Kinsman Dazz was signed to 20th Century Records by Joe Lewis in 1978. The group went to Los Angeles to record for producer Marvin Gaye. Owing to illness, Gaye had to back out of the duties. Harris requested and got Philip Bailey, the vocalist of Earth, Wind & Fire, to produce the group's first album, Kinsman Dazz. Bailey would co-produce the second album, Dazz, and had a major input into the group's vocal arrangements. They released their first single, "I Might as Well Forget About Loving You", in late 1978. "Catchin' Up on You" followed in 1979.
The Kinsman Dazz became the Dazz Band in 1980. Separately, the 20th Century Records label was closed, and the Dazz Band was signed to Motown Records. The group expanded from the original quintet — Harris, Calhoun, Pettus, and the Wiley brothers — with newcomers Kevin Kendrick, Steve Cox, Eric Fearman, Pierre DeMudd, Sonny "Skip" Martin, Jerry Bell and Terry Stanton. They had their first hit with "Shake It Up" in 1980.
Dazz's first album for Motown was Invitation to Love (1980), a self-produced set, whose title track, the ballad "Invitation to Love", began a string of hits for the band starting in March 1981. The group's next album, Let The Music Play (1981), featured the minor hit single "Knock! Knock!", reaching the Top 50. The group's biggest breakthrough came with the album Keep It Live (1982), containing the hit "Let It Whip" — which reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. They would go on to score R&B hits with the songs "Party Right Here" (1983), "Joystick" (1984), and "Let It All Blow" (which was also their biggest UK single, peaking at #12) (1984).
After Keep It Live, the band recorded the albums On the One, Joystick, Jukebox and Hot Spot, all for Motown. The band was known for its live performances, often proving more popular than the headlining act. In 1985, Fearman left the group and were replaced by Marlon McClain and Keith Harrison. In 1986, Dazz Band recorded Wild & Free for Geffen Records, and moved to RCA Records.
[edit] 1990s revival
The popularity of classic funk/R&B/soul acts performing in the US and abroad started to expand in the mid-1990s on events like the awarded Sinbad's Summer Jam: '70s Soul Music Festival. Bobby Harris decided to form a tribute band with members from the Bar-Kays, Con Funk Shun, the Gap Band and the SOS Band, called the United We Funk All-Stars. A studio album followed, including a tribute to the late Roger Troutman, who performs on the album as well. Other artists from the genre who contributed to the album were the late Rick James and The System. The concept was a great success, and was captured on a live CD, presented and promoted by radio jockey Tom Joyner, who made the announcements on the UWF-All Stars shows.
Current members
* Bobby Harris - saxophone, clarinet, background vocals
* Sennie Skip Martin - trumpet, vocals
* Marlon McClain - vocals and guitar
Past members
* Jerry Bell (Lead Vocals, Background Vocals)
* Juan Lively(Lead Vocals, Background Vocals)
* Michael Calhoun(Lead Guitar)
* Steve Cox - (keyboards)
* Pierre DeMudd - (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals)
* Eric Fearman - (lead guitar, songwriter)
* Keith Harrison - (keyboards)
* Kenny Pettus -( percussion, vocals)
* Terry Stanton - (lead vocals R.I.P.)
* Michael Wiley - bass (R.I.P.)
* Isaac Wiley, Jr. - (drums, percussion, background vocals)
Discography
Albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Label
US 200 US R&B
1980 Invitation to Love - - Motown
1981 Let the Music Play 154 36 Motown
1982 Keep It Live 14 1 Motown
1983 Joystick 73 12 Motown
1983 On the One 59 12 Motown
1984 Jukebox 84 18 Motown
1984 Greatest Hits - - Motown
1985 Hot Spot 114 24 Motown
1986 Wild & Free 178 37 Geffen
1988 Rock the Room - 91 RCA
1996 Under the Streetlights - 42 LKY
1997 Double Exposure - - Intersound
1998 Here We Go Again - 99 Intersound
2001 Time Traveler - - Eagle Music Group
Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US R&B US Dance
1980 "Shake It Up" - 65 - Invitation to Love
1981 "Invitation to Love" 109 51 - Invitation to Love
1981 "Knock Knock" - 44 - Let the Music Play
1982 "Let It Whip" 5 1 - Keep It Live
1982 "Keep It Live (On the K.I.L)" - 20 - Keep It Live
1983 "On The One For Fun" - 9 52 On the One
1983 "Cheek To Cheek" - 76 - On the One
1983 "Party Right Here" - 63 - On the One
1983 "Joystick" 61 9 - Joystick
1984 "Swoop (I'm Yours)" - 12 - Joystick
1984 "Let It all Blow" 84 9 - Jukebox
1985 "Heartbeat" 110 12 - Jukebox
1985 "Hot Spot" - 21 33 Hot Spot
1986 "L.O.V.E. M.I.A." - 48 - Wild & Free
1986 "Wild and Free" - 44 - Wild & Free
1988 "Anticipation" - 38 - Rock the Room
1988 "Single Girls" - 19 38 Rock the Room
1988 "Open Sesame" - 83 - Rock the Room
1998 "Ain't Nothin' but a Jam Y'all" - 58 -
1998 "Girl Got Body" - 81 - Here We Go Again
Bad Girl
Dazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh how love could be
But she's a bad girl because she wants to be free
She wants to be free
She's not a bad girl to look at
Finer than fine, she said she was mine
But she's a bad girl because it was only a line
I, I bragged to the boys about the girl that I, I had
It broke me up to find out she was bad
And my only wish is that I wish I could make
A bad, bad girl be good
She wasn't a bad girl at first, so good at the start
But now we must part
Oh yes she's a bad girl because she's breaking my heart
Oh, she's breaking my heart
(Bad girl because)
She's breaking my heart
In the song "Bad Girl" by Dazz Band, the lyrics describe a woman who is not necessarily bad in and of herself, but rather her actions and desires make her a bad girl in the eyes of the singer. The singer explains that the woman was able to make him see how love could be, indicating that at one point in their relationship, things were good. However, the woman wants to be free, which makes her a bad girl in the eyes of the singer. It is unclear what the woman wants to be free from, whether it be the relationship or her own personal obligations, but her desire for freedom is the catalyst for the heartbreak that the singer experiences.
The singer goes on to explain that initially, the woman was not a bad girl to look at and he was proud to call her his own, but it turned out that she was only playing a role. The singer explains that he bragged about the woman to his friends, only to find out that she was not who she seemed to be. The song concludes with the singer lamenting the fact that the woman has broken his heart and wishing that he could make a bad girl be good again.
Overall, the song "Bad Girl" explores the complexities of relationships and the impact that one person's desires and actions can have on the other person involved. It highlights the pain that can come from being betrayed by someone you thought you knew, and the frustration of wanting to fix a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
She's not a bad girl because she made me see
She didn't do any wrong by making me realize how love could feel like
Oh how love could be
The feeling of love is overwhelmingly beautiful
But she's a bad girl because she wants to be free
However, she is considered a bad girl as she desires freedom and independence
She wants to be free
All she wants is to have liberty in her life
She's not a bad girl to look at
Physically, she's stunning and attractive
Finer than fine, she said she was mine
She complimented me by saying that she belonged to me
But she's a bad girl because it was only a line
Sadly, all her words were just a deception and lie as she was not mine at all
I, I bragged to the boys about the girl that I, I had
I boasted in front of my friends about the girl I was dating
It broke me up to find out she was bad
I was extremely disappointed when I discovered that she was not what I thought she was
And my only wish is that I wish I could make
I just hope to rectify my mistake and change her from a bad girl to a good one
A bad, bad girl be good
I want to transform her to become a better person
She wasn't a bad girl at first, so good at the start
Initially, she was perfect and displayed excellent behavior
But now we must part
However, our relationship has come to an end
Oh yes she's a bad girl because she's breaking my heart
Despite everything, she's still a bad girl because she's causing me emotional pain
Oh, she's breaking my heart
I'm extremely heartbroken because of her actions
(Bad girl because)
This is happening because she's a bad girl after all
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Actual Music, S.L., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERRY JR GORDY, BERRY GORDY JR, SMOKEY ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@waynefoote3781
Starting in the mid to late 70's ,I learned how to sing practicing hundreds of times to ALL of the parts on songs like these....this includes background parts, harmonies and providing my own ad-libs throughout a song....the Dazz band did this Smokey song the absolute best justice! So many incredible singers in the Dazz band ..The Great Pierre De Mudd ....The simply Outstanding Skip Martin and The incomparable & Vastly Underrated Mr. Kenny Pettus....these guys are my HEROES FOREVER!@ I was lucky to join Slave as lead singer because I learned from the Kings!@
@samueljones3897
They don't make music like this anymore...The cameos and switches r&b gone forever replaced with bs on the radio also they way I learned how to sing and harmonize as well 👍👍👍👍
@davidsawtelle3775
Keith Harrison on this one too!
@waynefoote3781
@@davidsawtelle3775 Yeah man....that is right he has a very strong soprano/falsetto and is one of the original Faze-O Cats! good call man!
@terrencealston370
Clevelands own DAZZ BAND!!! Before that they were known as KINSMAN DAZZ named after Kinsman Ave. FACTS!!! Very underrated group !!!!!
@waynefoote3781
3:08 is The Dazz Band mixed with Pleasure !!!!! 2 bands in one!!@
@JavierGutierrez-cx9kb
Unheard treasure. I believe it was written o at least co-written by Smokey Robinson!!
@mbell8588
Thank you.
@merrybrown9022
Such a pretty song, I love it by the Miracles too
@celiomachado192
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