I was just listening 2 Jill Scott’s Family Reunion. I love the hell out of this song, anyways she mentions Frankie Beverly. I love Frankie Beverly. Why is he so underrated? Has he ever won a Grammy?

pennylover said:

To me, Maze was just funky party music.

i think they have won a grammy r 2 in th past let me check grammy.com 1st.....no they havent won anything

NWF said:

Exactly. The only cuts that I could tolerate by them were "Before I Let Go, Joy & Pain, I Can't Get Over You.

I'm a big fan of Maze & Frankie Beverly.
I think songs like "Joy & pain" "Happy feeling"
& "the look in your eyes" R pure magic!
Just take a listen 2 their 1980 "Live in New Orleans" album.
/peace Manki

It's something about them that never seemed to catch on with the mainstream. Maybe it was the hat.

Thank u 4 replying 2 this post. 4 a minute I thought I was the only 1 who liked Frankie Beverly. I was just curious as 2 why his career never blew up.

My first concert ever was Frankie Beverly and Maze in 1993. Maze always had a laid back, Black family reunion feel. 'Live in New Orleans' is one of the best live albums I've heard next to Marvin Gaye's Live in Oakland.

NWF said:

Party music?? ehmmm... you're not confusing them with Kool& the gang by any chance but I guess you never did catch a full Maze album, did you? they always had their best moments with their slow and midtempo jams and Frankies unique silky voice you just have to love... please, go and catch tracks like

I Wanna Thank You (probably my fave Maze slowie)
Can't Stop the Love (would be a standout track even on the best Anita Baker albums)
The look in your eyes (classic!)
We are one, Happy Feelings, Look at California, Golden Time Of Day, Love is the key, A Place in my heart, Silky Soul ... ...

hell, there are tons more where that came from oh yes, and they DID have some superb uptempo tracks as well

They are one of the greatest fucking bands ever, hands down!!!

.
[Edited 12/20/04 1:07am]

Dancelot said:

I never heard 'Live in New Orleans'. I will diffidently go out and purchase it. I love Frankie Beverly and Maze. So freakin underrated. Does Woo play the drums? I know he was with Frankie 4 a long time. He left the group but came back. I’m so glad u guys gave him props on this thread. 4 those not hip 2 Frankie really need 2 listen 2 some of his CD’s. He’s very funk, soulful and a laid back type of guy.

And his concerts are just awesome!!!!!

funkpill said:

true!!! I sadly saw them just once, that was back in 1991... wonderful experience

I forgot to mention "Can't get over you", one of my absolute faves!

(I mixed it up with "Can't Stop the Love " )








[Edited 12/20/04 2:23am]

"The Look In Your Eyes" (1980)

"Before I Let Go" (1981)

...
[Edited 12/20/04 2:50am]

"The Look In Your Eyes" & "The Morning After" are my favorites.....
[Edited 1/8/05 3:00am]

My Maze favorites:
"Feel That Your Feeling"
"The Look In your Eyes"
"Happy Feeling"
"Lady Of Magic"
"Magic"
"Family"
"Before I let Go"
"Joy And Pain"
"We Need Love To Live"
"Golden Time Of Day"
"A Place In My Heart"
"Lovely Inspiration"
"Southern Girls"
"We Are One"
"Reason"
"I Wish You Well"


"...We are Happy(Happy)....'Cause were one big family...."


...
[Edited 12/20/04 14:24pm]

paligap said:

Don't forget "Look At California".....classic...

Dancelot said:

Ahh man!!!! I think I seen them a least 4 or 5 times...
Great shows, all of them!!!!

funkpill said:

Oh Yeah! Ndeed!!

pennylover said:

Get both the CD & the DVD version of this concert.....
While you're at it, get the 'Live In L.A.' CD & DVD.....
And guess what???? George Clinton is in the audience having a good time.....
Both are great concerts.....
[Edited 12/21/04 0:48am]
[Edited 12/21/04 0:49am]

funkpill said:

Is the DVD the actual New Orleans show that was filmed back in 1981 (which resulted in the 2-LP "Live In New Orleans" set)? I gotta get my hands on that! I love the album.

pennylover said:

Actually,Frankie Beverly and Maze have had ALOT of success with R&B audiences.They never really "crossed over" or experienced big pop success,but their albums and singles routinely go to the top of the R&B charts.

DavidEye said:

YEP!!!! Sure is.....

Dancelot said:

Maybe I will scope them out more. But I always saw them as a funky party band that I didn't really take too seriously. Sure, I'd say they were like Kool and the Gang or even Cameo or Slave.

They focused and promoted their music only to the black audience.Correction, The older black audiences .
I don't think they ever wrote or wanted to write a so called "Cross over" song.


I Put Maze in the same boat with Teddy Pedergrass or Curtis Mayfield. The Staple Singers. Other people like that. They wrote strickly SOUL music for an older black audience.

jamaulredmond said:

And that's not a bad thing....is it?????

funkpill said:

Frankie himself stated that he owe his black following for sticking w/ him & the band...He knows his roots....
But if you ever attended to one of his concerts, he has a mixture of people in the audience.....
He didn't have to sellout to get that type of crowd.....
It just goes to show you that people will find good music.....

funkpill said:

Not bad at all. It's a normal thing. That's why I listed all the other artist that remained popular within a certain demographic but never really get that much credit.

I rate them highly!



I saw these guys once, and it was back in '93. Toni Braxton opened. All ages and backgrounds were there. The whole concert was like one big party. NICE!