"Early in the Morning" by The Gap Band

Song#:  1036
Date:  05/22/1982
Debut:  83
Peak:  24
Weeks:  14
Genre:  R&B, Funk



Pop Bits:  This outfit's previous album, "The Gap Band III," was their best showing to-date reaching #1 on the R&B chart and #16 pop. They continued to refine their sound and it resulted in the most successful LP of their career, the appropriately titled "The Gap Band IV." This first single would be one of two R&B chart toppers from the album and it became their biggest hit at pop. The LP would be another #1 R&B success, going platinum, while reaching #14 at pop.

ReduxReview:  This two-chord funk jam works remarkably well. Usually monotonous tunes like this turn me off, but I think the driving synth bass keeps things interesting and the chorus is solid. Although they did some nice ballads, it was tasty funk tunes like this that kept their career going.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In the early days of  The Gap Band, guitarist Tuck Andress was hired and performed with them. After several years sitting in with the band, Tuck met vocalist Patti Cathcart and the duo (who would marry in 1983) would end up getting signed to the fledgling new age label Windham Hill. Their debut LP was issued in 1988 and it was a success hitting #8 on the Contemporary Jazz chart. Several more successful albums followed. Andress' niece is musician Anne Clark, aka St. Vincent. She would open for Tuck & Patti early in her career.

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