll forget all my shattered dreams

Although you left me with nothing to show, full of misery

 

Now I'm almost over you

I've almost shook these blues

So when you come back around

After painting the town

You'll see I'm almost over you

 

When you come back around

After painting the town

You'll see I'm almost over you. 

WHEN I SEE YOU SMILE

UNCLE SAM

SONGWRITER: DIANE EVE WARREN

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL THE ALBUM

LABEL: SONY MUSIC

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1998

 

       Uncle Sam(born Sam Turner; May 31, 1971 in Detroit, Michigan, United States) is an American R&B singer. He is best known for being signed to Boyz II Men's Stonecreek Records imprint (distributed by Epic Records) in the late 1990s.

       His only Top 40 hit was the Nathan Morris-penned "I Don't Ever Want to See You Again" released October 14, 1997, which reached Nº 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and Nº 2 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1997. The same track reached Nº 30 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1998. The record sold over one million copies, gaining gold disc status.

     Uncle Sam also sang a cover of "When I See You Smile", originally recorded by Bad English, for the television program, Touched by an Angel.

    Uncle Sam performed a live global stream in Nairobi, Kenya on February 18, 2017, following the final bout of the Making of a Champ boxing series. His set included:

      Touched by an Angel: The Album is the soundtrack to the TV series Touched by an Angel. It was released on November 3, 1998, by 550 Music. The album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, number 3 on the Top Country Albums chart and number 16 on the all-genre Billboard 200. "Somebody's Out There Watching" by The Kinleys was released as a single, reaching number 19 on Hot Country Songs. "Colour Everywhere" by Deana Carter also appeared on her 1999 album Everything's Gonna Be Alright. "Testify to Love" was performed by Wynonna Judd as the character Audrey on the show's 100th episode.

Sometimes I wonder

How I'd ever make it through

Through this world without having you

I just wouldn't have a clue

Sometimes it seems like this world's closing in on me

And there's no way of breaking free

Then i see you reach out for me, oh

Sometimes i wanna give up

Wanna give in

Wanna quit the fight

 

Then one look at you baby

Can make everything alright

Make everything alright

 

When I see you smile

I can face the world

Oh, you know I can do anything

When I see you smile

I see a ray of light

Oh I see it shining right through the rain

When I see you smile

Baby when I see you smile at me

 

Baby when there's nothing in this world that could ever do

What the touch of your hand can do

It's like nothing I ever knew

And when the rain is fallin'

I don't feel it 'coz you're here with me

And one look at you baby

Is all I ever need

It's all I ever need

 

When I see you smile

I can face the world

Oh, you know that I can do anything

When I see you smile

I see a ray of light

Oh I see it shining right through the rain

When I see you smile

Baby when I see you smile at me

 

Sometimes I wanna give up

Wanna give in

Wanna quit the fight

Then one look at you baby

Can make everything alright

Make everything alright

 

When I see you smile

I can face the world

Oh, you know I can do anything

When I see you smile

I see a ray of light

Oh I see it shining right through the rain

When I see you smile

Baby when I see you smile at me.

BREAK UP TO MAKE UP

THE TRAMMPS

SONGWRITERS: JEREMY P. FELTON & MICHAEL ABRAM SCHULTZ

COUNTRY: u. s. a.

ALBUM: DISCO INFERNO

LABEL: ATLANTIC RECORDS

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1976

 

       The Trammps are an American disco and soul band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands.

       The band's first major success was their 1972 cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", while the first disco track they released was "Love Epidemic" in 1973. However, they are best known for their song "Disco Inferno" which was included on the Grammy-winning, Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. When originally released in 1976, "Disco Inferno" became a UK pop hit and US R&B and Dance hit topping the Dance chart for 5 weeks in early 1977. After inclusion in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, the song was re-released in 1978 and became a modest US pop hit peaking at number 11.

      Disco Inferno is the fourth studio album by American soul-disco group, The Trammps, released in 1976 through Atlantic Records.

       The album peaked at Nº 16 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached Nº. 46 on the Billboard 200. The album features the title track, which peaked at Nº. 9 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, Nº 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Nº 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, and "I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On the Dark Side of the Moon)", which charted at Nº 52 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

Tell me what's wrong with you now , tell me why I

Never seem to make you happy, though heaven knows I try.

What does it take to please you? Tell me just how

I can satisfy you woman? You're drivin' me wild.

 

Break up to make up, that's all we do.

First you love me then you hate me,

That's a game for fools.

,Break up to make up that's all we do.

First you love me then you hate me,

That's a game for fools.

 

When I come home from workin', you're on the phone,

Talkin' 'bout how bad I treat ya, now tell me I'm wrong.

You say it's me who argues, I'll say it's you,

We have got to get together or, baby, we're through.

 

Break up to make up, that's all we do.

First you love me then you hate me,

That's a game for fools.

Break up to make up, that's all we do.

Yeah, first you love me then you hate me,

That's a game for fools.

 

Break up to make up, that's all we do.

Yeah, first you love me then you hate me,

That's a game for fools.

 

Break up to make up, that's all we do.

First you love me then you hate me,

That's a game.

SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER

THE SUPREMES

SONGWRITERS: BRISTOL JOHNNY WILLIAM; FUQUA HARVEY & BEAVERS ROBERT L

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: CREAM OF THE CROP

LABEL: MOTOWN

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1969

 

      The Supremes were an American female singing group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful American vocal group, with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Most of these hits were written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland. At their peak in the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivaled the Beatles in worldwide popularity, and it is said that their breakthrough made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success. Billboard ranked the Supremes as the 16th greatest Hot 100 artist of all time.

      Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, the original group, were all from the Brewster-Douglass public housing project in Detroit. They formed the Primettes as the sister act to the Primes (with Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, who went on to form the Temptations). Barbara Martin replaced McGlown in 1960, and the group signed with Motown the following year as The Supremes. Martin left the act in early 1962, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio.

   During the mid-1960s, the Supremes achieved mainstream success with Ross as lead singer and Holland–Dozier–Holland as its songwriting and production team. In 1967, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. In 1970, Ross left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Jean Terrell and the group reverted to being The Supremes again. During the mid-1970s, the lineup changed with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene joining until, after 18 years, the group disbanded in 1977.

       Cream of the Crop is the eighteenth studio album released by Diana Ross & the Supremes for the Motown label. It was the final regular Supremes studio album to feature lead singer Diana Ross. The album was released in November 1969, after the release and rising success of the hit single "Someday We'll Be Together."

I say it, say it, say it, say it again

(Someday, we'll be together)

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah

 

You're far away from me my love

And just as sure my, my baby

As there are stars above

I wanna say, wanna say, wanna say

 

Yes we will, yes we will

(Say, someday, we'll be together) Some sweet day

I know, I know, I know, I know

 

My love is yours, baby

Oh, right from the start

You, you, you possess my soul now, honey

And I know, I know you own my heart

And I wanna say

 

Some sweet day

Oh, yes we will, yes we will

(Someday, we'll be together) Tell everybody

Yes we will, yes we will

 

Long time ago, my, my sweet thing

I made a big mistake, honey

I, I, I say, I said, goodbye

Oh, oh, baby, ever, ever, ever

Ever, ever and ever since that day

All I wanna do, all I wanna do was cry, cry, oh

 

Hey, hey, hey

I long for you every, every night

Ooh, just to kiss your sweet, sweet lips, baby

Hold you ever, ever so tight

And I wanna say

 

Someday we'll be together

Yes we will, yes we will

Someday we'll be together

Yes we will, yes we will

Someday we'll be together

Someday we'll be together

Yes we will, yes we will.

LET'S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

THE STYLISTICS

SONGWRITERS: GEORGE DAVID WEISS; HUGO PERETTI & LUIGI CREATORE

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: LET’S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

LABEL: AVCO

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1974

 

       The Stylistics are an American, Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. They formed in 1968, with a lineup of singers Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads characterized by the falsetto of Russell Thompkins Jr. and the production of Thom Bell. During the early 1970s, the group had twelve consecutive R&B top ten hits, including "Stop, Look, Listen", "You Are Everything", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "Break Up to Make Up" and "You Make Me Feel Brand New", which earned them 5 gold singles and 3 gold albums

       Let's Put It All Together is the fourth studio album recorded by American R&B group The Stylistics, released in May 1974 on the Avco label. It was produced by Hugo & Luigi and recorded at Mediasound Studios in New York City. This was the group's first album recorded outside of Philadelphia.

…Your arms around me are tender and warm

My arms are meant to hold you

Your arms and my arms

What more is there to say

 

…Let's put it all together

Let's put it all together

Let's put it all together

Girl, 'cause lovin'is there is

 

…Your lips can thrill me just touching my cheek

My lips are meant to kiss you

Your lips and my lips

What more is there to say

 

…Let's put it all together

Let's put it all together

Let's put it all together

Girl, 'cause lovin'is there is

 

…Love like this never happened before

Perfect and true

Day by day we been feeling it more

You love me (you love me) and I love you

 

…Let's put it all together

Let's put it all together

Let's put it all together

Girl.

DANCING IN THE STREETS

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS

SONGWRITERS: MARVIN GAYE; IVY JO HUNTER & WILLIAM “MICKEY” STEVENSON

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: DANCE PARTY

LABEL: GORDY RECORDS

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1965

 

           Martha and the Vandellas(known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown.

      An act founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams, the group eventually included Martha Reeves, who moved up in ranks as lead vocalist of the group after Williams' departure in 1962. The group signed with and eventually recorded all of their singles for Motown's Gordy imprint.

          The group's string of hits included "Come and Get These Memories", "Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Nowhere to Run", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready for Love", "Bless You" and "Dancing in the Street", the latter song becoming their signature single.

          During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and roll and soul. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones, and six Top Ten Pop Hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Selected members of the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.

          Dance Party is a 1965 studio album released by American Motown and soul girl group Martha and the Vandellas on the Gordy (Motown) label. The album was the group's third and, much like The Miracles' Mickey's Monkey album, mainly consisted of dance tunes. The singles featured on the album were their 1964 landmark single, "Dancing in the Street", their follow-up smash, "Wild One", and the hit "Nowhere to Run" and its b-side, "Motoring". The album was mostly produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson with several nods from Holland–Dozier–Holland.

Callin' out around the world

Are you ready for a brand new beat

Summer's here and the time is right

For dancing in the street

 

They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)

Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)

In New York City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere

 

There'll be swingin' and swayin' and records playing

Dancing in the street

 

Oh it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl

Everywhere around the world

 

There'll be dancing (dancing in the street)

They're dancing in the street

Dancing in the street

 

It's just an invitation across the nation

A chance for folks to meet

There'll be laughing, singing and music swinging

Dancing in the street

 

Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)

Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)

Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)

 

All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere

There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playing

And dancing in the street

 

Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on, every guy grab a girl

Everywhere around the world

 

They're dancing

They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

Way down in L.A., every day, they're dancing in the street

Let's get our big strong long, get on time (they're dancing in the street)

Across the ocean blue, me and you (we're dancing in the street).

I'VE GOT LOVE ON MY MIND

NATALIE COLE

SONGWRITERS: YANCY MARVIN JEROME & JACKSON CHARLES HENRY

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: UNPREDICTABLE

LABEL: CAPITOL RECORDS

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1977

 

         Natalie Maria Cole(February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was the daughter of American singer and jazz pianista Nat King Cole. She rose to success in the mid-1970s as na R&B singer with the hits "This Will Be", "Inseparable" (1975), and "Our Love" (1977). She returned as a pop singer on the 1987 album Everlasting and her cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac". In the 1990s, she sang traditional pop by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which sold over seven million copies and won her seven Grammy Awards. She sold over 30 million records worldwide.

       Unpredictable is an album by the American singer Natalie Cole. Released on February 22, 1977, by Capitol Records, the album includes the single "I've Got Love on My Mind", which peaked at No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B chart.

I've got love on my mind

I've got love on my mind

I've got love on my mind

And there's nothing particularly wrong

It's a feeling I feel inside

When I woke up early this morning

It was staring me straight in my eyes

I've got love (love) on my mind (ooh)

I've got love (love) on my mind (ooh)

I've got love (love) on my mind (ooh)

When you touch me I can't resist

And you've touched me a thousand times

When I think of your tender kiss, ah

Then and there I start to unwind, ooh, in your arms

I like to be, yeah, caressing you gentle

And tenderly, oh, yeah, from sunrise to sunset

All through the day, I've been waiting for your return

And you know this is where I'll be

I can say to the world I've learned only you can satisfy me

Satisfy me, oh, you have made me so very happy

Oh Baby, Baby, (love) love, love, on my (on my mind), my, my, my mind

Love (love), love, on-- (on my mind) my mind

(Love) I've got love (on my mind) on my mind, yeah

(Love) It's a whole lot of love (on my mind), it's a whole lot of love, yes, it is

(Love) I can't hear ya, say it for me one more time

(Love) Oh, I like the way you say it, when you say it for me, yeah

(Love, love) Ooh, you know, it's like paradise, say it twice

(Love, love) Got a whole lot of love, whole lot of love for you, Baby, yeah

(Love) You know this thing, I got love, yeah

I've got (Love) on my mind (on my mind)

Oh (love) love, love on my mind (on my mind)

I've got, (love) I've got, I've got, I've got, I've got

(On my mind) love, love, love

(Love) I've got love on

(On my mind) my mind, yeah

Oh (love) yeah, oh, love, (on my mind)

Love, love, love, la, la... yeah.

CONVICTION OF THE HEART

KENNETH LOGGINS 

SONGWRITERS: LOGGINS KENNETH CLARK & THOMAS GUY SAMUEL

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: LEAP OF FAITH

LABEL: COLUMBIA RECORDS

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1991

 

                Kenneth Clark Loggins(born January 7, 1948) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded as Loggins and Messina from 1972 to 1977. His early soundtrack contributions date back to A Star Is Born in 1976, and he is known as the King of the Movie Soundtrack. As a solo artist, Loggins experienced a string of soundtrack successes, including an Academy Award nomination for "Footloose" in 1985. Finally Home was released in 2013, shortly after Loggins formed the group Blue Sky Riders with Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman. He won a Daytime Emmy Award, two Grammy Awards, and was nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

          Leap of Faith is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. The album was released on September 10, 1991 by Columbia Records. It was the first album Loggins released after a divorce, and is notably longer than his previous solo albums. Singles from the album included "The Real Thing," "If You Believe," "Now or Never," and "Conviction of the Heart," the latter of which was later dubbed "the unofficial anthem of the environmental movement" by Vice President Al Gore. "I Would Do Anything" features Sheryl Crow who can also be heard in the title song along with Smokey Robinson.

Where are the dreams

That we once had?

This is the time

To bring them back

 

What were the promises

Caught on the tips of our tongues?

Do we forget or forgive?

There's a whole other life

Waiting to be lived when

One day we're brave enough

To talk with conviction of the heart

 

And down your streets

I've walked alone

As if my feet were not my own

Such is the path I chose

Doors I have opened and closed

 

I'm tired of living this life

Fooling myself, believing we're right when

I've never given love

With any conviction of the heart

 

One with the earth

With the sky

One with everything in life

I believe we'll survive

If we only try

 

How long must we all wait to change

This world bound in chains that we live in

To know what it is to forgive and be forgiven?

 

Too many years of taking now

Isn't it time to stop somehow?

Air that's too angry to breathe

Water our children can't drink

 

You've heard it

Hundreds of times

You say you're aware

Believe, and you care

But do you care enough

Where's your conviction of the heart?

 

One with the Earth

With the sky

One with everything in life

I believe it will start

With conviction of the heart

 

With the Earth

With the sky

One with everything in life

I believe it will start

With conviction of the heart

 

One Earth

One sky

Only one world

 

Only one chance

For one life

When will live

(With conviction of the heart)

 

One child

One dream

And only one life

 

Give her one chance

For one life

When will we live

 

Only one Earth

Only one sky

Only one world

We've only got one chance

To live in one life

 

I believe it's only gonna start

When we begin with

Some conviction of the heart.