Tag: jheri curl june
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Jheri Curl June: Pink Rhythm’s “Melodies of Love”
We’ve been making an effort to include some international Jheri Jams this year, from the Japanese City Pop of Hitomi Tohyama’s “Wanna Kiss” to the French post-disco groove of J.M. Black’s “Lipstick (Shout!).” Today, we’re showcasing the Brit-funk cult classic, “Melodies of Love” by Pink Rhythm. From the twinkling, dramatic synth opening to the throbbing…
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Jheri Curl June: Chaka Khan’s “This is My Night”
We’re breaking Jheri Curl June protocol in a few ways today: first, because Callie and I were both out of town on a family vacation last Thursday and Friday, we’ve extended Ladies’ Week into the first few days of this week. And second, rather than following up Callie’s 1985 Aretha pick with something later, I’m…
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Jheri Curl June: Aretha Franklin’s “Who’s Zoomin’ Who”
Last summer when we lost Aretha Franklin, I realized what a massive oversight it was that we hadn’t inducted her into Jheri Curl June yet. Aretha became known as the Queen of Soul for her ’60s hits including “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and “I Say a…
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Jheri Curl June: Carrie Lucas’ “Men”
Carrie Lucas began her career as a backup singer for the Whispers before signing to SOLAR Records. While she didn’t have any breakout hits during her solo career, 1982’s Still in Love is a Jheri Curl classic which includes a song produced by Nicholas Caldwell of the Whispers, as well as today’s Jheri Curl June…
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Jheri Curl June: Ashford & Simpson’s “Outta the World”
It’s honestly shocking to me that in the six-year run of Jheri Curl June, we’ve never covered Ashford & Simpson, the ultimate soul music couple. Ashford & Simpson are what Jheri Curl June inductees René & Angela aspired to look like: a powerhouse singer-songwriter married couple. Beginning their careers as successful songwriters, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie…
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Jheri Curl June: J.M. Black’s “Lipstick (Shout!)”
For this penultimate post in Week 2 of Jheri Curl June VIbe, I thought I’d highlight another piece of International Jheri Curl. This time, our world tour takes us to France: a country with a vibrant post-disco and boogie scene documented by Born Bad Records’ excellent Chébran compilations. One of the highlights of Chébran Volume…
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Jheri Curl June: James Ingram’s “Party Animal”
Earlier this year when we lost James Ingram, I took that as an opportunity to delve deeper into his music. Although I was aware that he was an accomplished singer and songwriter, I was mainly familiar with “Yah Mo B There” and the fact that he helped turn “P.Y.T.” by Michael Jackson into the undisputed…
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Jheri Curl June: Michael Wycoff’s “On the Line”
Today’s Jheri Curl June inductee, Michael Wycoff, was a backup singer on Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life, as well as a contributor to some of 7th Wonder’s and Natalie Cole’s albums. In 1980 he began releasing solo albums, but it wasn’t until 1983’s On the Line that he fully embraced the Jheri.…
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Jheri Curl June: Larry Graham’s “Sooner or Later”
Listen, I have been sitting on this Jheri Jam for a whole year, sustaining multiple burns on my ass from trying to contain this hot track. But, before we get into that, LOOK AT THAT ALBUM COVER. Larry Graham peeks out from a hot pink, palm-leafed environment, popping his collar and looking like Magnum motherfuckin’…