THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

399-Conway Brothers-Turn It Up.

1985-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 1.22. When I was in my youth, whenever I was called ‘young man’ I would find it very condescending. All these years later, if I was called it now, I would smile from ear to ear.

The Conway Brothers were a ‘Funk,’ and ‘Soul’ group formed in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in 1982, by the four brothers Frederick, (keyboards) Hiawatha, (drums) Huston, (bass) and James Conway (guitar.) The discography of the Conway Brothers includes two studio Albums, ‘Turn It Up!,’ from 1985, and ‘Lady in Red,’ from 1987, they also released five singles between 1982-1987, and there is one official compilation Album that was issued in 1996. Their second and final studio Album ‘Lady in Red’ included the title track, which was their take on the 1986 Chris de Burgh composition. The Album also included their take on a Ohio Players (see also best songs 506) medley of songs, and also their fifth and final single release ‘I Can’t Fight It.’ Their 1996 compilation Album called ‘Dance Club Hits Vol. 1,’ consists of a mixture of tracks from both of their studio Albums. The Conway Brothers never made the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but their final three singles did make the lower reaches of the Billboard ‘Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs’ chart. In the UK, ‘Turn It Up,’ was their only charting song on the top 40, reaching Number 11, although the follow up track, ‘Raise the Roof,’ also from 1985, made Number 77.

‘Turn It Up’ was the third of four singles released from the Conway Brother’s debut studio Album of the same name from 1985, the song was co-written by the Conway Brothers, with the production being by the Conway Brothers and Hudson Beauduy, who is better known by his working name ‘Hot Mix Hudson.’ ‘Turn It Up’ has been described by music critics as retaining the ‘Old School feel of 70’s Disco, while incorporating the more up to date sound (of it’s era) of the mid 1980’s.’ To promote the song the Conway Brothers appeared on the British television music programme ‘Top Of the Pops,’ dancing, and attempting to mime to the song. The legendary DJ John Peel, (1939-2004) (see also best songs 728-659-435-409 and 336) along with his co-host Janice Long, (1955-2021) introduced their performance, which is well worth checking out on ‘YouTube.’

The Conway Brothers were one of the first artists signed to ‘Ichiban Records,’ which was set up in 1985 by the husband and wife team of John Abbey, and Nina Easton. John Ernest Abbey was born on July 8th, 1945, in London, England, in 1966 he founded the magazine initially called ‘Home of the Blues,’ but soon renamed as ‘Blues & Soul.’ Prior to setting up ‘Ichiban Records,’ Abbey had founded ‘Action Records’ in 1968, and ‘Contempo Records’ in 1973. In 1977 John Abbey married his first wife the American singer Tamiko Jones, and in 1978 he set up international tours for musicians, including Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999) (see also best songs 719 and 195) and Clarence Carter. He would later go on to manage the American female vocal group The Three Degrees, and in 2015, he was appointed CEO of ‘Connor Ray Music,’ based in Houston, Texas.

The Conway Brothers are just one of dozens of artists in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list that have recorded in the musical genre of ‘Funk.’ ‘Funk’ is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960’s. The word ‘Funk’ initially referred to, and still refers to a strong odour. It was originally derived from the Latin ‘fumigare,’ which means ‘to smoke,’ via the ‘Old French’ ‘fungiere.’ The term ‘Funk,’ while still linked to body odour, had the positive sense that a musician’s hard-working, honest effort led to sweat, and from their ‘physical exertion’ came an ‘exquisite’ and ‘superlative’ performance. ‘Funk’ de-emphasises melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove of a bass-line played by an electric bassist, and a drum part played by a percussionist, often at slower tempos than other popular music. ‘Funk’ typically consists of a complex percussive groove with rhythm instruments playing interlocking grooves that create a ‘hypnotic’ and ‘danceable’ feel. From the early 1970’s onwards, ‘Funk’ has developed various sub-genres. While George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic (see also best songs 612-340-143 and 26) were making a harder variation of ‘Funk,’ bands such as Kool and the Gang, Ohio Players (see also best songs 506) and Earth, Wind and Fire (see also best songs 916 and 462) were making ‘Disco’ influenced ‘Funk’ music. Other key names in the development of ‘Funk’ include James Brown, (1933-2006) (see also best songs 880-349-270 and 88) and Sly Stone (see also best songs 589.) There are several sub-genres of ‘Funk,’ including ‘Funk Rock,’ (see also best songs 977) ‘Electro Funk,’ (see also best songs 716) ‘G Funk,’ (see also best songs 544) and ‘Jazz Funk’ (see also best songs 588.)

‘Came to here to smoke, but the vibe here is a joke, turn it up. We’re doing our best, we have just one request, turn it up. If the steam cook can take it, you better give us some more, got to keep the people on the floor.’