The B-Funk
Encyclopedia
The B-Funk is the 1995 debut album by British soul
singer Beverley Knight
.
. It received wide critical acclaim by the urban media in Britain with Echoes magazine labelling it "the best British soul album ever" and Billboard
magazine stated that "this lady is on her way to becoming an international star". The album was also named Album of the Year by Blues & Soul in 1996 and the project helped Knight win R&B Act of the Year at the 1996 Black Music Awards in London
.
However, the commercial success of the album did not match its critical acclaim, peaking at #145 on the UK albums chart. In total, six singles were released from the album (including two releases of "Flavour of the Old School
" and a limited edition international release of "Cast All Your Cares").
The album includes two compositions by the German hit producer team Klarmann/Weber
, who had previously scored a US No. 1 hit with Chaka Khan
's "Love You All My Lifetime" and who also contributed hits for US sibling LaToya Jackson, German pop star Jamie Stevens and Australia's hit sensation Vanessa Amorosi
.
The album was the only LP released by Knight on Dome Records. After creative differences with the label, Beverley decided to leave and sign a new contract with Parlophone Records
in 1997. To capitalise on Knight's increased success at the label, Dome have subsequently re-released The B-Funk several times—the first being on 31 May 1999, after Knight won two big awards at the MOBO
Awards, and then again on 8 May 2006, after the top 10 success of her hits collection, Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight
. On both occasions, the album was re-released with bonus remixes of the singles.
In 1999, Dome Records released a special edition of the album with a bonus remix disc, designed to capitalise on Knight's increased profile after her success at the 1999 MOBO
Awards with her second album, Prodigal Sista
, on Parlophone
Records:
In 2006, Dome Records released another edition of the album which featured the original track listing together with the Club Remix of "Flavour of the Old School
" and the Ethnic Boyz Remix of "Moving on Up (On the Right Side)
".
Footnotes:
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date...
.
History
The album was released released in November, 1995, on independent record label Dome RecordsDome Records
Dome Records is a British record label, which has existed since 1992, specializing in soul and rhythm and blues music.-History:The label, also known as Dôme Records, was formed in 1992, and has consistently been voted as the United Kingdom's leading black music label, by readers of Blues & Soul...
. It received wide critical acclaim by the urban media in Britain with Echoes magazine labelling it "the best British soul album ever" and Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine stated that "this lady is on her way to becoming an international star". The album was also named Album of the Year by Blues & Soul in 1996 and the project helped Knight win R&B Act of the Year at the 1996 Black Music Awards in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
However, the commercial success of the album did not match its critical acclaim, peaking at #145 on the UK albums chart. In total, six singles were released from the album (including two releases of "Flavour of the Old School
Flavour of the Old School
"Flavour of the Old School" is a song by British soul singer Beverley Knight, released as her debut single. The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing...
" and a limited edition international release of "Cast All Your Cares").
The album includes two compositions by the German hit producer team Klarmann/Weber
Klarmann/Weber
Klarmann/Weber is a successful German producer and songwriter duo, consisting of Irmgard Klarmann and Felix Weber.The duo is composing and producing music since the late 70's. In the 80's Klarmann/Weber established their name in Germany as successful composers...
, who had previously scored a US No. 1 hit with Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's "Love You All My Lifetime" and who also contributed hits for US sibling LaToya Jackson, German pop star Jamie Stevens and Australia's hit sensation Vanessa Amorosi
Vanessa Amorosi
Vanessa Amorosi is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Her combined album and single sales have reached over 2 million worldwide.-Early life:...
.
The album was the only LP released by Knight on Dome Records. After creative differences with the label, Beverley decided to leave and sign a new contract with Parlophone Records
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
in 1997. To capitalise on Knight's increased success at the label, Dome have subsequently re-released The B-Funk several times—the first being on 31 May 1999, after Knight won two big awards at the MOBO
Mobo
Mobo can refer to:*Shorthand for the motherboard in computers and other electronic equipment*Shorthand for a mobile [network] operator or MNO *Shorthand for a mobile bohemian, a person who embraces mobile technology...
Awards, and then again on 8 May 2006, after the top 10 success of her hits collection, Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight
Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight
Voice – The Best of Beverley Knight is the first greatest hits album by English R&B-soul singer Beverley Knight, released in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2006 by Parlophone. The collection included twelve top forty singles, including the new track and single "Piece of My Heart"...
. On both occasions, the album was re-released with bonus remixes of the singles.
Track listing
- "The B-Funk"
- "Moving on Up (On the Right Side)Moving On Up (On The Right Side)"Moving On Up " is the fourth single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight, taken from her debut album The B-Funk. It was written by Westley and produced by The Ethnic Boyz. The song contains a sample of "You're Too Good To Me" by the soul musician Curtis Mayfield, which was also sampled...
" - "Mutual FeelingMutual Feeling"Mutual Feeling" is the fifth single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight. The track, which peaked at #124 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in 1996, did not have a promotional video made to accompany it and remains Knight's second lowest charting single to date in the UK,...
" - "Flavour of the Old SchoolFlavour of the Old School"Flavour of the Old School" is a song by British soul singer Beverley Knight, released as her debut single. The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing...
" - "Remedy"
- "Down for the OneDown for the One"Down for the One" is the second single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight. The track, which peaked at #55 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in August 1995, even though it received support from urban radio....
" - "Steppin' on my Shoes"
- "Promise you Forever"
- "It's Your Time"
- "So Happy"
- "Cast All Your Cares"
- "U've Got It"
- "In Time"
- "Goodbye Innocence"
In 1999, Dome Records released a special edition of the album with a bonus remix disc, designed to capitalise on Knight's increased profile after her success at the 1999 MOBO
Mobo
Mobo can refer to:*Shorthand for the motherboard in computers and other electronic equipment*Shorthand for a mobile [network] operator or MNO *Shorthand for a mobile bohemian, a person who embraces mobile technology...
Awards with her second album, Prodigal Sista
Prodigal Sista
Prodigal Sista is the second studio album by British soul singer, Beverley Knight released in August 1998. The album was the first to be released by Knight under her new contract with Parlophone Records, with whom she had signed a four album deal with in 1997 after leaving her previous label, Dome...
, on Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
Records:
- "Flavour Of The Old School" (Club Remix)
- "Down For The One" (2B3 Retro Mix)
- "Moving On Up (On The Right Side)" (Ethnic Boyz Remix)
- "Moving On Up (On The Right Side)" (Ee Bee's Rap Remix)
- "Mutual Feeling" (Monroe Remix)
- "Mutual Feeling" (D-Lux Remix)
In 2006, Dome Records released another edition of the album which featured the original track listing together with the Club Remix of "Flavour of the Old School
Flavour of the Old School
"Flavour of the Old School" is a song by British soul singer Beverley Knight, released as her debut single. The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing...
" and the Ethnic Boyz Remix of "Moving on Up (On the Right Side)
Moving On Up (On The Right Side)
"Moving On Up " is the fourth single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight, taken from her debut album The B-Funk. It was written by Westley and produced by The Ethnic Boyz. The song contains a sample of "You're Too Good To Me" by the soul musician Curtis Mayfield, which was also sampled...
".
Singles
- "Flavour of the Old SchoolFlavour of the Old School"Flavour of the Old School" is a song by British soul singer Beverley Knight, released as her debut single. The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing...
" - "Down for the OneDown for the One"Down for the One" is the second single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight. The track, which peaked at #55 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in August 1995, even though it received support from urban radio....
" - "Flavour of the Old SchoolFlavour of the Old School"Flavour of the Old School" is a song by British soul singer Beverley Knight, released as her debut single. The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing...
" (Re-release)* - "Moving on Up (On the Right Side)Moving On Up (On The Right Side)"Moving On Up " is the fourth single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight, taken from her debut album The B-Funk. It was written by Westley and produced by The Ethnic Boyz. The song contains a sample of "You're Too Good To Me" by the soul musician Curtis Mayfield, which was also sampled...
"^ - "Mutual FeelingMutual Feeling"Mutual Feeling" is the fifth single released by British soul singer, Beverley Knight. The track, which peaked at #124 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in 1996, did not have a promotional video made to accompany it and remains Knight's second lowest charting single to date in the UK,...
"^ - "Cast All Your CaresCast all your CaresCast All Your Cares was the last single released off Beverley Knight's debut album, The B-Funk. The song was not released as a single in the UK and only received a very limited release in Europe, becoming something of a rarety. The single, like most of The B-Funk era singles did not have a...
"^
Footnotes:
- ^ indicates that no promotional video was made for the release
- * indicates that a new promotional video was created for the release