Al Jarreau Breakin' Away

Sitting here listening to the Al Jarreau album "Breakin' Away." I remember the first time I ever heard Al Jarreau I was in college watching the movie Night Shift. There was a song during a montage from the movie where Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton are really pulling in the dough from their whore house. The song was Girls Know How by Uncle Al and it was straight beast. It was definitely 80's funk and soul so it had a cheesiness to it but regardless it was beast!! I ended up watching the end credits to find out who sung that song and when I saw that it was Al Jarreau, I immediately downloaded it and from that point on was hooked on Jarreau. You can imagine my excitement when I watched yet another 80's classic a few years later called Hot Dog: The Movie and yet again heard another Al Jarreau song titled "I Will Be Here For You" and the obsession continued. That song was very filthy in that 80's R&B way it was playing during a scene which consisted of lots of nudity, champagne and silk (which go well with Jarreau). Then of course Seth Rogen had to go and make fun of not only Mr. Jarreau but also Steely Dan in the mediocre Knocked Up. I still haven't forgiven Seth Rogen for that. But anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. The fact of the matter is Al Jarreau is beast. When I started collecting records, I fell into some Al Jarreau records early on thanks to some friends of mine who were getting rid of their vinyl and had some Al Jarreau which I more than happily accepted. After listening to those records and revisiting the Jarreau songs that initally sparked my interest, I have come to the conclusion that if Michael McDonald is Yacht Rock then Al Jarreau is Yacht Funk. I mean come on, look at the guy...



I think Al Jarreau is the first black R&B Singer who wanted to be white. I am listening to a song right now called Roof Garden. Really Al? You spent a lot of time on Roof Gardens? Maybe it should be called Garden Funk.