Top 10 Alert!
Grammy Alert!
Song#: 1001 Date: 04/24/1982
Debut: 88
Peak: 5
Weeks: 23
Genre: R&B, Funk
Pop Bits: This group was known as Kinsman Dazz when they signed to 20th Century Fox in 1978. Their debut album was to be produced by Marvin Gaye, but due to an illness he dropped out. Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire stepped in and helped with their self-titled debut and follow-up LP. The group then had a name change the Dazz Band and switched over to Motown. Their first two albums for the label didn't yield much in the way of hits, but their next LP, "Keep It Live," proved to be their breakthrough when this single reached #1 on the R&B chart. The album would also reach #1 at R&B and #14 pop. The song would also earn them a Grammy award for Best R&B Performance, Duo or Group.
ReduxReview: It was undeniably awesome funk songs like this that helped expand the genre over to the pop chart. Every now and then one would make some strides while so many other worthy ones couldn't get played. But thanks to classic songs like this, funky R&B was making some headway. But really, how could this one have gotten ignored? It's just too good.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: Mike Calhoun was mainly responsible for the group's odd name. He thought the group's music should be "danceable jazz." That description was then shortened to "dazz." Around the same time, another funk group, Brick, focused their efforts on disco-jazz, or "dazz." They parlayed their version of the word into a hit single. "Dazz" was a #1 R&B/#3 pop hit for Brick in 1976.
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