Shalamar ~ The Second Time Around 1978 Disco Purrfection Version

Shalamar started life in 1977 as the studio creation of Soul Train agent Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius for a mega mix of Motown hits called "Uptown Festival" sung by studio professionals. The two then inducted two of thier most popular dancers on the show Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel into the group along with original lead Gary Mumford. Mumford was out and then Gerald Brown was in for their second LP and the hit "Take That To The Bank". Brown left the group after that and Howard Hewitt took over in 1979 just in time to score their first million seller "The Second Time Around" released on Solar Records. It is notable for its use of the synth drum "boo" sound that Anita Ward song "Ring My Bell" had introduced. The song was produced by Leon Sylvers III and co-written with William Shelby reaching #1 on both the disco and R&B charts then #8 on the pop charts. They had a very successful run of hits in the UK and Jeffrey Daniel has the distinction of introducting "body popping" that helped to sell more records. Michael Jackson was enamoured of his moves and Shalamar after seeing him on Soul Train, and took his then 12 yr old sister Janet to their concert in Disneyland. The hits fell off after 1983 amd Watley left to pursue a solo career, Shalamar continued with Hewett at the helm and garnered one more hit with "Dancing In The Sheets" from the soundtrack of "Footloose". Hewitt left in 1985. In 1996 the classic line up of Watley, Hewitt and Daniel shot their parts separately along with LL Cool J for Babyface's "This Is For The Lover In You", a cover of one their songs from the 1980 "Three For Love" LP. They performed the song together on the Tops Of The Pops and was their first time together since 1983. Hewitt and Daniel recruited singer Carolyn Griffey in 1999 and have been performing together as recently as 2015. But it all started with this boogie down goodie that has become a disco classic.