The other day I was thinking about this song I used to hear every so often on 89.1. For about a year or two solidly from around 2002 they played nothing but great old school R&B, disco and dance pop. The songs were often very unique and not typical radio faire although it seemed like they would almost put them into rotation. It was from Detroit Public Schools and after school, they would start it off with Janet's "The Knowledge" Among them were "Baby Love" (probably the Regina version) and the Rays "Be Alone Tonight" (it was in "School Daze" although I never say the movie before).

There was also this great disco/dance/Caribbean sounding instrumental track. It had this great breezy vibe and while I don't think there were vocals, it had people singing in the background during the "chorus". They were just sort of chanting". "Ba, ba, ba...bababa". It's probably a disco song but it sounds almost like a newer song because the production is so solid. I would really stress the sort of Island feel of the song. Any chance anybody has any idea what I'm talking about? If so, thank you in advance!
[Edited 8/14/09 14:01pm]

"Brazilian Rhyme" by Earth Wind and Fire?

SoulAlive said:

No but it's got a similar feel. It's a bit jazzy, discoy, pop but the island feel is overwhelming. There are male and female background singers (far as I can tell). Come on, orgers. I know somebody here knows it!

I'm at work right now so I don't have time to post the Youtube clips,but check and see if it's one of these songs:

"Runnin" by Earth Wind and Fire
"Spring Rain" by Silvetti

Ok here's my first attempt....

http://www.youtube.com/wa...DT0bXgijF4





Faster than this song or slower?



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[Edited 8/14/09 15:29pm]

SoulAlive said:

Thanks. I'll check them out.

Faster than "Brazillica", but thanks to you both so much. But sort of in that vein. Not super funky. But...It is kind of hard to explain. The vocals remind me a bit of the 5th Dimension but not exactly like the singers. Just sort of in that vein. I would describe the vocal (and it's chanting, no lyrics as far as I remember) as soaring, but not gospel (although they played what they called "deep house").

It sounds defiantly in the same family as "Runnin'" and "Spring Rain". Maybe closer to Silvetti, but not by much.

Most likely,I have this song somewhere in my collection Especially if it's an older song (70s or 80s).