Shalamar was the creation of Dick Griffey, the booking agent for the television R&B program Soul Train, and British R&B producer Simon Soussan. The group's first single, the 1977 Motown medley "Uptown Festival," featured a bevy of faceless studio musicians; once it became a hit, Griffey decided to form a performing group under the name Shalamar. Through Soul Train, Griffey found Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniels, and Gerald Brown, the three vocalists that became Shalamar; Brown was quickly replaced by Howard Hewitt in 1978.
Shalamar's string of poppy dance-soul hits began in 1979 with "Take That to the Bank"; later that year, "The Second Time Around" hit the Top Ten. Throughout the early '80s the group were favorites on the U.S. R&B scene, as well as scoring a number of British hit singles. Watley and Daniels left the group in 1982 and were replaced by Delisa Davis and Micki Free in 1984; Watley went on to stardom as a solo act. The following year Shalamar won a Grammy award for "Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills", which was featured in Beverly Hills Cop. Hewitt left for a solo career in 1986, signaling the end of the band's career as hit-makers. Sidney Justin replaced Hewitt and the group recorded 1987's Circumstantial Evidence, which was a commercial disappointment. The group faded away soon after the release of 1990's Wake Up. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
01. Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo 02. The Beautiful Night 03. Uptown Festival [medley] 04. Going to a Go-Go 05. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) 06. Uptight (Everything's Alright) 07. Stop! In the Name of Love 08. It's the Same Old Song 09. The Tears of a Clown |
10. Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart 11. This Old Heart of Mine 12. Baby Love 13. He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' 14. High on Life 15. Ooh Baby Baby 16. You Know 17. Forever Came Today 18. Simon's Theme |
01. Tossing Turning and Swinging 02. Shalamar Disco Gardens 03. Take That to the Bank 04. Stay Close to Love 05. Leave It All up to Love |
06. Lovely Lady 07. Cindy, Cindy 08. Take That to the Bank [Remix] 09. Take That to the Bank [Club Mix] 10. Take That to the Bank [Radio Mix] |
01. The Right Time for Us 02. Take Me to the River 03. Right in the Socket 04. The Second Time Around |
05. I Owe You One 06. Let's Find the Time for Love 07. Girl |
01. Full of Fire 02. Attention to My Baby 03. Somewhere There's a Love 04. Some Things Never Change |
05. Make That Move 06. This Is for the Lover in You 07. Work It Out 08. Pop Along Kid |
01. Go for It 02. Appeal 03. Final Analysis 04. You've Got Me Running |
05. Sweeter as the Days Go By 06. Talk to Me 07. Good Feelings 08. Rocker |
01. A Night to Remember 02. Don't Try to Change Me 03. Help Me 04. On Top of the World 05. I Don't Wanna Be the Last to Know |
06. Friends 07. Playing to Win 08. I Just Stopped by Because I Had To 09. There It Is 10. I Can Make You Feel Good |
01. Tonight 02. Keep on Lovin' Me 03. Love for Love 04. This Time 05. Had It Not Been for You |
06. Try It Again 07. Do They Turn You On 08. Keep Your Love Around 09. Lay It on Me |
01. Closer 02. Dead Giveaway 03. You Can Count on Me 04. Right Here 05. No Limits (The Now Club) |
06. Disappearing Act 07. Over and Over 08. You're the One for Me 09. You Won't Miss Love (Until It's Gone) 10. The Look |
01. Amnesia 02. Dancing in the Sheets 03. Whenever You Need Me 04. Heart Break |
05. Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills 06. My Girl Loves Me 07. Melody (An Erotic Affair) 08. Deceiver |
01. Circumstantial Evidence 02. Games 03. Love's Grown Deep 04. Playthang |
05. Female 06. Born to Love 07. Worth Waitin' For 08. Imaginary Love |
01. Caution: This Love Is Hot 02. Wake Up 03. Why Lead Me On 04. Groove Talk 05. All I Wanna Do 06. Come Together |
07. For Sure 08. I'll Give U Love 09. I Want You 10. Pink Box 11. Caution: This Love Is Hot!(remix) |