Friday Night Throwback: 112 - "Cupid"

With 112's Slim dropping his sophomore solo album Refueled this week (after his 2008 effort, Love’s Crazy), we select his group's 1997 hit single "Cupid" as this week's Friday Night Throwback. The third and final single released from 112's debut album of the same name, "Cupid" (written by Arnold Hennings, produced by Hennings and others) peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 112's third top 40 hit on both charts. With unofficial frontman Slim providing the lead vocals, "Cupid" went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA after selling 1,000,000 copies.

Friday Night Throwback: Keith Sweat feat. Athena Cage - "Nobody"

With the news that veteran R&B singer Keith Sweat is set to drop his 12th studio album this year, this week's Friday Night Throwback is dedicated to the soulful crooner. "Nobody", featuring Kut Klose lead singer Athena Cage, was written by Sweat and Cage and produced by Sweat. Released in 1996 as the second single from his eponymous fifth album Keith Sweat, "Nobody" spent three weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Friday Night Throwback: Leon Haywood - "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You"

This week's Friday Night Theowback is dedicated to Leon Haywood, the silky smooth R&B singer-songwriter and producer who passed away in his sleep at 74 earlier this month. The Houston-born Haywood began his career as a blues musician before achieving success in the '60s, '70s and '80s in the soul, R&B and funk genres. During his long career Haywood charted 20 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song chart, including the No. 2 hit "Don't Push It Don't Force It," "Keep It In the Family" (which peaked at No. 11) and "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You" (No. 7). Haywood also wrote Carl Carlton's "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)," which reached No. 2 on the chart and earned his only Grammy Award nomination for writing the tune, garnering a nod in the 1981 Best Rhythm & Blues song category. His 1975 single "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You", which is featured here, served as the groovy hook on the Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg duet "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang." The song was also featured in 50 Cent's "Corner Bodega" and Aaliyah's "I Gotcha Back."

Friday Night Throwback: Maxwell - "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"

In lieu of Maxwell dropping "Lake By The Ocean", the 1st single from his highly anticipated new album 'blackSUMMERS'night' today, this week's Friday Night Throwback is dedicated to the legendary crooner. "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)", the first single from his classic debut album Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, set the stage for his genre-defining sound with heartfelt lyrics backed by the singer's flawless and silky smooth tones. Produced and written by Maxwell along with Itaal Shur, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" debuted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks in August 1996 at number 11, eventually peaking number eight and spending 29 weeks on the chart. It spent eighteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 36 on September 28, 1996 and eventually won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Male.

Friday Night Throwback: Amos Milburn - "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"

Blues singer and pianist Amos Milburn scored a hit in 1953 with the Rudy Toombs-penned "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer". The mid-tempo blues (aka "jump blues") tune told the story of a man who is "in a bar at closing time trying to get enough booze down his neck to forget that his girlfriend's gone AWOL, harassing a tired, bored bartender who simply wants to close up and go home into serving just one more round". It was one of several drinking songs recorded by the Houston-born Milburn in the early 1950s and placed in the Top Ten for 14 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart.

Friday Night Throwback: Eddie Kendricks - "Keep On Truckin"

Ex-Temptations co-lead singer Eddie Kendricks finally found his footing as a solo artist with 1973's "Keep On Truckin'". The song, written and produced by frequent collaborator Frank Wilson, featured grooves that were clearly aimed at the dance floor and was arguably the first-recorded and released disco hit record. "Keep On "Truckin'" was the lead single from Kendricks 3rd solo album Eddie Kendricks, and came two years two years after his departure from The Temptations. "Keep On Truckin'" reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles Chart upon its release, and was Kendricks' only number-one hit.

Friday Night Throwback: Mya - "Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)"

In light of Mya releasing her 7th album Smoove Jones, last month, this week's Friday Night Throwback is dedicated to the stalwart artist. who over her 18-year career has sold 3.2 million albums in the United States alone, 7 million albums worldwide, had a No. 1 hit, three Top 10 singles and eight Top 40 impressions all on the Billboard Hot 100. "Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)", the second single from her second album Fear of Flying, was one of those aforementioned Top 10 singles. Written and produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and his songwriting partners Traci Hale and Thabiso "Tab" Nkhereanyne, the song which was originally a rap song, told the tale of a committed woman refusing to let her man go back to his ex. Backed by a persuasive keyboard hook and Mya's syrupy vocals, "Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)" became a top five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of December 2, 2000, peaking and spending three consecutive weeks at number two.

Friday Night Throwback: Kelly Price - "Friend of Mine"

Never take your friends for granted is the lesson learned from Kelly Price's 1998 hit single "Friend of Mine". The song, from Kelly's debut album Soul of a Woman, was co-produced and co-written by R. Kelly (who played Kelly's cheating husband in the video, which also starred Ron Isley aka 'Mr. Big') and tells the story of best friend betrayal at its utmost treacherous. "Friend of Mine" would spend five weeks at number-one on the U.S. R&B chart and was awarded a Grammy nomination along with a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist.

Friday Night Throwback: Jazzyfatnastees - "Unconventional Ways"

While the song didn't do much on the music charts, Philadelphia duo Jazzyfatnastees (Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez), still made a huge dent on the early neo-soul scene with the melodic "Unconventional Ways" from their 1999 debut album, The Once and Future. The single, which the group co-wrote and produced, was an exquisite story of unconditional love that showed off Jazzy’s impeccable harmonies and still remains a staple of organic soul music.

Friday Night Throwback: Vanity 6 - "Nasty Girl"

With the recent passing of former Prince protege Vanity, we dedicate this week's Friday Night Throwback video to Denise Matthews' old group Vanity 6 and their 1982 hit single "Nasty Girl". An infectious synth-funk single with overtly sexual lyrics, the song, produced (as The Starr Company) and written by Prince, stalled on mainstream radio, but managed to reach No. 1 on the Billboard dance charts. "Nasty Girl" has since gone on to become a dancefloor classic. Matthews disbanded Vanity 6 after the group's debut release and signed with Motown Records in 1984, under which she released two solo records, Wild Animal and Skin on Skin.

Friday Night Throwback: Bobby Caldwell - "What You Won’t Do For Love"

Bobby Caldwell, a white blue-eyed soul-styled/jazz singer and songwriter from New York, scored a hit in 1978 with "What You Won't Do For Love" from his eponymous debut album. The song, which featured Caldwell's bittersweet yet buttery vocal tones over an Alfons Kettner-penned and Ann Holloway-produced track, took radio by storm and became an immediate hit (despite his record company's attempt, at first, to hide Caldwell's identity for fear of turning off Black audiences). "What You Won’t Do For Love", which has been sampled from everyone from Aaliyah (“Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number") to Mary J. Blige (Love No Limit") to Tupac Shakur ('Do For Love"), hit No. 6 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles Chart, scored No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains Caldwell's most successful single to date.

Friday Night Throwback: Shabba Ranks ft. Krystal - "Twice My Age"

Although not a huge hit on the charts, legendary dancehall king Shabba Ranks' 1988 single "Twice My Age" was till on steady replay at clubs, house parties and barbecue's on the east coast (esp. New York) throughout the late 80's and early 90's. The dance-friendly track, guest-starring singer Krystal, was taken from Shabba's 1st studio album Rappin' with the Ladies and later added to his 8th album Rough and Ready Volume 2 as well as numerous other compilations due to its increased popularity.

Friday Night Throwback: Earth, Wind & Fire - "September"

In light of the recent passing of Earth, Wind & Fire's founder Maurice White, this week's Friday Night Throwback is dedicated the funk/soul band, which was founded by White in Chicago of 1969. Written by White, along with songwriters Al McKay and Allee Willis, the happy-sounding "September" (produced by White) would not only become one of the group's most popular songs, but gained notoriety as a go-to tune at wedding receptions everywhere. With White on the lead "September" was recorded during the I Am sessions and released as a single in 1978. Featured on the band's album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, "September" reached number one on the US R&B chart, number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the UK singles chart.

Friday Night Throwback: Toni Braxton - "Love Shoulda Brought You Home"

The 4th single released from the magnificent Boomerang soundtrack, Toni Braxton's 1st solo venture, 1992's "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", became an instant hit. The song, which was first submitted to Anita Baker (due to her impending pregnancy, she had to decline), was written by Babyface along with songwriter Daryl Simmons and Bo Watson. "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" served as the follow-up to Braxton's summer smash duet with Babyface, "Give U My Heart". The title is a direct line from the film, which saw Halle Berry's character, Angela Lewis, confront her man, Marcus Graham (Eddie Murphy), after he spent the night with another woman: "Love should've brought your ass home last night." Produced by Babyface, L.A. Reid and Simmons, seven months after its release, the song was included on Braxton's 1993 debut album, Toni Braxton.

Friday Night Throwback: Thelma Houston - "Don't Leave Me This Way"

R&B, soul, disco and gospel singer Thelma Houston scored a No. 1 for a week in 1977 with the Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert written (Gamble & Huff-produced) "Don't Leave Me This Way". Originally a huge hit for Philly soul stars Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, with the intention of being passed on to Diana Ross by Motown execs who claimed ownership of the song in 1976, rising star Houston was selected to cover the song instead for her third album Any Way You Like It. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was the lone big hit for the disco diva from Mississippi, topping the pop, R&B, and dance charts in early 1977 and winning Houston the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammy's for 1977.

Friday Night Throwback: Joe Tex - "I Gotcha"

Former country singer turned R&B artist Joe Tex recorded his hit single, the ridiculously funky "I Gotcha" in the late 1960's, but didn't release it until 1971 because he was unsatisfied with the initial recording. The single, which was originally intended to be recorded by New Orleans singer King Floyd, was the first single off Tex's 1972 album also titled I Gotcha. An angry song that dealt with the touchy subject matter of infidelity in Tex's own absolutely inimitable style, "I Gotcha" would result in Tex having his first major hit in five years. As "I Gotcha" eventually peaked at number one on the R&B chart, number two on the Pop chart for two weeks and would sell around three million copies.

Friday Night Throwback: Bobby "Blue" Bland - "Little Boy Blue"

Originally from Tennessee, a former cohort of B.B. King, a member of the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame as well as a major player in the late 50's to 60's transition from R&B to soul, Bobby "Blue" Bland aka the "Sinatra of the Blues", scored a major hit with 1958's "Little Boy Blues" from his classic album Two Steps from the Blues. The single, a catharsis of blues polemics and gospel squalls, epitomized the era's blues influence on Southern soul.

Friday Night Throwback: New Edition - "Cool It Now"

Written and produced by songwriters Vincent Brantley and Rick Timas and known for being one of the first commercial R&B hits to feature a rap interlude, New Edition's 1984 single "Cool It Now" was a huge hit on both the R&B and pop charts. With Ralph Tresvant on lead singing about wanting to let himself fall in love despite his friends telling him to "cool it now", the first single from their eponymous second album, New Edition, became the group's first top 10 pop single, peaking at number four on the pop chart as well as becoming their second number one R&B hit.

Friday Night Throwback: Teddy Pendergrass - "Close The Door"

Former Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes lead singer Teddy Pendergrass, aka "The Black Elvis Presley", scored one of his 5 Grammy nominations with the 1978 ballad "Close The Door", the first single from his second solo album Life Is a Song Worth Singing. Produced and written by the legendary team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the passionate "Close The Door" spent two weeks at number one on the R&B chart and peaked at number twenty-five on the Billboard Hot 100.

Friday Night Throwback: Roberta Flack - "Feel Like Makin' Love"

The voice behind a string of early-'70s hits (including the classic "Killing Me Softly with His Song"), Roberta Flack scored her third #1 hit with the 1974 single "Feel Like Makin' Love". Written by legendary singer/songwriter Eugene McDaniels and produced by Flack herself, "Feel Like Makin' Love" was released nine months before the album of the same title. The sultry, yet jazzy tune would spend five weeks at #1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and two weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts of both Canada and the U.S.