Sunday, August 2, 2009

Playlist: The other black guy named Skip

All that mess with Henry Louis Gates made me think about another black man widely known as “Skip.” Songwriter Skip Scarborough.

He wrote some nice hits back in the ’70s and ’80s, such as “Lovely Day,” L.T.D.’s “Love Ballad,” and Anita Baker’s biggest single – “Giving You the Best That I Got.”

Clarence “Skip” Scarborough died six years ago at the age of 58. His widow, the singer Alton McClain Scarborough, had a few minor R&B hits 30 years ago. Now she records gospel music.

Let’s spin some of my favorite Skip Scarborough tunes, why don’t we? Click these titles to stream the music on my Vox blog:

1. “You Can’t Hide Love” – Creative Source

2. “Love Changes” – Mother’s Finest

3. “Love or Let Me Be Lonely” – The Friends of Distinction

4. “Walking the Line” – The Emotions

5. “Lovely Day” – Diana Ross

6. “Would You Mind” – Earth, Wind & Fire

(This is the demo version of “Love’s Holiday.”)

13 comments:

bklyn6 said...

I didn't realize that Diana Ross did "Lovely Day". I purchased a Bill Withers's comp specifically for that song. I have a Ross box set. I need to check if this song is on it.

Hey, I remember Alton McClain & Destiny. But, I'd never heard of Skip Scarborough.

Undercover Black Man said...

^ That Ross cut is off her 2007 album, "I Love You."

ronnie brown said...

one of my greatest joys of the album era was scanning the back of the album cover to see the names of backing vocalists, studio musicians and the producer...Skip Scarborough was one of the best...

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Yep.

HIM said...

Lovely Day by Bill Withers! That was the first song played at my wedding reception back in 99. Got the entire floor packed!

UBM, I respect your knowledge of music.....who has held a note on an R&B record longer than Bill did on that one ?

Michael Murray said...

great post... you had me at love ballad.. How did you get that can't hide love demo track. I think I might like it better than the album version.

Undercover Black Man said...

DRE: Thanks for that.

Michael: In 1999, Sony re-issued some prime EWF albums with extra tracks.

You can cop "Would You Mind" from Amazon... BAM.

Kellybelle said...

Whoa, this man seriously wrote the slow jam mixtape! Thanks.

Harlepolis said...

UBM, can you post the MP3 for Love's Holiday demo please?

bklyn6 said...

UBM, please answer DRE question re: the longest note. I have a hunch, but he asked you. :-)

Undercover Black Man said...

UBM, can you post the MP3 for Love's Holiday demo please?

Harlepolis: I don't know how to do that. But the "Would You Mind" track is widely available... not just from Amazon, but eMusic and iTunes as well.

Undercover Black Man said...

UBM, please answer DRE question re: the longest note. I have a hunch, but he asked you. :-)

I thought DRE was asking a rhetorical question. But if you know of a longer-held note, bklyn6, do tell.

bklyn6 said...

^I don't know if this is the longest, but when I think of one of the longest held notes, "Stay in My Corner" by the Dells always comes to mind. The note is "stay." I think it happens towards the end of the song.