It’s Friday, and rather than do the old-fashioned thing – you know, post a Rebecca Black video on my Facebook page – I thought it would be more fun to bring you some of the music that I enjoyed from the early 80’s, whether it was in high school or in college. These songs are still funky and strong and amazing, and listening to them can make you really feel like you can take on the day without any barriers or troubles. So crank up those computer speakers, and let the entire office hear this. It’s K-Chuck Radio’s salute to some amazing, powerful dance music from the 80’s!
ZAPP
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Roger Troutman and Zapp produced some of the grittiest funk music of the early 1980’s. You know those synth vocals in 2Pac’s “California Love” song? That’s Roger Troutman, singing into a customized synth-enabled talkbox.
THE WHISPERS
And The Beat Goes On
Oh my God the bass line on this track just leaps and bounces and leaps and bounces. This was the Whispers’ biggest hit, and it was written by Leon Sylvers III – he of the bubblegum soul band The Sylvers (“Boogie Fever”).
McFADDEN AND WHITEHEAD
Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now
McFadden and Whitehead were one of the top songwriting duos for Philadelphia International Records, their hits included the O’Jays’ song “Backstabbers.” This was their biggest hit in front of the microphone.
FONDA RAE
Over Like a Fat Rat
This was vocalist Fonda Rae’s biggest hit, and you know that bass line was sampled by a hundred hip-hop legends.
GERALDINE HUNT
Can’t Fake This Feeling
This hit got a ton of airplay in New York City, most often on the urban stations 92-KTU and WBLS. Makes sense to me.
CHANGE
A Lover’s Holiday
True story. One of the vocalists on this track, Zachary Sanders, previously worked on the Saturday morning cartoon series Schoolhouse Rock. Nice.
YAZ
Situation
This was a throwaway track from the synth-pop duo, until New York remixer Francis Kervokian turned it into a dance-floor smash.
THE TRIPLE “S” CONNECTION
Dance Fever
Remember back when I did a blog post about the Dance Fever TV series? This was the theme song from the show.
RENE AND ANGELA
I’ll Be Good
Ah, the sexy sounds of Angela Winbush. She has a voice like soul-coated velvet. And the song has a great groove, too!
TEENA MARIE
Square Biz
And let’s finish this K-Chuck Radio blast off with the soulful power of Teena Marie. She sang, she wrote, she played guitar and she could rock the club down to the foundation!
Okay, you feel great for a Friday after hearing these tracks?
Me too!
Chuck The Writer 
Lots of memories flooding back with this post!
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