QUESTLOVE'S MUSIC IS HISTORY: THE ALBUM VERSION

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: March 28, 1975 Recorded: 1974 Label: United Artists Records Side 1 1. Interlude #1/I Don't Know 2. Superstar 3. (If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It* 4. Git It 5. What's Your World Side 2 1. Check It Out 2. Interlude #2 3. Jealous Love 4. It's All Over Now 5. Yes, Jesus Loves Me *- Questlove- "Rod Stewart gave this song the shaft by stealing its melody for "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" But Rod was smart about knowing exactly which part to elevate.  Years later the Roots did a version of Gershwin's "Summertime" with Bobby Womack, and he incorporated part of this and explained the lyrics, how they're about putting something on layaway until you can pay for it in full."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: June 5, 1984 Recorded: 1984 Label: Warner Bros. Records Side 1 1. The Belle of St. Mark 2. Shortberry Strawcake* 3. Noon Rendezvous Side 2 1. Oliver's House 2. Next Time Wipe the Lipstick Off Your Collar 3. The Glamorous Life *-Questlove- "Prince breezed through this instrumental in maybe forty-five minutes.  As much as his DNA is all over this song, I can't imagine this being on a Prince album or a B-Side.  However, on Sheila's album this is damn near a funk miracle."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: July 1978 Recorded: 1978 Label: United Artists Records Side 1 1. Youngblood (Livin' in the Streets) 2. Sing a Happy Song* 3. Keep On Doin' 4. The Kingsmen Sign 5. Walking to War Side 2 1. This Funky Music Makes You Feel Good 2. Junk Yard 3. Superdude 4. Youngblood & Sybil 5. Flying Machine (The Chase) 6. Searching For Youngblood & Rommel 7. Youngblood (Livin' in the Streets)- Reprise *- Questlove- "Think of the irony of the whole presentation: a band called War singing "Sing a Happy Song" on a soundtrack called Youngblood .  This song was brought to my attention as a Brand Nubian sample.  After I saw Fishbone do a Sunday morning show just for kids, I started a three-month quest to find what songs could work with kids today without pandering to them.  This is definitely in my top five."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: May 22, 1980 Recorded: December 1979-March 1980 Label: Motown Records Side 1 1. Upside Down 2. Tenderness 3. Friend To Friend 4. I'm Coming Out Side 2 1. Have Fun (Again) 2. My Old Piano* 3. Now That You're Gone 4. Give Up *- Questlove- "I'm probably the only listener of this song who doesn't see this as "Diana's Chic song," even though they are all over her entire album.  She's way more present in it than people think.  Another rare example of Rodger's masterful rhythm ax getting upstaged (this time by Bernard Edward's basswork)."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: March 16, 1980 Recorded: November 1979-February 1980 Label: Cotillion Records Side 1 1. Got To Love Somebody 2. You Fooled Around 3. I'm a Good Girl 4. Easy Street Side 2 1. Reach Your Peak* 2. Pretty Baby 3. How To Love 4. Let's Go On Vacation *- Questlove- "It's really hard to capture an understated compelling keyboard performance, especially in the post-disco period.  On songs like this, I immediately tune in to Raymond Jones's funky keyboard work in the chorus instead of what Nile Rodgers's guitar is doing.  Which is an achievement in itself."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: May 2, 1982 Recorded: 1978-1982 Label: Mirage Records Side 1 1. Soup For One (By: Chic)* 2. Why (By: Carly Simon) 3. Dream Girl (By: Teddy Pendergrass) 4. I Work For a Livin' (By: Fonzi Thornton) Side 2 1. I Want Your Love (By: Chic) 2. Let's Go On Vacation (By: Sister Sledge) 3. Tavern On The Green (By: Chic) 4. Jump, Jump (By: Deborah Harry) *- Questlove- "Probably my all-time favorite Chic song and underrated because it's on a soundtrack.  It's the Chic song that I play to let my fellow nerds figure that I know the deep cuts.  Of course, the other nerds use it too."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: June 15, 1976 Recorded: 1976 Label: Motown Records Side 1 1. Let's Get Started 2. Girl, I Think The World About You*  3. High On Sunshine 4. Just To Be Close To You Side 2 1. Fancy Dancer 2. Come Inside 3. Thumpin' Music 4. Quick Draw 5. Can't Let You Tease Me *- Questlove- "There was a time period on albums by Black artists where the hits were the songs that didn't scare Middle America and the filler was showing off how good your report card was.  To me, the fillers were always more of an attraction."

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: November 1976 Recorded: 1976 Label: De-Lite Records Side A 1. Open Sesame 2. Gift Of Love 3. Little Children 4. All Night Long Side B 1. Whisper Softly* 2. Super Band 3. L-O-V-E- 4. Sunshine *- Questlove- "I study no band harder than Kool and the Gang.  And unlike James Brown, what was perceived as their down period (1975-1979) was in some cases even more adventurous.  All over this album, there are opportunities for them to show how smart they are without turning off the dumb jocks.  Khalis Bayyan told me about their battles with the label, and how in this case they took Coltrane's scale theory and applied it to a four-on-the-floor beat."   

Photos courtesy of Discogs Released: July 1962 Recorded: October 24, 1960 Label: Atlantic Records Side 1 1. Blues to Elvin 2. Blues to Bechet 3. Blues to You Side 2 1. Mr. Day 2. Mr. Syms 3. Mr. Knight* *- Questlove: "I know the world thinks mostly about A Love Supreme .  Even my radio show is named after it.  But this is my go-to Coltrane album.  Sometimes you want to touch down just before the moment of supreme genius, because it sets up the later story."

Photos courtesy of Discogs & vinyldistractions.com Released: September 8, 1986 Recorded: 1986 Label: Virgin/A&M Records Side 1 1. Money 2. Swang 3. Human 4. Jam 5. Are You Ever Coming Back? Side 2 1. I Need Your Loving* 2. Party 3. Love On The Run 4. The Real Thing 5. Love Is All That Matters *- Questlove- "I asked Jimmy Jam why he didn't save this song for Alexander O'Neal- he would have torn it out the frame.  He said that they had written "Fake" for O'Neal, and that this was practically the same song.  It remains one of their funkiest, and it's moderately okay, but the pop audience that leaned into Human League wasn't that deep into funk."