Tom Browne: Brother, Brother - The GRP / Arista Anthology, 2CD Edition

•    Superb anthology by renowned trumpeter, musician and songwriter Tom Browne, covering his five-year tenure (1979-1984), firstly with GRP Records then with Arista Records.

Tom grew up in a creatively-fertile environment among other budding musicians including drummer Omar Hakim, bassist Marcus Miller, keyboardist Bernard Wright, drummer Lenny White and songwriter/musician Lesette Wilson. After being courted by several labels, Tom opted to sign with the then- fledgling GRP label.

Following the critically-acclaimed ‘Browne Sugar’ LP, Tom experienced his biggest commercial breakthrough with 1980’s ‘Love Approach’ which included the massive global hit, the now-timeless funk groove, ‘Funkin’ For Jamaica (N.Y.)’, a No. 1 R&B US hit. This 29-track, 2-CD set also includes two 1991 remixes of the classic cut by the UK’s Driza Bone.

Tom’s third album, ‘Magic’ kept the momentum going with charted hits, ‘Let’s Dance’, ‘Thighs High (Grip Your Hips And Move)’ and ‘Fungi Mama/Bebopafunkadiscolypo’, are all featured here along with later hits, ‘Bye Gones’, ‘Rockin’ Radio’ (produced by Maurice Starr and Michael Jonzun), ‘Cruisin’’, and ‘Secret Fantasy’ (featuring Siedah Garrett).

With key cuts from each of his four GRP and two Arista albums, this stellar anthology is remastered by Donald Cleveland and includes notes by renowned US writer Kevin Goins with quotes from Tom himself, Marcus Miller and Lesette Wilson and comments by the late Larry Rosen.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE: FUNKIN’ FOR JAMAICA

1  I NEVER WAS A COWBOY

2  BROTHER, BROTHER

3  THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU

4  WHAT'S GOING ON

5  THROW DOWN

6  FUNKIN' FOR JAMAICA (N.Y.)

7  DREAMS OF LOVIN' YOU

8  HER SILENT SMILE

9  LET'S DANCE

10  MAGIC (12” VERSION)

11  I KNOW

12  MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE

13  THIGHS HIGH (GRIP YOUR HIPS AND MOVE)

14  FUNGI MAMA/ BEBOPAFUNKADISCOLYPSO

15  FUNKIN' FOR JAMAICA (1991 EXTENDED REMIX)

DISC TWO: BRIGHTER TOMORROW

1.   BYE GONES (EXTENDED REMIX)

2.   CHARISMA

3.   CAN’T GIVE IT AWAY

4.   COME FOR THE RIDE

5.   MY LATIN SKY

6.   A MESSAGE (PRIDE AND PITY)

7.   ROCKIN' RADIO

8.   CRUISIN'

9.   ANGELINE

10.  BRIGHTER TOMORROW

11.  MR. BUSINESS

12.  HIT MAN

13.  SECRET FANTASY (EXTENDED VERSION)

14.  FUNKIN' FOR JAMAICA (1991 JAM DUB MIX)