A few days ago, I discovered a new YouTube channel by UniDiscMusic. It seems like UniDisc (a record label more known for electronic dance & latin freestyle acts) are the current owners of all of the music videos by artists that were on the SOLAR label at the time.

Midnight Star were one of those acts. And to my surprise, I found out that Tuff was their real debut video. This song was release just a few years before the band went synth-funk. And hell yeah, they jam hard! But my favorite moment in this whole entire video is those hips of Brenda Lipscomb.

Feedbacks, please.

[Edited 8/6/10 10:32am]

I see a lot of funk stuff "on Unidisc" up in Canada, but I think they were mainly a label that distributed licensed tracks of interest. I don't think anyone was really signed to Unidisc.

http://www.discogs.com/label/Unidisc Discogs says they are in Quebec

Cinnie said:

I see a lot of funk stuff "on Unidisc" up in Canada, but I think they were mainly a label that distributed licensed tracks of interest. I don't think anyone was really signed to Unidisc.

http://www.discogs.com/label/Unidisc Discogs says they are in Quebec

I had to mention freestyle acts because I once owned a copy of Debbie Deb Greatest Hits EP that has the UniDisc label on it.

TonyVanDam said:

Cinnie said:

I see a lot of funk stuff "on Unidisc" up in Canada, but I think they were mainly a label that distributed licensed tracks of interest. I don't think anyone was really signed to Unidisc.

http://www.discogs.com/label/Unidisc Discogs says they are in Quebec

I had to mention freestyle acts because I once owned a copy of Debbie Deb Greatest Hits EP that has the UniDisc label on it.

Yeah they have put out a lot of "Old School Jams" compilations up here.

The UnidiscMusic channel has lots of cool Lakeside videos, if I recall correctly

LoveIsTheMessage said:

The UnidiscMusic channel has lots of cool Lakeside videos, if I recall correctly

Despite the tight budget they were on back in the 1980's, those Lakeside videos are excellent.

TonyVanDam said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

The UnidiscMusic channel has lots of cool Lakeside videos, if I recall correctly

Despite the tight budget they were on back in the 1980's, those Lakeside videos are excellent.

I don't remember that one but I've seen that title somewhere in my collection. The first time I ever heard of Midnight Star was "Freak-A-Zoid". I have an earlier album of their's called "Standing Together" which I don't think I've even listened to all the way through. Just simply placing the needle on each track, listening to a few seconds and saying "next". Is it on that album? I'll have to pull it out again but I've definately seen that title either on that album or maybe on a greatest hits compilation I have.

Great to see it finally online. A few years back a buddy of mine received a vhs-tape or dvd with promo-clips, including "Tuff". They filmed their slowjam "Can't Get Enough"

in the same setting. That was the one i knew already for awhile but when i discovered back then that "Tuff" also existed from the same set i was like

vainandy said:

Is it on that album?

yupz !

Shango said:

vainandy said:

Is it on that album?

yupz !

OK, I'll be pulling it out again when I get off work tonight. I love discovering songs that I've had in my collection for years but hadn't listened to.

vainandy said:

Shango said:

yupz !

OK, I'll be pulling it out again when I get off work tonight. I love discovering songs that I've had in my collection for years but hadn't listened to.

Yeah, rediscovering can be a trip lol. Enjoy the tuff ffunk !

Shango said:

"Can't Get Enough"

Can't Give You Up

damn,that's funky I'm guessing this is from 1982?

SoulAlive said:

damn,that's funky I'm guessing this is from 1982?

It was released in '81 (on Standing Together). Their 1982 album Victory had the funk jam "Hot Spot" with a guest appearance by Bootsy. Standing Together was their debut on SOLAR, but they did have an album prior to that in 1980 (The Beginning).

pzlyprk said:

SoulAlive said:

damn,that's funky I'm guessing this is from 1982?

It was released in '81 (on Standing Together). Their 1982 album Victory had the funk jam "Hot Spot" with a guest appearance by Bootsy. Standing Together was their debut on SOLAR, but they did have an album prior to that in 1980 (The Beginning).

thanks

SoulAlive said:

paisleypark4 said:

SoulAlive said:

damn,that's funky I'm guessing this is from 1982?

Man that was ffuuunnkkyy. And who was the horn player in the back on the left by the end? He was fuine.

Horn section from left to right is... Bill Simmons (saxophone), Vincent Calloway (trombone) and Reggie Calloway (trumpet and flute; and the group's leader/producer). I believe you're referencing Reggie. He's the horn player you see the most in the video.

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Shango said:

"Can't Get Enough"

Can't Give You Up

Thanx Great ballad

pzlyprk said:

SoulAlive said:

damn,that's funky I'm guessing this is from 1982?

It was released in '81 (on Standing Together). Their 1982 album Victory had the funk jam "Hot Spot" with a guest appearance by Bootsy. Standing Together was their debut on SOLAR, but they did have an album prior to that in 1980 (The Beginning).

Yeah, "Hot Spot" is a great jam I can't remember though ever seeing "The Beginning" on another label than Solar

Midnight Star - The Begin...at Discogs

Or maybe there might be another pressing on RCA, as happened with a pressing of Lakeside's album "Keep On Moving Straight Ahead".

Seems there were some distrubution-deals going on back then :

"...When this LP (Lakeside) was released back in 1981, Solar had ended its distribution deal with RCA, moving to Elektra. As a result, this LP, along with Shalamar’s “Go For It” & The Whispers “This Kind Of Lovin” were pretty much material that had sat in the can which wasn’t considered to be up to par or release on their previous LPs. This Lp was released to compete with the “Your Wish Is My Command” LP, as it hoped to continue to reap sales from the “Fantastic Voyage” LP & steal sales from the “Your Wish” LP. And in each of these cases the LP which were released to complete the RCA distribution deal was decidedly inferior to the ones which were to be released by Elektra..."

Lakeside – Keep On Movi...z’s Blog

[Edited 8/9/10 10:38am]

Now THAT was Midnight Star! How anyone can compare this to the Calloway Bros. Midas Touch bullshit is beyond me. This is funky!

BlaqueKnight said:

Now THAT was Midnight Star! How anyone can compare this to the Calloway Bros. Midas Touch bullshit is beyond me. This is funky!

Yeah, telling me about it.

I always felt that everything they did after "Standing Together" was a downhill slide......ending in the ultimate shitpile of "I Wanna Be Rich"

JamFanHot said:

I always felt that everything they did after "Standing Together" was a downhill slide......ending in the ultimate shitpile of "I Wanna Be Rich"

At least Freakazoid, Electricity, & Operator are synth-funk classics.

Since I enjoy the humor in Headlines, that track gets a pass. But Midas Touch get no respect whatsoever!

TonyVanDam said:

A few days ago, I discovered a new YouTube channel by UniDiscMusic. It seems like UniDisc (a record label more known for electronic dance & latin freestyle acts) are the current owners of all of the music videos by artists that were on the SOLAR label at the time.

Midnight Star were one of those acts. And to my surprise, I found out that Tuff was their real debut video. This song was release just a few years before the band went synth-funk. And hell yeah, they jam hard! But my favorite moment in this whole entire video is those hips of Brenda Lipscomb.

Feedbacks, please.

[Edited 8/6/10 10:32am]

Well, I didn't read all the posts...I was too busy dancing.

And I agree...Midas Touch...

Shango said:

pzlyprk said:

It was released in '81 (on Standing Together). Their 1982 album Victory had the funk jam "Hot Spot" with a guest appearance by Bootsy. Standing Together was their debut on SOLAR, but they did have an album prior to that in 1980 (The Beginning).

Yeah, "Hot Spot" is a great jam I can't remember though ever seeing "The Beginning" on another label than Solar

Midnight Star - The Begin...at Discogs

Or maybe there might be another pressing on RCA, as happened with a pressing of Lakeside's album "Keep On Moving Straight Ahead".

Seems there were some distrubution-deals going on back then :

"...When this LP (Lakeside) was released back in 1981, Solar had ended its distribution deal with RCA, moving to Elektra. As a result, this LP, along with Shalamar’s “Go For It” & The Whispers “This Kind Of Lovin” were pretty much material that had sat in the can which wasn’t considered to be up to par or release on their previous LPs. This Lp was released to compete with the “Your Wish Is My Command” LP, as it hoped to continue to reap sales from the “Fantastic Voyage” LP & steal sales from the “Your Wish” LP. And in each of these cases the LP which were released to complete the RCA distribution deal was decidedly inferior to the ones which were to be released by Elektra..."

Lakeside – Keep On Movi...z’s Blog

Thanks for the info.I always knew that there was something wrong with the Whisper's 1981 album 'This Kinda Lovin'.The title track is great and became a hit,but the other songs are WHACK.Those tunes are clearly 'leftover' tracks that had been sitting in the can.Thanks to the info you posted above,now we know why.

SoulAlive said:

Thanks for the info.I always knew that there was something wrong with the Whisper's 1981 album 'This Kinda Lovin'.The title track is great and became a hit,but the other songs are WHACK.Those tunes are clearly 'leftover' tracks that had been sitting in the can.Thanks to the info you posted above,now we know why.