SATURDAY'S SINGLES : DEBARGE AND RICK JAMES

[maggot]

Good morning gang and welcome back to the return of Saturday's Singles. It was on this day in 1958 that Detroit native,  R&B/soul singer and bass guitarist, Randy DeBarge (William Randall DeBarge) of the DeBarge musical family and group, was born. Today he celebrates his 64th Birthday and we wish him a Happy one by spinning the title track from their 4th studio album,  Rhythm Of The Night.  "Rhythm Of The Night" was released  February 23, 1985 on the Motown label. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by Richard Perry. It peaked at #50 in France, #29 in Finland, #25 in Italy, #24 in Switzerland, #19 in West Germany, #11 on the Netherlands' Single Top 100, #7 in Belgium, #5 in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa, #4 on the Dutch Top 40 and in the UK, #3 in Canada, New Zealand, and Billboard's Hot 100, and #1 on Canada's Adult Contemporary, US Adult Contemporary, and the Hot Black Singles charts. It's B-side is "Queen Of My Heart" from their debut album, The DeBarges.

El DeBarge – lead vocals

DeBarge – backing vocals, spoken monologues

Jeff Lorber – Yamaha DX7

Steve Mitchell – additional synthesizers

Howie Rice – additional synthesizers

Dann Huff – guitars

Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars

Abraham Laboriel – bass

John Robinson – Oberheim DMX

Paulinho da Costa – percussion

Production

Richard Perry – producer

Bradford Rosenberger – production coordinator

Don Smith – rhythm track recording, vocal track recording

Michael Brooks – overdub engineer

Barney Perkins – remixing

Glen Holguin – assistant engineer

Alex Schmoll – assistant engineer

Jim Scott – assistant engineer

Diane Warren – songwriter

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Our second Saturday's Singles selection comes to us via New York native,  singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, Rick James (James Ambrose Johnson Jr.). He was born February 1, 1948 and passed away August 6, 2004, 18 years ago today. He died from pulmonary failure and cardiac failure, age 56. We honor his memory with this 12" promotional copy of his song "Forever And A Day". The tune was released in 1986 on the Gordy label and produced, written , and arranged by Rick James. If it charted, I can find no evidence, but it's parent album, The Flag, reached #95 on the Billboard 200 and the flip side features  the "Forever And A Day" (12" Instrumental) version.

Rick James - Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion

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