A Black History Month Song of the Day - Be Without You (Remix) - Mary J Blige

Let me see you put your hands up...

The history of black music would not be complete without the sounds of the Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Mary J. Blige has been kicking it for years now and this very talented lady has grown in leaps and bounds since her early days of down home funk.  Yes, from her monumental debut, What's the 411?, to 2014's mature The London Sessions, Ms. MJB has a deep and varied catalog.  Oh, it was hard to choose just one song to post here today, but when it got down to it, I picked one of her greatest dance/club hits, of course, a remix of a stellar ballad from her 2005 The Breakthrough set, which represents something she added to her repertoire as a dance singer with the great remix of No More Drama in 2001.  Here's the hot hot remix of Be Without You...

90's Summer Jams Song of the Day - Step By Step - Whitney Houston (Junior Vasquez Remix)

Here's one of the lesser known Whitney Houston jams.  The song is called Step By Step and it's from the 1997 soundtrack to the film The Preacher's Wife.  The tune was originally written and recorded by diva Annie Lennox, and Houston's version was the brightest spot on the soundtrack.  It's gospel-infused, of course, and Lennox, who provided background vocals on the chorus here, has the perfect voice to match that theme.  While the original is inspirational and pleasant, this remix by Junior Vasquez takes it up a notch higher to fit the dance floor setting and gives it that summer jam feel that we've been highlighting all week.  So click play below and check out Whitney's Step By Step... 

90's Summer Jams Song of the Day - I'm Leaving - Lisa Stansfield (Hex Hector Remix)

You shouldn't have done me babe

Now watch what I do to you

Baby I'm Leavin' I'm Leavin' I'm Leavin'

Leavin' you

Ooh, here's an all time favorite!  I tell ya, this 1997 tune is great without the dance beats thrown in, but Hex Hector worked such magic with Lisa Stansfield's wonderful vocals I'm still listening, and singing along, on a regular basis.  Love the lyrics, love the vocals, love the beats...a perfect song! Whatever happened to Lisa Stansfield anyway?  Ah well, maybe I'll try and find out...in the meantime, click play and get groovealicious....