This one used to really turn it out. Give it up dammitt.

For many,many years,I thought that Chaka Khan was the female vocalist on this song It wasn't until the 90s that I found out that it's not her.

Andy, I hope someday you have a computer that helps you embrace the power of youtube.

this song is truly a classic!!

That's a classic and Thighs High.

This song is in my top 25 of all time favorite songs EVER!

The horns, the bassline, the summervibe, THE VOCALS!!!

She does sound just like Chaka.

Hey, this is Mississippi. We ain't got no money down here. The local news did a survey and only 40% even have a computer. Of that 40%, only about 15% have high speed internet. We do good to afford dial-up.

vainandy said:

But back to the point - good pick. Listened to it on the way to work this morning.

y'all do know they are talking about Jamaica Queens right?

They're talking about the queens in Jamaica? Those queens must wear dread lock wigs. I knew they were talking about Jamaica NY (but not until I saw the NY in the title of the song).

vainandy said:

That's Toni Smith.

didn't mariah sample this 4 a track she did with mystikal?

StarMon said:

I remember reading an article that said Chaka was *really* annoyed that people thought it was her.

vainandy said:

vainandy said:

Bbay u KNOW THIS IS MA JAYM!

I need to upgrade my vinyl copy of this.

NuPwr319 said:

lol,you can tell that Toni Smith really "studied" Chaka's style of singing

SoulAlive said:

She's allll about Chaka in this isn't she ?

LOVE this song, it brings back so many really nice memories from back in the day. But I saw Tom Browne in concert when they were touring for the release of this album... and they SUCKED! OUT LOUD! Maybe it was a bad night, but their set was awful. The only redeeming moment was when they got around to playing this song, but by that time it was too late. They had already bombed big time. But again, maybe I just saw them on an off night, or maybe it was because everybody was waiting for Grandmaster Flash to come out (Tom was opening for THEM, lol). Nevertheless, this song still rocks.

Ottensen said:

A few years ago, I heard a radio DJ name the vocalist on the song as Vesta Williams.

PDogz said:

I guess that must've been a strong point why they didn't connect with the audience. Tom & the band might've felt that vibe in the crowd and probably the lack of feedback from the audience could've influenced their performance.

Shango said:

I believe you hit the nail on the head. The Grandmaster Flash crowd were not connoisseurs of JAZZ, which is what Tom's band was about (they were all on this cool & breezy Newport Jazz type vibe). "Funkin' For Jamaica" only moderately moved the crowd. But in my opinion, that one hit was not enough to put them on the same ticket with an (at the time) up & coming rap group. It was like trying to get Prince to open for The Rolling Stones in 1982 .

"Dig that Tom Browne? Yeah he is an ordinary guy... hahahaha..."

PDogz said:

Man, i would've digged hearing them perform jams such as these :

www.imeem.com/t44j21h/mus...ne-i-know/

www.imeem.com/t44j21h/mus...ight-wind/

www.imeem.com/t44j21h/mus...ent-smile/

www.imeem.com/t44j21h/mus...moon-rise/

www.imeem.com/t44j21h/mus...-nocturne/

www.imeem.com/t44j21h/mus...the-child/

PDogz said:

Yeah, that Prince-event was very unfortunate indeed.
[Edited 4/17/09 23:55pm]