I saw the video "Word Up" by Cameo for the first time on Rage (ABC, Australia) the other night and immediately drew some Princely comparisons for myself in the synths and drum sounds and general demeanour of the lead singer/rapper (and also his tendencies to prance around in undies a la Prince). I could also hear some "Bad" era MJ in the drum machines. Needless to say, Cameo are and were hilarious.

Who else has heard of this crazy group and does anyone know what they're up to now?



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[This message was edited Wed May 5 21:25:01 2004 by mrdespues]

Surely you're joking,right?

Unbelievable... Cameo did/does fucking rock!

(They still tour!)

lol see if you knew Cameo u would know they are NOTHING LIKE MJ nor PRINCE!
so let me say...
your joking right?
FYI there not a rap group lol
[This message was edited Tue May 4 3:59:21 2004 by Luv4oneanotha]

Yeah, Cameo is a legendary FUNK group. "Word Up" was just like an 80's era piece and was partially a dig at rappers, the line of:

"Now all you sucker DJ´s who think you´re fly
There´s got to be a reason and we know the reason why
Why you put on those airs and you act real cool
But you got to realise that you´re acting like fools"

That was a big stab at Run DMC.

Lead singer Larry Blackmon reminds more of Morris Day more than Prince though. Fantastic drummer!

And of course, our all time favourite drummer JOHN BLACKWELL got his break drumming for Cameo

All I can say is that it was the 80's and yeah, If u only saw the video for the first time last week and saw red cod pieces, flat top haircuts and cops breaking out into dance routines for no reason whatsoever, I'd think that they were strange in retrospect too.

Candy And Single Life were like the ultamate FUnk songs!
"its like Candy !
my eyes roll in my head
I toss and turn in my bed
in the morning when I think about you
(yes I do)
simply put, you're the reason why
even though I'm real shy
(real shy)
I attempt to look my best for you
(indeed I do, just for you)

you're like a brand new feeling
in a special way
a surprise package
on a bright clear sunny day
strawberry! raspberry!
all those good thangs!
violets and gumdrops
that's what you're saying to me"

"Candy"
"Single life"
"Word up"

All classics and the "Word up" video is hilarious! That bollock bra is very funny (and bold)!

As much as I like those 3 songs, their songs are very simular 2 eachother and are virtually always mid-tempo numbers which lets their albums down considerabally!


Larry Blackmon also worked on Bobby Browns first album "King of stage"!:-

"Girl next door" is class! The video (which was also directly by larry apparantly) was also funny and possibally the most 80's video ever!

I think Bobby's "Baby let me tell you something" was also by Larry Blackmon! The remixes on "Dance,u know it!" are also first class!

You obviously missed a few stops on the funk train man.

Word Up - 1986

Bad - 1987

hell..... what about.....

freaky dancing, she's strange, alligator woman, keep it hot, flirt, shake your pants, cameosis, soul army, rollerskates and why have i lost you? y'know, back when cameo had like TWENTY members in the group?



--gm--

i just got a copy of their cameosis album last week...."please you" and "shake your pants" are the cuts! i'm still tryin to find a copy of we all know who we are on vinyl...

they sound like prince and jacko? puh-leeeeeze.

GeneMohawk said:

that's what i'm talkin 'bout!

Who said "Hanging Downtown" ?

Taureau said:

A few stops? A course in Old School Funk 101 is in order. So, brush up, buttercup.

"It's Serious" is the serious joint, and it don't sound anything like Prince, MJ, or rap music.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yes!! That album was Slammin!!!

Forget the part about him saying they sound like Prince and MJ. Cameo a rap group? Man we gotta start checkin' ids in this place

paligap said:

Cool cover too. The one where they all have animal heads. Man I miss those 70's album covers.

mrdespues said:

i suggest you go find all the albums mentioned startin with 1975's "Cardiac Arrest".... 'nuff said

did somebdy say 'Schooled'?

Cameo predates Prince....if anything he has "borrowed" from their style. First lp Cardiac Arrest was in 1977 on Chocolate City/Casablanca Records. They struggle for years as a strictly black funk act until they had their first big hit Word Up in 1984.

They were first discovered by George Clinton and brought to Cecil Holmes at Chocolate City.


I'm a guru when it comes to music history. I'm up to my hump in FUNK!

Thumparello said:

Good suff. Just to add on , they were called "The New York City Players" when they were first signed. The leader of the band , Larry Blackmon, worked as a taylor right up until their first single hit the radio. He walked off the job the moment he first heard it playing. History lesson now complete for the youngins'

psykosoul said:

i'm gonna marry you to "hangin' downtown", i swear...

intha916 said:

I can't.... ....I mean....oh my...


GET THEE TO A WRECKA STOW. NOW!!!

Nice job Scholars of Funk Music
School this Newbie!

If I am not mistaken, wasn't there another lead singer before Larry Blackmon? That's not him on 'Shake Your Pants.'

Christ on a cracker there are a lot of people on this site who know nothing about 70's or 80's R&B or funk.

MJ/Prince Rap group ... indeed

Look, guys, I do know a lot about funk, but living in Australia, Cameo to my knowledge never made much of a splash here....of course I love EW&F, Sly, P-Funk, James et al, but Cameo really took me by surprise the other night. So I looked them up on All Music and you can see for yourself that they are listed as being rap/funk or something or other. Also it mentions they are Prince influenced and whether they are or not, there is definitely something Black Album-ish in the humour I saw and heard. Not saying they took anything from Prince....I copuld just draw a faint comparison from the closest reference I could find.

So, forgive this ignorant Aussie just the once....seriously hadn't heard of them!

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[This message was edited Tue May 4 19:52:32 2004 by mrdespues]

PurpleCharm said:

'tis mr. blackmon. if you have a copy of the cameosis album on vinyl, go pull it out and look at the back of the album cover, read the list of band members that's printed on it.

mrdespues said:[quote]
I saw the video "Word Up" by Cameo for the first time on Rage (ABC, Australia) the other night and immediately drew some Princely comparisons for myself in the synths and drum sounds...blah, blah, blah.....

Take two doses of Knights of the Sound Table and call me when you have a clue. Far from a funk connoiseur you are my son. Long is your journey.