S.O.L.A.R. Records (acronym for Sound of Los Angeles Records) was an American record label founded in 1977 by Dick Griffey, reconstituted out of Soul Train Records only two years after it was founded with Soul Train television show host and creator Don Cornelius. After the success of a few singles and albums on the Soul Train imprint, Griffey and Cornelius decided (amicably) to shut it down as Cornelius wanted to focus his energies on the television show, which was a monster hit and required his full attention to keep it so.
Legalities now taken care of, Griffey reorganized Soul Train Records and folded the company into the newly-founded SOLAR label in late 1977, which quickly became one of the most important disco, R&B, and dance music imprints of the late 1970s and 1980s. It even spawned a subsidiary label, Constellation Records, which had some success spinning off its parent's successes.
Griffey and Cornelius remained good friends, and as a result, SOLAR maintained close ties to the Soul Train show. In 1975, when Soul Train Records was founded, Griffey formed a collective called Shalamar—using a host of session singers to record "Uptown Festival," which was a disco-length medley of early Motown hits. After scoring a hit with the recording, he looked to Cornelius to help him put together an actual group to maintain the impact. In 1977, Soul Train dancers Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel and Gerald Brown (who was eventually replaced by Howard Hewett) were recruited to form the new Shalamar, which would become the fledgling label's centerpiece. Shalamar became one of the label's best selling and most influential acts; scoring nearly 20 hit singles and classics such as: "Right in the Socket", "The Second Time Around", "Make That Move", "A Night to Remember (Get Ready Tonight)" and "This Is For The Lover In You". SOLAR's signature act above all was The Whispers, whose distinct harmonies and carefully-detailed musical and vocal arrangements defined and emphasized the "SOLAR sound". The Whispers, who began in 1964, were famous for being Soul Train/SOLAR artists, as all of their biggest hits came from the label, including "As The Beat Goes On", "It's A Love Thing", "Chocolate Girl", "Lady", and "Rock Steady" among others.
The SOLAR success story was by no means confined to these two acts, as the label was also known for several others who enjoyed success, including: Dynasty, Lakeside, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, Calloway, Carrie Lucas, Collage and the The Deele — which introduced singer/songwriter/producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and future music executive Antonio "L.A." Reid. Griffey had always believed in giving new talents the opportunity to create and develop their craft, and he was the first to recognize songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Reggie and Vincent Calloway, and Leon F. Sylvers III. The "SOLAR sound" was a collective effort, with artists working on each other's sessions and artists encouraged to be creative. Sylvers was the main producer behind the trademark SOLAR sound: funky, progressive dance music infused with soul and disco.
TRACKLISTING:
Disc 1 of 2
A Night To Remember 7:20 Shalamar 1982
And The Beat Goes On 7:35 The Whispers 1979
Dance With You 6:31 Carrie Lucas 1979
Fantastic Voyage 6:09 Lakeside 1980
Operator 7:46 Midnight Star 1984
I Don't Want To Be A Freak (But I Can't Help Myself) 7:14 The Dynasty 1979
Take It To The Top 4:26 The Sylvers 1980
Take That To The Bank (12" Mix) 6:14 Shalamar 1979
It's A Love Thing 5:08 The Whispers 1980
Midas Touch 6:37 Midnight Star 1986
Groove Control 4:52 The Dynasty 1980
There It Is 6:22 Shalamar 1982
Disc 2 of 2
Shalmar / The Second Time Around 7:08 Shalmar 1979
The Whispers / In The Raw 5:47 The Whispers 1981
Lakeside / It's All The Way Live 7:04 Lakeside 1980
Midnight Star / Wet My Whistle 5:50 Midnight Star 1983
Dynasty / I've Just Begun To Love You 6:22 Dynasty 1980
Shalamar / I Can Make You Feel Good 4:21 Shalamar 1982
The Sylvers / Come Back Lover, Come Back 5:02 The Sylvers 1981
The Whispers / Rock Steady 5:10 The Whispers 1987
Dynasty / Does That Ring A Bell 4:05 Dynasty 1982
Carrie Lucas / I Gotta Keep Dancin' (Keep Smiling) 7:34 Carrie Lucas 1977
Lakeside / Raid 6:52 Lakeside 1983
Shalamar / I Owe You One 5:06 Shalamar 1980
Soul Train Gang / Soul Train '75 5:11 The Soul Train Gang 1975
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