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SOLAR Records: a look back 30 years later In 1977, Dick Griffey and "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius folded Soul Train Records amicably and Griffey founded SOLAR Records, one of the most important soul music imprints of the late 1970s and 1980s.
SOLAR was the home of mainstays Shalamar, Dynasty, The Whispers, Lakeside, Midnight Star and The Deele. Griffey's influence paved the way for producer Leon Sylvers' hit-making sounds, signed songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to their initial productions and helped groom his own homegrown producers/songwriters -- Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and future music executive Antonio "L.A." Reid. [Edited 1/31/07 13:55pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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HE ALSO TAUGHT SUGE KNIGHT THE GAME.....HMMMMM!!!!! | |
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EARLY DEATH ROW RECORDINGS WERE MADE AT SOLAR STUDIOS.....ALSO WHERE ERIC "EAZY-E" WRIGHT WAS FORCED TO RELEASE DR. DRE, D.O.C. AND MICHEL'LE FROM THEIR RUTHLESS RECORDS CONTRACTS.....HISTORIC INDEED!!!!! | |
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Interesting debate -- who do you feel was the most successful SOLAR act, Shalamar or The Whispers?
[Edited 1/31/07 13:42pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Wow I didn't know the Whispers were on Solar. [ZUNECARD]MikeChristopher[/ZUNECARD] | |
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WillieDynamite said: "Wow I didn't know the Whispers were on Solar."
 Outside of 1990's album "More of the Night," virtually all of The Whispers' hit songs came on the SOLAR label.
Another group that started out on SOLAR was Klymaxx (in fact, there were one of the first acts for whom Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote and produced). [Edited 1/31/07 14:21pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Najee said: Interesting debate -- who do you feel was the most successful SOLAR act, Shalamar or The Whispers?
[Edited 1/31/07 13:42pm] Considering The Whispers are one of the top 50 charting R&B acts of all time, easily The Whispers. Even before their Solar debut in 1978, they charted 16 R&B hits starting in 1969. | |
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I can't say it's that easy, though. Adding in their Soul Train Records days (a predecessor to SOLAR), The Whispers only had one top 10 song on the Billboard R&B singles charts prior to 1976's "One for the Money." Despite fan favorites "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out" and "A Song for Donny" -- a dedication to Donny Hathaway -- The Whispers really didn't become a consistent hit-maker until 1980's classic "And the Beat Goes On."
Meanwhile, Shalamar racked up some 20 charted singles during their run -- "Second Time Around," "Make That Move," "I Can Make You Feel Good," "For the Lover in You," "Dead Giveaway" and "A Night to Remember" were among the hit songs the trio rang up. The group still had success after Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel left and even won a Grammy ("Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills"), and still was able to ring up a hit song after Howard Hewett departed (1987's "Games"). [Edited 1/31/07 15:02pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Najee said: I can't say it's that simple, though. Adding in their Soul Train Records days (a predecessor to SOLAR), The Whispers only had one top 10 song on the Billboard R&B singles charts prior to 1976's "One for the Money." Despite fan favorites "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out" and "A Song for Donny" -- a dedication to Donny Hathaway -- The Whispers really didn't become a consistent hit-maker until 1980's classic "And the Beat Goes On."
Meanwhile, Shalamar racked up some 20 charted singles during their run -- "Second Time Around," "Make That Move," "I Can Make You Feel Good," "For the Lover in You," "Dead Giveaway" and "A Night to Remember" were among the hit songs the trio rang up. Well, since you wanna compare top 10s  , Shalamar only had four while on Solar - The Second Time Around (1), Make That Move (6), A Night to Remember (8) and Dead Giveaway (10). A few of their hits were on other labels, from soundtracks. The Whispers had eight or so. I'm not saying one's bad and the other's good; I like them both. I just think The Whispers had a lot more success. Their chart history spans thirty years. | |
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RipHer2Shreds said: Well, since you wanna compare top 10s
, Shalamar only had four while on Solar - The Second Time Around (1), Make That Move (6), A Night to Remember (8) and Dead Giveaway (10). A few of their hits were on other labels, from soundtracks. The Whispers had eight or so. I'm not saying one's bad and the other's good; I like them both. I just think The Whispers had a lot more success. Their chart history spans thirty years.I guess if anything, it was more of the "no contest" tone in favor of The Whispers that caught me off-guard. The Whispers also would have the edge in that its membership was stable while Shalamar's was in flux after Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel left in 1983. [Edited 1/31/07 15:52pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Would it be fair to say this was the greatest album released by SOLAR?
 THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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Najee said: Would it be fair to say this was the greatest album released by SOLAR?
I would agree to this...this album was great cut after cut...'Freak A Zoid', 'No Parking', 'Slow Jam', 'Wet My Whistle'..so many great songs!....great label...great stuff... Sound Of Los Angeles Records peace Every minute of last night is on my face today.... | |
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Solar Records had some great acts. Too bad there's no labels like that anymore. Andy is a four letter word. | |
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woogiebear said: EARLY DEATH ROW RECORDINGS WERE MADE AT SOLAR STUDIOS.....ALSO WHERE ERIC "EAZY-E" WRIGHT WAS FORCED TO RELEASE DR. DRE, D.O.C. AND MICHEL'LE FROM THEIR RUTHLESS RECORDS CONTRACTS.....HISTORIC INDEED!!!!! Damn, you just spoiled my image of the label.  I hope Solar was no longer called "Solar" at the time. Andy is a four letter word. | |
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Can we get a complete list of the Artists that recorded for Solar. Did O'bryan record for them also? [ZUNECARD]MikeChristopher[/ZUNECARD] | |
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WillieDynamite said: "Can we get a complete list of the Artists that recorded for Solar. Did O'bryan record for them also?"
O'Bryan was signed with Capitol Records. I don't have an official list, but SOLAR kept a relative small roster and here are the acts I can think of: Babyface Calloway Dynasty The Deele Klymaxx Lakeside Midnight Star Carrie Lucas Shalamar The Whispers THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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I need to pay more attention. I have collections by both Klymaxx and Lakeside but didn't know they were on Solar. | |
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RipHer2Shreds said: I need to pay more attention. I have collections by both Klymaxx and Lakeside but didn't know they were on Solar.
Klymaxx recorded its first albums on SOLAR Records before going to MCA and recording its breakthrough album, "Meeting in the Ladies Room." One of the group's early producers were Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. 
Lakeside's entire recording career was on SOLAR. THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! | |
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 ...As a dj i couldn't wait to recieve my promo packages from the Solar label. The label was distributed here in Dallas by a couple of Major labels ... "those were funky times"... Thanks to my man A.D. Washington over local promoitions, once upon a time.. use to hook a brutha up on the extra extra extra extra copies of promo Lp's & 12". ....
  National Funk League✮✮ | |
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Najee said: WillieDynamite said: "Can we get a complete list of the Artists that recorded for Solar. Did O'bryan record for them also?"
O'Bryan was signed with Capitol Records. I don't have an official list, but SOLAR kept a relative small roster and here are the acts I can think of: Babyface Calloway Dynasty The Deele Klymaxx Lakeside Midnight Star Carrie Lucas Shalamar The Whispers For just Shalamar, the Whispers, and Dynasty, SOLAR records deserve an award. Awesome, awesome label. Me miss u!!!  
Some people tell me I've got great legs... | |
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Najee said: RipHer2Shreds said: I need to pay more attention. I have collections by both Klymaxx and Lakeside but didn't know they were on Solar.
Klymaxx recorded its first albums on SOLAR Records before going to MCA and recording its breakthrough album, "Meeting in the Ladies Room." One of the group's early producers were Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Yeah, I know all about the J&L connection but haven't really looked at the labels on their discs for some reason. | |
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| I was checking out "Body Talk" by the Deele on youtube. That was my jam. I'm sick and tired of the Prince fans being sick and tired of the Prince fans that are sick and tired! | |
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Najee said: WillieDynamite said: "Can we get a complete list of the Artists that recorded for Solar. Did O'bryan record for them also?"
O'Bryan was signed with Capitol Records. I don't have an official list, but SOLAR kept a relative small roster and here are the acts I can think of: Babyface Calloway Dynasty The Deele Klymaxx Lakeside Midnight Star Carrie Lucas Shalamar The Whispers | |
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ThePunisher said: Najee said: O'Bryan was signed with Capitol Records. I don't have an official list, but SOLAR kept a relative small roster and here are the acts I can think of: Babyface Calloway Dynasty The Deele Klymaxx Lakeside Midnight Star Carrie Lucas Shalamar The Whispers What? You didn't like "Here I am!"? The opening lines just kill me, even today: "I've got a heart full of love, but NO-bod-y, to call my own..."
Some people tell me I've got great legs... | |
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