"Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside

Song#:  0476
Date:  01/31/1981
Debut:  85
Peak:  55
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Funk, R&B



Pop Bits:  Lakeside had been kicking around the Ohio region for years until a move to California in 1972 began to change things for them. Although they became a popular live act, it would still take several years to find success on record. They finally got their first R&B Top 10 in 1978 with "It's All the Way Live" (#4) from their second album "Shot of Love." The follow-up album didn't do as well, but their next one would prove to be their biggest success. "Fantastic Voyage" was issued in 1980 and this title track sped up the R&B chart hitting #1. It's popularity allowed it to crossover to the pop chart where it had a short half-chart run. While it would be the group's only pop chart entry, they went on to have several more R&B hits including their #5 version of The Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" in 1982.

ReduxReview:  This is so awesome. Pop radio at the time was still not really accepting a lot of funk or rap so the chart position seems out of proportion when compared to the popularity of this song. It was a hot song at the time and continued to be so even years later. And it still sounds great. This is a dance party tune and one of my all-time funk favorites.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Rapper Coolio created his own version of this song using samples from the Lakeside recording. It became his first pop chart hit reaching #3 in 1994.

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