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 was the brainchild of Don Cornelius (1936-2012,) and Dick Griffey (1938-2010.) Cornelius was the creator, and presenter of the American nationally syndicated music show ‘Soul Train,’ and Griffey was a music producer, concert promoter, and booking agent for the ‘Soul Train’ show.

The first hit credited to Shalamar was the 1977 song ‘Uptown Festival’ (UK Number 30,) which had been recorded by studio session musicians. Due to it’s success Cornelius, and Griffey decided to put together a band comprising Soul Train dancers Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel, as well as singer Gary Mumford, who had performed on ‘Uptown Festival.’ Mumford soon quit the band and was replaced by Gerald Brown who sang lead vocals on this song, but left the band before it was officially released, and replaced by Howard Hewett who lip synced Brown’s vocals for the songs promotion.

The classic lineup of Watley, Daniel, and Hewett remained active until 1983, when both Watley and Daniel both left to pursue solo careers, leaving Hewett to continue the band with new members. As of 2021 the current lineup is Hewett, Daniel, and Carolyn Griffey, the daughter of Dick Griffey, and the singer Carrie Lewis.In total Shalamar have released 10 studio Albums between 1977-1990, and achieved 11 top 40 UK singles.

Jody Watley went on to have a very successful solo career, releasing nine studio Albums between 1987-2006, and reaching Number 2 on Billboard with her debut solo single ‘Looking for a New Love’ in 1987.Jeffrey Daniel went on to choreograph the video’s for ‘Bad,’ and ‘Smooth Criminal,’ with Michael Jackson. 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.

‘Take That to the Bank’ was taken from Shalamar’s second studio Album ‘Disco Gardens’ from 1978, and was written by Kevin Spencer, and Leon Sylvers, who also produced the song. Sylvers had been a member of ‘The Sylvers’ who were nine family members who had three top 40 hits on Billboard including the 1976 Number 1 ‘Boogie Fever.’ Leon Sylvers was the main driving force behind the successful sound of ‘SOLAR’ records, working with acts such as ‘The Whispers,’ ‘Dynasty,’ and ‘Lakeside,’ 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.’