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 โ Harris, Calhoun, Pettus, and the Wiley brothers โ 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" โ 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
Joystick
Dazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm your joystick
I'm your joystick
Take control
Come turn me on, get it on
Baby, I'm your joystick
Your joystick baby
I can prove that love is just like a video game
Just take control of a stick, of a stick, of a stick
I'll let you play your game
I know what you're looking for
And all I want to do is score
Yeah
I just want you
(I want you)
To be my
(To be my)
Just take take control
I'll let you play me all the time
Take control of a stick, of a stick, of a stick
Of a stick, of a stick, of the joystick baby
Baby, don't you know that I'm your
(Joystick)
I'll do anything, I'm your
(Joystick)
Turn me on, let's get it on
(Joystick)
Take control and use me
Come turn me on, get it on
Baby, I'm your joystick
Your joystick baby
Sending all my love to make your heart go 'ooh ooh' yeah
So baby don't just stand there and let my love come down
Just take control of a stick, of a stick, of a stick (a stick)
I'll let you play me a round
I know what you're looking for
And all I want to do is score
Yeah
I just want you
(I want you)
To be my
(To be my)
Just take take control
I'll let you play me all the time
Take control of a stick, of a stick, of a stick
Of a stick, of a stick, of the joystick baby
I just want you
(I want you)
To be my
Just take take control
I'll let you play me all the time
(Play me all the time)
Take control of a stick, of a stick, of a stick
Of a stick, of the joystick baby
Joystick
A stick
I'm your joystick
A stick
Joystick
I'm your joystick
A stick
Joystick
I'm your joystick
A stick
Joystick
Baby, don't you know that I'm your
(Joystick)
I do anything cause I'm your
(Joystick)
Turn me on, let's get it on
(Joystick)
Take control and use me
(Joystick)
Baby, don't you know that I'm your
(Joystick)
I'm your joystick
(Joystick)
Take control, take control
(Joystick)
Love is what you're looking to start
I know what you're looking for
And all I want to do is score
Yeah
I just want you
(I want you)
To be my
(To be my)
Just take take control
I'll let you play me all the time
Take control of a stick, of a stick, of a stick
Of the joystick baby
Joystick
A stick
I'm your Joystick
A stick
Joystick
I'm your joystick
A stick
Joystick
I'm your joystick
A stick
Joystick
The song "Joystick" by Dazz Band is a funk/dance track about a person offering themselves as a controller for their lover's pleasure. The repeated phrase "I'm your joystick, take control" reinforces this idea of the singer as a sexual plaything to be directed by their partner. The metaphor of love being like a video game is also present in the lyrics. The chorus emphasizes the idea that the singer is there to please the other person, with lines like "I'll let you play me all the time" and "I'll do anything, I'm your joystick." The song's upbeat funk rhythms and playful lyrics make it a popular party track, but the suggestive nature of the lyrics has also made it a somewhat controversial song.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm your joystick
The singer is a metaphorical joystick that the listener can use to control their actions or decisions.
Take control
The listener is encouraged to take charge and use the singer's joystick to guide them.
Come turn me on, get it on
The singer is urging the listener to engage with them and begin using their joystick for their mutual pleasure.
I can do anything that you want me to do...ooh ooh, yeah
The artist is assuring the listener that they are capable of fulfilling any desire they may have while using their joystick.
I can prove that love is just like a video game
The artist believes that love can be approached in the same way as a video game, with the joystick serving as a means of control and manipulation.
I'll let you play your game
The singer is willingly submitting to the control of the listener and allowing them to guide their actions.
I know what you're looking for
The singer is confident that they understand the listener's desires and needs.
And all I want to do is score
The artist's primary goal is to fulfill the listener's needs and desires in order to obtain their approval.
To be my
The artist desires a mutually dependent relationship in which they each rely on one another for pleasure and satisfaction.
I'll let you play me all the time
The artist is willing to submit to the listener's control and manipulation whenever they desire.
Sending all my love to make your heart go 'ooh ooh' yeah
The singer is expressing their devotion to the listener and their desire to bring them pleasure and satisfaction.
So baby don't just stand there and let my love come down
The artist urges the listener to take action and use their joystick to guide them towards pleasure and satisfaction.
Joystick
The singer is emphasizing the importance of the joystick as a tool for control and manipulation.
Love is what you're looking to start
The singer believes that the listener is seeking a romantic relationship and that their joystick can help them achieve that goal.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY HARRIS, ERIC FEARMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cherokeewoods1
๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐บ๐พ๐ถMonday
July 30th Mid After
Noon Summer Of โ23
Push Mowinโ My Back
Yard๐ This Song WAS
Back When Music Was
On A GROWN FOLK
Level With Out Being
Overly EXPLICIT And
VULGAR! & Still Had A
Good Vibe, Get Down
Beat, A Cool Groove &
A Very Diggable
Message๐ซถ๐ฝOne Love.
@mysticmerman
This is one of my favorite songs ever! I was only 15 and living in a white suburb. The DJs only played this for a few weeks, so I had to use my allowance to buy it and hide it from my parents! It still makes me happy anytime I hear it! Completely underrated!
@fletchermack88
Cleveland, Ohio.. Still today in October,2020. So Dope,82/83 great memories
@treygoff
Man this record is BAD! Dazz Band, Cameo, Slave, Confunkshun, Lakeside, Ohio players, Isley brothers, Earth Wind & Fire,Barkays,The Gap band,Rose Royce,T-Connection,FatBack Band, And of course George Clinton & P-Funk,Funkadelics,and my man Bootsy Collins!Big ups for all that FUNKING MUSIC******!!!
@gabrielflores5442
Trey Goff-El SOS BAND
@vladimiralvarez1162
1980s mon !!!! Best era and last to ever have like 15 guys on a band ๐๐..donโt forget TV shows ...soul train ,sat morning cartoons
@joycewilliams7054
I'm listening to 102.1 playing battle of the bands!! They're playing all these bands you guys named including The Doobie Brothers. They should have added KC and The Sunshine Band!
@yuridiogo5528
Masterpiece!!
@claudiasolis2561
The best music.
@shastaspearman6324
I always come back to some 80's and 70's funk!! When I want to get in my happy mood!! Big time play during this COVID-19
@vladimiralvarez1162
Yeah sistren !!!!! Feel the positive vibes of the 80s!! Irie !!๐๐๐ธ๐ธ