Midnight Star
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Midnight Star
- Genres: Rhythm & Blues
Biography
The synth-funk unit Midnight Star scored several times on the charts during the mid-'80s, led by their double-platinum album No Parking on the Dance Floor in 1983. Just one of the successful acts on Solar Records (also including Shalamar, Lakeside, and the Whispers), the group was formed in 1976 at Kentucky State University by the Calloway brothers, trumpeter Reginald, and trombone player Vincent, with vocalist Belinda Lipscomb. After signing with RCA near the turn of the decade, Midnight Star recorded their first album in 1980, The Beginning, with a conglomeration of studio players and producers. After moving to the Solar label by 1982, the group released Victory and then added a full band: guitarist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, drummer Bobby Lovelace, and keyboard player Bo Watson.Though the Calloways' production skills -- later used to full effect on tracks by Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, and Teddy Pendergrass -- had pushed Midnight Star into the R&B charts during 1981-1982, with singles like "Hot Spot" and "I've Been Watching You," the group was unprepared for the success of the first single from their third proper album, No Parking on the Dance Floor. "Freak-a-Zoid" hit number two on the R&B charts in mid-1983, and though it failed to make the pop Top 40, it pushed the LP over the platinum mark. "Operator," the first single from their next album, Planetary Invasion, became their highest-charting single, making number 18 on the pop charts. By 1986, Headlines had become Midnight Star's third album to at least sell gold, but it proved their last; both Reginald and Vincent left the group to form Calloway in 1988. (Incidentally, the Calloways had introduced future legend Babyface to Solar executives for his first job, and produced Babyface's group the Deele).
Without Reginald and Vincent Calloway to lead the way, Midnight Star fell fast and far. A 1988 self-titled album flopped, and 1990's Work It Out proved to be their last until 2002's 15th Avenue. Since then, the members continued outside collaborations, but they also came together for frequent touring. As late as 2007, the group's lineup featured Lipscomb, Gentry, Watson, Lovelace, and Gant. As Calloway, the Calloways found success with their first single, 1989's "I Wanna Be Rich," which hit number two on the pop charts. The track was their only major hit, followed by "Sir Lancelot" and the title track from their 1990 debut album, All the Way. Calloway returned two years later with Let's Get Smooth, but the album proved their last. The brothers continued working, with Pieces of a Dream and Bootsy Collins, among others. ~ John Bush, Rovi
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Midnight Star
For the "Weird Al" Yankovic song, see Midnight Star (song).
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| Midnight Star | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Frankfort, Kentucky, United States |
| Genres | Dance-pop, Soul, Electro, Disco, Hip hop, Quiet storm |
| Years active | 1976–1990, 2000–present |
| Labels | Solar, RCA |
| Members | |
| Belinda Lipscomb Melvin Gentry Kenneth Gant Bobby Lovelace Bo Watson Bill Simmons |
|
| Past members | |
| Reginald Calloway Vincent Calloway Jeff Cooper |
|
Midnight Star is an American R&B and electro-funk group that had a string of R&B hits in the 1980s.
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Contents
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Band history
The group was formed in 1976 at Kentucky State University by trumpeter Reggie Calloway, vocalist Belinda Lipscomb, guitarist/vocalist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, multi-instrumentalist Bill Simmons, keyboard player/vocalist Bo Watson and guitarist/keyboardist Jeff Cooper, as a self-contained group. They would later add non-KSU student trombonist Vincent Calloway (Reginald's younger brother). A 1978 New York City showcase inspired SOLAR Records chief Dick Griffey to sign the group. They released their debut album The Beginning (1980) with some guest studio musicians. In 1981 their second album, released on Solar Records, Standing Together, reached position #54 on the U.S. R&B chart. In 1982 they released a third album, Victory.
Utiliizing elected band leader Reggie Calloway's production skills, it did not take long for Midnight Star to hit the U.S. R&B chart with early singles like "Hot Spot" and "I've Been Watching You." Drummer Bobby Lovelace joined the group in late 1982, freeing Gentry to sing and play guitar exclusively. Their fourth album, No Parking on the Dance Floor, was released in 1983, and it took them to the top of the charts with the first single, "Freak-A-Zoid," which went to number two. Other singles from the album included "Wet My Whistle," and the title track. These singles, along with the hit album tracks "Slow Jam" (co-written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds) and "Electricity" propelled the album to double platinum status. Their next album, Planetary Invasion, was almost as big, selling platinum again and making the pop Top 20 and the number one spot on the R&B chart with its first single, "Operator." This song remains the band's only Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit to date.
In 1986 they released their fifth album, Headlines, which was their third album to sell at least gold. It was to be their last with the Calloway brothers. Due to irreconcilable differences with the other members, Reggie was out of the group. Shortly thereafter Vincent left. They achieved their biggest success in the UK with "Midas Touch", which made #8, and "Headlines", a #16 hit earlier the same year.[1] Without the Calloways (who would go on to form the group Calloway and release an album that spawned the hit single "I Wanna Be Rich" in 1989), Midnight Star recorded two more albums, the self-titled Midnight Star and Work It Out. These two albums proved not as successful as their previous three release, but did bear fruit with Top Ten R&B singles such as: "Don't Rock The Boat" and "Snake In The Grass". The group went on a long hiatus, though they never officially broke up.
The group reunited in 2000 with many of the original members (including all of the singers) and released the album 15th Avenue two years later. Since then, the group has toured sporadically, most recently with a lineup that includes Belinda Lipscomb, Kenneth Gant, Melvin Gentry, Bo Watson, and Bobby Lovelace, with Bill Simmons sometimes joining as well.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions[2][3] | US certifications[4] |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK | ||||
| 1980 | The Beginning | — | — | — | — | SOLAR |
| 1981 | Standing Together | — | 54 | — | — | |
| 1982 | Victory | 205 | 58 | — | — | |
| 1983 | No Parking on the Dance Floor | 27 | 2 | — | 2× Platinum | |
| 1984 | Planetary Invasion | 32 | 7 | 85 | Gold | |
| 1986 | Headlines | 56 | 7 | 42 | Gold | |
| 1988 | Midnight Star | 96 | 14 | — | — | |
| 1990 | Work It Out | — | 41 | — | — | |
| 2002 | 15th Avenue | — | — | — | — | Reel Star |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | ||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
|||||
| 1987 | Greatest Hits | — | — | SOLAR | ||
| 1999 | Anniversary Collection | — | — | The Right Stuff | ||
| 2002 | The Best of Midnight Star | — | — | EMI-Capitol | ||
| 2006 | Ultimate Collection | — | — | Capitol | ||
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions[2][3] | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Dance |
UK | |||
| 1980 | "Make It Last" | — | 85 | — | — | The Beginning |
| "You're the Star" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "I've Been Watching You" | —– | 36 | — | — | Standing Together |
| "Tuff" | — | 60 | — | — | ||
| 1982 | "Hot Spot" | 108 | 35 | — | — | Victory |
| "Victory" | — | 83 | — | — | ||
| 1983 | "Freak-A-Zoid" | 66 | 2 | 44 | — | No Parking on the Dance Floor |
| "Wet My Whistle" | 61 | 8 | 15 | 60 | ||
| 1984 | "No Parking (On the Dance Floor)" | 81 | 43 | 44 | — | |
| "Night Rider" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Feels So Good" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Curious" | — | — | — | 92 | Planetary Invasion | |
| "Operator" | 18 | 1 | 15 | 66 | ||
| 1985 | "Scientific Love" | 80 | 16 | 19 | — | |
| "Body Snatchers" | — | 31 | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Headlines" | 69 | 3 | 34 | 16 | Headlines |
| "Midas Touch" | 42 | 7 | — | 8 | ||
| "Engine No. 9" | — | 11 | — | 64 | ||
| 1987 | "Stay Here by My Side" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Do the Prep" | — | — | — | — | Penitentiary III | |
| 1988 | "Don't Rock the Boat" (feat. Ecstacy of Whodini) | — | 3 | — | — | Midnight Star |
| "Snake in the Grass" | — | 10 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Love Song" | — | 55 | — | — | |
| "90 Days (Same as Cash)" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Do It (One More Time)" | — | 12 | — | — | Work It Out |
| "Luv-U-Up" | — | 58 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||
References
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 363. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b "Midnight Star US chart history". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4912. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
- ^ a b "Midnight Star UK chart history". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=4282. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
- ^ "Midnight Star US certification history". riaa.com. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Midnight%20Star&format=Album&go=Search&perPage=25. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
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Mentioned in
The Best of Midnight Star [EMI]
(2002 Album by Midnight Star)
Standing Together
(1981 Album by Midnight Star)
Headlines
(1986 Album by Midnight Star)
Slow Groove: Dance Floor Classics, Vol. 3
(1996 Album by Various Artists)
Work It Out
(1990 Album by Midnight Star)
» More