Reflecting on the vibrant history of '70s and '80s dance music, not every artist or release can fill a full episode of the Twelve Inch Newsletter. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve their share of TLC, if only for the album artwork alone. So, starting this week, I’m launching a new series “Discover the Album Cover” alongside the weekly newsletter to spotlight a track, artist, or release featured in my Monday Mixcloud mix. This week’s mix is titled "You Are Beautiful," Yes I just gave you a compliment but it’s also the title of a Chic hit from 1983.. 1.5 hours of pure, unfiltered early '80s US funk, featuring the Dazz Band, Jeffrey Osborne, Change, Slave, and… Fonzi Thornton. Fonzi who ?
Fonzi Thornton is one of those phenomenally talented session singers who provided background vocals on countless key records, yet remains relatively unknown—unless you’re a freak (those people that actually read the liner notes). Born in East Harlem, NYC, Fonzi joined various bands early on and was childhood friends with Luther Vandross. In the late 1970s, he was recruited by producers Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers to become a part of the Chic organization, where he performed as a male vocalist on six albums and national tours. His voice is featured on many of Chic's original hits, including “Good Times” and “My Forbidden Lover.”
That’s how I discovered him (yes, I’m one of those freaks). When Fonzi released his debut solo album The Leader in 1984, I didn’t hesitate to grab an expensive US import, eager to get my hands on it before everyone else. By then, Chic had disbanded, and I was hopeful Fonzi would be the next big thing. Unfortunately, he didn’t break out, but I loved the album, especially the title track. The entire Chic family contributed to the record, and you can clearly hear their influence on The Leader. Fonzi later released a second album on RCA, but it too flew under the radar. However, his session work was a different story. His collaborations are impressive, spanning from Mariah Carey to Steely Dan, Bryan Ferry, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Celine Dion—to name just a few. You get the idea.
So go ahead, check out the mix. “The Leader” is right there in the middle—followed by one of the funky gems from France Joli's 1981 album!
This week’s album cover is fairly standard, but get ready for some next-level silliness as we dive deeper into the disco era. Stay tuned!
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Discover The Album Cover : Fonzi Thornton
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Reflecting on the vibrant history of '70s and '80s dance music, not every artist or release can fill a full episode of the Twelve Inch Newsletter. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve their share of TLC, if only for the album artwork alone. So, starting this week, I’m launching a new series “Discover the Album Cover” alongside the weekly newsletter to spotlight a track, artist, or release featured in my Monday Mixcloud mix. This week’s mix is titled "You Are Beautiful," Yes I just gave you a compliment but it’s also the title of a Chic hit from 1983.. 1.5 hours of pure, unfiltered early '80s US funk, featuring the Dazz Band, Jeffrey Osborne, Change, Slave, and… Fonzi Thornton. Fonzi who ?
Fonzi Thornton is one of those phenomenally talented session singers who provided background vocals on countless key records, yet remains relatively unknown—unless you’re a freak (those people that actually read the liner notes). Born in East Harlem, NYC, Fonzi joined various bands early on and was childhood friends with Luther Vandross. In the late 1970s, he was recruited by producers Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers to become a part of the Chic organization, where he performed as a male vocalist on six albums and national tours. His voice is featured on many of Chic's original hits, including “Good Times” and “My Forbidden Lover.”
That’s how I discovered him (yes, I’m one of those freaks). When Fonzi released his debut solo album The Leader in 1984, I didn’t hesitate to grab an expensive US import, eager to get my hands on it before everyone else. By then, Chic had disbanded, and I was hopeful Fonzi would be the next big thing. Unfortunately, he didn’t break out, but I loved the album, especially the title track. The entire Chic family contributed to the record, and you can clearly hear their influence on The Leader. Fonzi later released a second album on RCA, but it too flew under the radar. However, his session work was a different story. His collaborations are impressive, spanning from Mariah Carey to Steely Dan, Bryan Ferry, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Celine Dion—to name just a few. You get the idea.
So go ahead, check out the mix. “The Leader” is right there in the middle—followed by one of the funky gems from France Joli's 1981 album!
This week’s album cover is fairly standard, but get ready for some next-level silliness as we dive deeper into the disco era. Stay tuned!