Keni Burke – Keni Burke (1977/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Keni Burke - Keni Burke (1977/2022) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz] Download

Keni Burke – Keni Burke (1977/2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 35:04 minutes | 423 MB | Genre: Soul
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © BMG Rights Management (US) LLC

Keni Burke is the debut solo album by former Five Stairsteps member Keni Burke. Released in 1977, on George Harrison’s Dark Horse Records label. “Shuffle” and “Day”, were released as singles in the US, with “From Me to You” and “Keep On Singing” as B-sides, respectively. The sleeve states: “Special thanks to George Harrison and Dennis Morgan for making this album possible.”
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Keni Burke – You’re the Best (Expanded) (1982/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Keni Burke – You’re the Best (Expanded) (1982/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:00:55 minutes | 1,31 GB | Genre: Funk, Soul, R&B, Disco
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Legacy Recordings

Keni Burke is the youngest of the original Five Stairsteps and the only one still seriously involved in music. You’re the Best, a fine effort, never reached first base. RCA pushed “Let Somebody Love You” and the title track, but neglected tracks like the chugging, stop-and-go “Night Riders,” pumped by spirited backing vocals, and “Gotta Find My Way Back to Your Heart,” a dramatic ballad that Burke composed with Bill Withers. “Never Stop Loving Me,” a Burke/Curtis Mayfield composition, has the same texture and sweetness of a Mayfield solo, while “Paintings of Love” is pure, unbridled Burke, sung in a soft, introspective voice that gels with the poetic lyrics.

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Keni Burke – Changes (Expanded) (1981/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Keni Burke – Changes (Expanded) (1981/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 50:45 minutes | 1,09 GB | Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk, Disco
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Legacy Recordings

Pristinely recorded at Philadelphia’s legendary Sigma Sound Studios and initially issued in April 1982, Keni Burke’s second RCA LP, Changes, yielded the classic “Risin’ to the Top.” A favorite among both the steppers and hip-hop crowd, it was written by Burke, Allan Felder, and former Chic member Norma Jean Wright. It’s on numerous compilations including Rhino’s Smooth Grooves After Hours issued in January 2000. The track has been sampled by numerous artists including Mary J. Blige (“Love No Limit”) and Doug E. Fresh (“Keep Risin’ to the Top”) .Other highlights are the crucially chuggin’ “Shakin’,” the mid-tempo ballad “One Minute More” (another steppers favorite), and the sparse, floating sl-o-o-w jam “Who Do You Love.” Burke, keyboardist Dean Gant, and former Average White Band drummer Steve Ferrone were quite a rhythm section. Changes was issued on CD by RCA/BMG with two bonus tracks from You’re the Best and reissued by BMG Japan on both CD and vinyl in 1995. Burke’s next album was 1998’s Nothing but Love. ~ Review by Ed Hogan

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