I can't believe no one mentioned this song on my boy's Vainandy's thread on slow jams. What's wrong with ya'll?! I got to single this song out cuz, uhh, this song is the SHIT! Interesting though, because Cameo did two versions of this song. It was first released in 77 on "We All Know Who We Are" album. That version is cool, but the best and most well known version was released in 80 on the "Cameosis" album. The cat singing vocals on this (I can't think of his name right now, and don't feel like digging out the album) turned the song OUT! He turned it out ya'll. He died not too long after that too, God bless his soul.

Yeah, I gotta agree - "Why Have I Lost You" is the shit. But only old school funkster will remember this song. I think that is why it was left off the slow jams list. It should of been on it.

the '77 version kix all the ass.

blackguitaristz said:

wayne cooper.

This is on my old school slow jam CD with Sparkle.....I LOVE this song.

LOL. Now you know I can type in every slow jam I like...hell my computer probably doesn't have enough memory! I love "Why Have I Lost You". I have the "Cameosis" album and I have the other version on a compilation album.

Cameo was one hell of a funk band but they also put out some of the baddest slow jams out there.

Why Have I Lost You
Sparkle
Feel Me
I Care For You
I Got Your Image
I'll Always Stay

I remember when "Alligator Woman" came out, the band was stripped down to about four members. Later on, Charlie Singleton left and there were only three. My favorite Cameo was the Cameo with about 10 or 12 members. One of my favorite Cameo slow jams is "We're Going Out Tonight". I don't know which one sang that falsetto but the motherfucker turned it out. He can scream and holler better than any woman. (It sounds like the same falsetto on "Shake Your Pants") Prince definitely had some competition in the falsetto department that year. Like I said, I don't know which one sang the falsetto...I'm wondering if it was the snaggle toothed one. Does anyone remember him? Did any of the band members that were gotten rid of later sing on any of the early tracks or did they just play instruments. I can't remember because those were the days before music videos and you strictly had to depend on Soul Train to see the groups.

PraiseDaMan said:

Not necessarily, man

I luvs me some Cameo, and YES, I got both the albums you're talkin bout. But I do like the '80 version a lil' bit better.

Definitely the jam. but ...


HANGIN' DOWNTOWN DAMMIT

psykosoul said:

shuddup! you and "hangin' downtown"....

Why Have I Lost You is in my top 3 or 4 all-time slow jams right up there with Fire and Desire, Reasons and Adore. I was jammin the Cameosis cd on the way to work this morning. The vocalist was Wayne Cooper who passed in the mid 80's of luekemia. Cameo was the shit back when they had 10 or 11 members. I remember seeing them at the Budweiser superfest at Giants stadium in East Rutherford, NJ with Rick James, Sister Sledge, The Gap Band, The Brothers Johnson and Slave. All the performers were slammin' but Cameo tore shit up!! Wayne Cooper had women throwin panties on the stage!!

I went to college with Larry Blackmon's son and had the opportunity to meet him on several occassions. He's a real cool down to earth brother. There was a band that used to perform on campus and Larry took the time to sit in and play drums for a set. that was very cool!

My favorite Cameo albums:

1. Cameosis
2. Alligator Woman
3. Knights of the Sound Table
4. Word Up
5. Secret Omen

I prefer the original version of this song, because it is the original
&
because I don't like all that "chitchat" at the beginning of the 2nd version :

"let's talk about lonliness.."

NO. let's sing the song.


in the original, the talking comes after the 2nd verse..
I think it's Larry talking, & it's a nice exchange between him talking & Wayne singing :

Wayne: 'til I found out..
Larry: 'til I found out, girl, huh
Wayne: that YOOOOUUUUU really didn't want me..

& then the way near the end, they go back & forth with Larry saying & Wayne singing

"why?"


when the original version comes on, I turn the volume up
when the 2nd version comes on, I turn the volume down.

mltijchr said:

I'm going to see Cameo next week (8/3/04). Long time Cameo fan, first time to see them live... can't wait!

blackguitaristz said:

Yeah, that song Is the shit!(I like the '77 version best)- But I left it off my list, only because Vainandy was talkin about settin' a mood for, as he put it "Entertaining" (wink wink)...and I just didn't want a song asking "Why Have I Lost You?" sending conflicting messages ...But I guess, if it's a monster slow jam , the message does kinda become secondary ... after all, most of of the best slow jams ARE about beggin' and pleadin'!

I have SUCH a hard time finding earlier Cameo albums.

So I have "Why Have I Lost You" on a compilation and I don't even know which version(year) it is! The shaaaaame.

tpzlamont said:

Yeah, Wayne Cooper was his name.

The original version is the shit and much better than the other which they call "Version 2" on the Anthology collection. I've seen CAMEO a few times live and was never disappointed. Tommy Jenkins usually sings "Why Have I Lost You" and does a hell of a job! LovesexyIsthe1 I'm sure you'll enjoy their show.mltijchr I comepletely agree with you on your whole comment. Man!, wish I was ther to see SLAVE! Not sure who sings the falsetto on "We're Going Out Tonight" but I love that song! I played the shit out of it yesterday! I've got both of these KILLER JAMS on a 2 disc compilation I put together called named "FUNK BALLADS".

*Gooey secretly loves his Candy and Word Up 12"s*

I knoooow I am bad, but the entire funk thang was so undergorund here in Europe I did not get into contact with it until Prince n Cameo came and showed me the way to George Clinton...

CinisterCee said:

It's easy to find certain CDs like 'Knights Of The Sound Table' (1980),'She's Strange' (1984) and 'Word Up' (1986).But I don't think too many of their earlier CDs are still in print,which is a shame.I'd really like to finally complete my Cameo CD collection.For the time being,I'll just have to settle for the old vinyl records that I still have.