Anyone know of this artist who was apparently in Cameo in the 80's before going solo. I just discovered him recently and came across his Modern Man album and I love it. There's a lot of Princefluence (new word haha) on it and synths for days!! He also does a version of Earth to Mickie that I think Chaka Khan did earlier or is it the other way around?? Great Minneapolis synth funk album!

dancerella said:

What Temperton did for MJ & Quincy Jones...Singleton did for Cameo
A GREAT Musician

FalseSetto said:

I always thought Charlie Singleton was more like what Johnny Graham & Al McKay were toE.W.F., Ernie Isley was to The Isley Brothers, and Jesse Johnson was to The Time....a few of the most extremeley underrated axe men of R&B

I bought the 12" single of Make Your Move On Me, but I never bought that cassette, Modern Man. I may have to do some Goodwill shopping to find it. Charlie is definitely underrated, but all those brothers from Cameo were phenomenal musicians.

diamondpearl1 said:

Yeah...I'd agree with that. A very creative force...in already talented band. Cameo really went new directions largely thanks to Charlie.

Check out his second solo album "Nothing Ventured"...that's got some gems on it, too for sure.

Can't vouch for his musical direction these days.....but check out his new shit....

http://www.hiphopera.biz/

I've always preached the gospel about Charlie. Another underrated fave of mine who gets no props.


..but in no way am I spending $8.000 for one of his guitars. I could buy 3 or 4 used Les Pauls for that much.

MotorBootyAffair said:

Make your move on me is such a great song.I love the entire album. It's funky,new wave and pop/rock all at once.I don't know why I never heard of him before. Very underrated.

I might have to listen to it again but it was a bit of a letdown for me.

minneapolisFunq said:

Yeah..It was, honestly. I understand Dance's affinity for it (as a young'n & the retro feel).....

But honestly, to have jammed this on my first day of college (Sept. '85)...and to have lived thru Cameo's "Aligator Woman", "Knights Of The Sound Table", "Style", "She's Strange", & "Single Life".....

THAT set the bar HIGH for Charlie as a solo dude. Same thing with Tomi (who also was a letdown largely on his 2 solo discs).

In fairness, Charlie had his moments solo, but if you wanna REALLY get off on some Singleton, jam on the 5 Cameo albums above. Essential '80's funk & Charlie's best work.

JamFanHot said:

You seriously couldn't get into his solo stuff? Oh man that album is so hot to me! I think you should give it another listen...
[Edited 3/14/10 23:26pm]

dancerella said:

I did, actually. Your love for the album made me pull it out this afternoon. I maintain that his second one was better ("Love Machine" offa that 2'nd joint was the hotness)

The bigger problem though,is just perspective.

The Cameo stuff was SO SO good....funk of the first order for it's time.....it just rules over the solo stuff Charlie did. WE AXIOUSLY waited for his solo debut....and spun it HARD that fall of '85 (esp "When I Drive").

Regardless, always nice to see others discover the jamz of days gone by. At it's worst, it's better than the best of 85% of today, IMHO.

diamondpearl1 said:

I dis agree
He waaay more for them than Johnny Graham

JamFanHot said:

Man you gave it another listen and you're still not feeling it. Fair enough. By the way, When I Drive and In This Town are the bomb tracks. Love them!!
[Edited 3/15/10 11:48am]