"Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life)" by T.S. Monk

Song#:  0499
Date:  02/21/1981
Debut:  90
Peak:  63
Weeks:  8
Genre:  R&B, Funk



Pop Bits:  As the son of a famous and influential jazz musician/composer, Thelonious Monk, T.S. Monk's future was soon determined when he began playing drums as a young teen. By the time he graduated high school, he was touring with his dad's band and Monk stayed with the group until his dad's retirement. Monk then moved on to an R&B group for a while before finally forming his own group. His first album, "House of Music," was released in 1980 and this disco-ish single made waves on the R&B and Dance charts, peaking at #11 on both. Its popularity got it on the pop chart for a few weeks becoming his only song to do so. The band would release two more albums that had diminishing returns and they broke up after their last LP in 1982. Monk returned to his jazz roots playing with other bands and then launched a successful solo jazz career beginning with 1992's "Take One."

ReduxReview:  The song is not really what I expected given Monk's background. It is a light and fluffy piece of dance-funk that goes down easy. There is not much to dislike here, but it's also not very interesting. And it drones on longer than necessary.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This song has been sampled several times in other recordings including "Welcome to the Terrordome" (#3 Rap, #15 R&B) from Public Enemy's influential album "Fear of a Black Planet."

_________________________________________________________________________________