SATURDAY'S SINGLES : THE CLASH and SISTER SLEDGE

[maggot]

Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles, a Birthday edition. First up, we remember British singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist, Joe Strummer, who would have celebrated his 69th Birthday today. Joe died in 2002, age 5o, from a  congenital heart defect. To honor his legacy we spotlight their song, "Hitsville U.K." , from their 4th album, Sandinista!.   "Hitsville U.K." was released January 16th, 1981 on the CBS label and was produced by the band. The track peaked at #56 in the UK and #52 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts. Traditionally, it's B-side is "Radio One", but we have a white label promo copy with "Hitsville U.K." on both sides. The song is a duet between between guitarist Mick Jones and Ellen Foley, best known for her work with musician Meat Loaf.

Ellen Foley – lead vocals, percussion
Mick Jones – lead vocal, pianos, keyboards
Joe Strummer – guitar
Norman Watt-Roy – bass guitar
Topper Headon – drums, percussion

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Our second Birthday celebration belongs to Philadelphia born vocalist Kim Sledge of Sister Sledge who turns 64 today. Happy Birthday Kim ! With her in mind, we find ourselves spinning perhaps their best known song, "We Are Family". The tune was released in April 1979 on Cotillion Records and peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 and Cash Box charts and #1 on the  Dance Club Songs chart and in Canada. The song was originally paired with "Easier to Love" but our copy is an Atlantic Oldies Series with the track, "He's The Greatest Dancer" (#1 Dance and R&B). Both songs hail from their 3rd record, We Are Family. I always associate the song with the Season 13, Episode 7 of The Simpsons,  where the family is singing the tune in the car and Homer edits the lyrics to say, " We are family! Wolves and Cougars ate our roast beef!"

These credits are from the album.

Kathy Sledge – lead vocals 
Debbie Sledge – lead vocals 
Joni Sledge – lead vocals 
Kim Sledge – lead vocals 
Nile Rodgers – guitar
Bernard Edwards – bass
Tony Thompson – drums
Robert Sabino – piano, Hohner clavinet
Raymond Jones – keyboards, Fender Rhodes electric piano
Andy Schwartz – piano
Sammy Figueroa – percussion
Jon Faddis – trumpet
Ellen Seeling – trumpet
Barry Rogers – trombone
Jean Fineberg – saxophone
Alex Foster – saxophone, flute
Gene Orloff – concert master
Cheryl Hong – strings
Marianne Carroll – strings
Karen Milne – strings
Luther Vandross – backing vocals
Norma Jean Wright – backing vocals
David Lasley – backing vocals
Alfa Anderson – backing vocals
Diva Gray – backing vocals

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