THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

581-Shalamar-Take That to the Bank.

1978-Number 20 single.

Best Bit-At 3.06. For a brief period in the early 1980’s, ‘SOLAR’ records were being talked up as being the new ‘Tamla Motown,’ and Shalamar were the labels biggest band.

Shalamar who were fomed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1977, were the brainchild of Don Cornelius, (1936-2012) and Dick Griffey, (1938-2010.) Don Cornelius was the creator, and presenter of the American nationally syndicated music television show ‘Soul Train,’ and Dick Griffey was a music producer, concert promoter, and booking agent for the ‘Soul Train’ show.

The first song credited to Shalamar, whose name had been chosen by Griffey, was the 1977 track ‘Uptown Festival,’ (UK Number 30) which had been recorded by studio session musicians. Due to it’s popularity and success, Cornelius and Griffey decided to put together a group to perform as ‘Shalamar.’ They chose the ‘Soul Train’ dancers Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel, as well as the singer Gary Mumford, who had performed the studio session on ‘Uptown Festival.’ Mumford soon quit the band, and was replaced by Gerald Brown, who sang lead vocals on this song and it’s parent Album. Brown left the band shortly before the songs official release, and was replaced by Howard Hewett, who lip synced Brown’s vocals for the songs promotion. Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel, and Howard Hewett are recognised as the groups classic line up. Watley and Daniel both left in 1983 to pursue solo careers, leaving Hewett to continue with new members. In total there has been nine official different group members come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active.

The discography of Shalamar includes 10 studio Albums released between 1977-1990, and 35 singles released between 1977-2017, there are also six official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, four of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘The Second Time Around,’ peaking the highest at Number 8 in 1979, with ‘Take That to the Bank’ only making Number 79. They have had far more success on the Billboard ‘R&B’ and ‘Dance’ charts, where 18 of their tracks have made the top 40, on either, or both charts, including ‘The Second Time Around,’ which reached Number 1 on both. In the UK, Shalamar have achieved 11 top 40 hit singles, with both ‘A Night to Remember,’ (1982) and ‘There It Is,’ (1982) both peaking at Number 5.

‘Take That to the Bank’ was co-written by Kevin Spencer, and Leon Sylvers III, with the production being by Leon Sylvers III, and Dick Griffey, the song was the only single released from ‘Disco Gardens,’ which was the second studio Album from Shalamar, from August 1978. Leon Frank Sylvers III was born on March 7th, 1953, in South Bend, Indiana, United States, he became one of the most successful producers in black music in the late 1970’s to the mid-1980’s, with Dick Griffey saying, ‘Aside from Quincy Jones, I think Leon is the hottest producer around. He’s grown with SOLAR, and has been exposed to other creative forces in putting together different kinds of songs and sounds. He’s gotten a different kind of polish and sophistication.’ Prior to becoming the in house producer at ‘SOLAR’ records, Leon Sylvers III had been a member of the ‘R&B’ group ‘The Sylvers,’ which was made up of him, and nine of his other siblings, who performed in the group at different times between 1958-1985. The Sylvers are best remembered for their 1976 Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 single ‘Boogie Fever,’ and ‘Hot Line,’ which reached Number 5, also in 1976. Leon Sylvers III wrote and produced for the other big acts on ‘SOLAR’ records, including ‘The Whispers,’ ‘Dynasty,’ and ‘Lakeside.’

From the classic line up of Shalamar, Jody Watley went on to have a very successful solo career, releasing nine studio Albums between 1987-2006, and 24 singles between 1984-2013, with ‘Looking for a New Love,’ reaching Number 2 on Billboard, and Number 13 in the UK in 1987. Jeffrey Daniel went on to choreograph the music video’s for ‘Bad,’ and ‘Smooth Criminal,’ with Michael Jackson, (1958-2009) it was Daniel who first performed ‘The Backslide,’ which would later become known as the ‘Moonwalk,’ a full year before Michael Jackson first performed it. Howard Hewett left Shalamar in 1985 to pursue a solo career, releasing seven solo studio Albums between 1986-2007, and releasing 24 singles between 1985-2017, including the track ‘This Is for the Lover in You,’ with Babyface, LL Cool J, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel, in 1996, which reached Number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Howard Hewett, and Jeffrey Daniel rejoined Shalamar in 1999, and are still members at the time of writing, along with Dick Griffey’s daughter Carolyn Griffey, who has been a member since 2001. Incidentally ‘SOLAR’ stands for ‘Sound of Los Angeles Records.’

”Cause we build a strong love affair on investments of equal share. Two hearts that beat as one, just look what love has done. Dime in the socket, just like money in my pocket, baby love. Take that to the bank.’