Breakwater (band)

Breakwater is an American funk band from Philadelphia. The band released two albums: Breakwater in 1978, and Splashdown in 1980. The latter features the song "Release the Beast", which was sampled for the Murs track "Intro" in the album Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition. "Release the Beast" was later sampled by Daft Punk for the song "Robot Rock", which appeared on the album Human After All.

Breakwater
OriginPhiladelphia, United States
GenresFunk, soul, R&B, funk rock
Years active1971–1980, 2010-present
LabelsArista
MembersGene Robinson
James Gee Jones
Lincoln 'Zay' Gilmore
Steve Green
Vince Garnell
Greg Scott
John 'Dutch' Braddock
Kae Williams Jr.

Background

The band, originally from Philadelphia was formed in 1971. The original members of Breakwater consisted of Gene Robinson, James Gee Jones, Lincoln 'Zay' Gilmore, Steve Green, Vince 'Garnel' Dutton, Greg Scott, John 'Dutch' Braddock, and Kae Williams, Jr. They were signed to the Arista label in 1978.[1] Their second album Splashdown, which was released in 1980 has been referred to by Tom Bowker of the Broward Palm Beach New Times as a funk masterpiece.[2]

Releases

In September, 1979, their single "You Know I Love You", written by Greg Scott, and produced by Rick Chertoff was a Billboard top single pick.[3]

For the week ending July 5, 1980, their album Splashdown at its 8th week in the Billboard charts had moved up from 35 to 34.[4] At its 13th week, it was sitting at 57, the position it was the previous week.[5]

Sound

The sound of Breakwater's music is normally that of slow jams, but they have been known to incorporate rock music and funk styles into their songs, much like their song titled "You". "Release the Beast" is best known by non-funk music fans, and the band's sound can be closer compared to that of Con Funk Shun or Earth, Wind & Fire.

Later years

On October 16, 2014, the eleven-piece band with four man horn section played Warmdaddy's on S Columbus Blvd in Philadelphia.[6] It has been announced that the band and fellow seventies act Pockets, an R&B funk band from Baltimore, will appear at London's Brooklyn Bowl on January 7, 2017.[7]

Discography
US singles
Title Release info Year Notes
"Work It Out" / "Feel Your Way" Arista AS 0404 1979
"No Limit" / "Feel Your Way" Arista AS 0424 1979
"You Know I Love You" / "Unnecessary Business" Arista AS 0457 1979
"Splashdown Time" / "Let Love In" Arista AS 0518 1980
"Say You Love Me Girl" / "Time" Arista AS 0542 1980
"Release the Beast" / "Time" Arista AS 0565 1980 [8]
US Albums
Title Release info Year F Notes
Breakwater Arista AB 4208 1978 LP
Splashdown Arista AB 4264 1980 LP
Breakwater Get On Down GET-51269 2010 CD [9]
Splashdown Get On Down GET-51268 2010 CD [10]
Breakwater / Splashdown Expansion EXP2CD 49 2016 CD Compilation[11]

References
  1. Soulwalking - breakwater
  2. Broward Palm Beach New Times, October 16, 2014 - Earth, Wind & Fire and Breakwater: A Tale of Two Funk Shows in Two Different Cities By Tom Bowker
  3. Billboard, September 22, 1979 - Page 71 Billboard's Top Single Picks
  4. Billboard, July 5, 1980 - Page 41 Billboard Soul LP's
  5. Billboard, August 9, 1980 - Page 18 Billboard Soul LP's
  6. Broward Palm Beach New Times, October 16, 2014 - Earth, Wind & Fire and Breakwater: A Tale of Two Funk Shows in Two Different Cities By Tom Bowker
  7. Brooklyn Bowl - Friday, 6 January 2017, Breakwater and The Pockets Archived 3 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  8. 45Cat - Breakwater - Discography
  9. Discogs - Breakwater – Breakwater
  10. Discogs - Breakwater – Splashdown
  11. Discogs - Breakwater Discography, Compilations
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