We've had recent threads on Cameo,The BarKays and Con Funk Shun,so let's discuss The Gap Band,as well.What are your favorite songs/albums by them? Ever see them in concert? Share your memories and thoughts in this thread....

"Early In The Morning" (1982)----my favorite jam by them

Great band, one of my favorites. Charlie's a superb vocalist too. "Early in the Morning", "You Dropped A Bomb on Me" & "Outstanding" are my fave Gap Band jams, for sure.

I love the Gap Band but I gotta be honest about something....

I was disappointed when they came out with "Party Train"

It's not a bad song,but I think it pales in comparison to previous singles like "Burn Rubber","Early In The Morning","Outstanding","You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Humpin".It just seemed like a throwaway....like they were finally running out of ideas.

or maybe the previous singles were just so good that "Party Train" felt kinda formulaic?

SoulAlive said:

The Gap Band to me was not quite up to the level of Cameo, BarKays, Slave, Confunkshun, etc. because they seemed to be more one-note to me. I mean Burn Rubber, Early in the Morning, Party Train, Beep a Freak, etc. were all SO similar, and they took what was great about Parliament's Flashlight and just ran it into the ground without the super-deep qualities that P-Funk brought to that sound. That said, I did enjoy all of those but they also suffered from overexposure on a lot of those cuts making them played out. The ones I really dig now are their first hit, Shake (that bass!) and also Humpin and especially Talkin Back. I think Talkin Back is one of the best Parliament-like tracks not associated with P-Funk. A great thing about the Gap Band though is I was a DJ during their heyday and those hits of theirs were among the funkiest things I could get away with playing to primarily white crowds. One more thing is to me their albums were uneven and inconsistent. I never found a single record of theirs as consistent from start to finish as some of those other funk bands I mentioned. Never did see they live but if memory serves me I think they cut their teeth playing backup for Leon Russell in the 1970s.

Charlie Wilson, Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde, & Joniece Jamisono do the back ground vocals on this 1989 song by Russian singer Boris Grebenshikov

Ain't That Peculiar (This is from a 1974 episode of Midnight Special)

nursev said:

Still luv em to this day. I Cant Get Over You is still my fav. love the horns.

From a distance, it sounds like an EW&F track though that certainly isn't a bad thing.

SoulAlive said:

I love me some Party Train...

It seems David was left at the funk station.

SoulAlive said:

I love the Gap Band but I gotta be honest about something....

I was disappointed when they came out with "Party Train"

It's not a bad song,but I think it pales in comparison to previous singles like "Burn Rubber","Early In The Morning","Outstanding","You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Humpin".It just seemed like a throwaway....like they were finally running out of ideas.

or maybe the previous singles were just so good that "Party Train" felt kinda formulaic?

SoulAlive said:

I love the Gap Band but I gotta be honest about something....

I was disappointed when they came out with "Party Train"

It's not a bad song,but I think it pales in comparison to previous singles like "Burn Rubber","Early In The Morning","Outstanding","You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Humpin".It just seemed like a throwaway....like they were finally running out of ideas.

or maybe the previous singles were just so good that "Party Train" felt kinda formulaic?

SoulAlive said:

I love the Gap Band but I gotta be honest about something....

I was disappointed when they came out with "Party Train"

It's not a bad song,but I think it pales in comparison to previous singles like "Burn Rubber","Early In The Morning","Outstanding","You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Humpin".It just seemed like a throwaway....like they were finally running out of ideas.

or maybe the previous singles were just so good that "Party Train" felt kinda formulaic?

I kind of feel the same way. Never dug Party Train. Was never too fond of their uptempo's really besides Humpin, Early in the Morning and Burn Rubber. I liked their slow jams and midtempos.

MickyDolenz said:

HardcoreJollies said:

The Gap Band to me was not quite up to the level of Cameo, BarKays, Slave, Confunkshun, etc. because they seemed to be more one-note to me. I mean Burn Rubber, Early in the Morning, Party Train, Beep a Freak, etc. were all SO similar, and they took what was great about Parliament's Flashlight and just ran it into the ground without the super-deep qualities that P-Funk brought to that sound. That said, I did enjoy all of those but they also suffered from overexposure on a lot of those cuts making them played out. The ones I really dig now are their first hit, Shake (that bass!) and also Humpin and especially Talkin Back. I think Talkin Back is one of the best Parliament-like tracks not associated with P-Funk. A great thing about the Gap Band though is I was a DJ during their heyday and those hits of theirs were among the funkiest things I could get away with playing to primarily white crowds. One more thing is to me their albums were uneven and inconsistent. I never found a single record of theirs as consistent from start to finish as some of those other funk bands I mentioned. Never did see they live but if memory serves me I think they cut their teeth playing backup for Leon Russell in the 1970s.

I would have to agree with this.I would say that their 1982 album,Gap Band IV,is their strongest album but even that one is sorta uneven.

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

I love the Gap Band but I gotta be honest about something....

I was disappointed when they came out with "Party Train"

It's not a bad song,but I think it pales in comparison to previous singles like "Burn Rubber","Early In The Morning","Outstanding","You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Humpin".It just seemed like a throwaway....like they were finally running out of ideas.

or maybe the previous singles were just so good that "Party Train" felt kinda formulaic?

I can't help you with a Party Train. Everyone I know dug that. I catch your angle though because I felt that way a little about Disrespect. Not saying I didn't like the song but the formula was becoming predictable. I agree with you on Early In The Morning especially that 12 extended mix. [Edited 6/24/15 14:23pm]

I mean,don't get me wrong...."Party Train" has a good groove and it's a solid party jam.But after the edgy,infectious singles like "Burn Rubber On Me" and "You Dropped A Bomb On Me",it seemed like a slight disappointment.

Charlie on The View July 6, 2015

[Edited 7/8/15 10:48am]

I am very happy that Charlie is having the success that he is in 2015 but I sure miss the Funky/R&B Charlie. I can't stand this pop music that he is doing.

Seen them live opening for George Clinton & The P.Funk All-Stars.

While George and them put on a great show, it was The Gap Band that everyone was talking about.

They put fiya on that stage from begin'n to end...

Graycap23 said:

I am very happy that Charlie is having the success that he is in 2015 but I sure miss the Funky/R&B Charlie. I can't stand this pop music that he is doing.

What POP music?! Last I check he gets NO burn over there....

[Edited 7/8/15 14:13pm]

the 12" extended version of "Outstanding" is excellent.....takes the song to a whole new level