DESCRIPTION:
Uptown Festival is the first album credited to American R&B group Shalamar, released in 1977 on the Soul Train label. (The album was in fact recorded by session singers which included lead singer Gary Mumford). Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble with the singers that they are accompanying and they often do not achieve individual fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders. However, some backing bands of session musicians have become well known (e.g., The Wrecking Crew). Jody Watley & Jeffrey Daniels are not featured on this album.

Uptown Festival peaked at #22 on the US R&B chart and #48 on the Billboard Albums chart. It consisted of songs "Uptown Festival" ("Going to a Go-Go" / "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" / "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" / "Stop! In the Name of Love" / "It's the Same Old Song" / "The Tears of a Clown" / "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" / "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" / "Baby Love" / "He Was Really Saying Somethin'")

The title track, a medley of ten Motown classics sung over a 1970s disco beat, was a hit in both the USA and the UK.

Shalamar is an American music group, active in the 1970s and 1980s, that was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator Don Cornelius. They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius. As noted in the British Hit Singles & Albums, they were regarded as fashion icons and trendsetters, and helped to introduce 'body-popping' to the United Kingdom. Their collective name 'Shalamar' was picked by Griffey.

Going to a go-go
Going to a go-go

Na, Na, Na, Na, Yea Yea
Well, there's a brand new place I found
Where people come from miles around
They come from every world and if you drop in there
You might see anyone in town

Going to a go-go Everybody
Going to a go-go Come on now
Don't you wanna go, yeah

Oh, sugar pie, honey bunch
You know that I love you
Oh, I can't help myself
I love you and nobody else

Oh, you're in and out my life
You come and you go
Leavin just your picture behind
And I've kissed it one thousand times, hey, hey, hey, hey

Baby, everything is alright
Uptight, out of sight
Baby, everything is alright
Uptight, out of sight

Stop in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop in the name of love
Before you break my heart

Think it over
Oh, think it over

I tried so hard to be patient
Hopin you'd stop this infatuation
But each time you are together
I'm so afraid of losing you forever... stop

You're sweet as a honey bee
But like a honey bee stings you've gone and left my heart in dreams
All you left is our favorite song
The one we danced to all night long

You used to bring sweet memories
Of a tender love that used to be

Now it's the same old song
But with a different meaning since you've been gone
Same old song
But with a different meaning since you've been gone

I Love you, oh, baby

Oh yea now if there's a smile upon my face
it's only there trying to fool the public;
but when it comes down to fooling you,
now honey that's quite a diff'rent subject.
Don't let my glad expression
give you the wrong impression; really I'm sad,
Oh, sadder than sad, you're gone and I'm hurting so bad,
like a clown I pretend to be glad.

Oh yea, now there's some sad things known to man
but ain't too much sadder than
the tears of a clown, when there's no one around.
Oh yeah, baby,

The love bug done bit me,
Didn't mean for him to get me,
Woo, get up in the morning
And I'm filled with desire,
No, no, I can't stop the fire,
Love is real live wire,
Oo, it's a burning sensation,
Far beyond imagination.

Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart, tearing it all apart,
Just an itching in my heart,
And, baby, I can't scratch it.

This old heart of mine been broke a thousand times.
Each time you break away, I fear you've gone to stay.
Lonely nights that come, memories that flow, bringing you back again,
Hurting me more and more.

Maybe it's my mistake to show this love I feel inside;
'Cause each day that passes by you got me
Never knowing if I'm coming or going, but I, I love you.
This old heart darling, is weak for you.
I love you, yes, I do, yes I do

Baby love, my baby love, I need you oh how I need you.
All you do is treat me bad,
Break my heart and leave me sad,
Tell me what did I do wrong to make you stay away so long
Baby love, my baby love, been missing ya, oh kissing ya.
Instead of breaking up,
Let's do some kissing and making up,
Don't throw our love away.
In my arms why don't you stay

Ooh yea walkin' down the street
When this boy started followin' me
No, I don't know all the things he said
He moved me in every way

With his car run back
And by my side he was drivin'

Hey yea really sayin' somethin'
He was really sayin' somethin' Oh