Happy Anniversary to one of my big classics “Don’t You Want Me”- one of my favorites!
・・・
Hot 100 Debut: 10/3/1987
Debut Position: 80
Peak Date: 12/19/1987
Hot 100 Peak Position: 6
Weeks on Chart: 23
Number 1 (Dance), Number 3 (R&B)
Written by Jody Watley, Franne Golde, David Bryant
Produced by Bernard Edwards
Remix Produced by Francois K.
Wattage!
Lesson learned: To be fearless, have faith and always believe in yourself. Be yourself – no matter who doubts you, doesn’t agree, doesn’t understand, wants to discourage you or your l choices. I didn’t quit Shalamar to go solo – I quit to be happy. The sudden passing of my father forever changed my view on living life. It’s best to the life you choose towards love, peace, respect with joy – inspiring others to do the same in the process, God blessed me for my choice and continues to in so many ways.
An ongoing career is not a curse to those who have implied “Best New Artist” is curses because a few in the category have faltered. I’ve always found that narrative insulting not to mention ridiculous. It’s a blessing.
The same is never said of recipients of Album, Song or Record of the Year, some never reach those pinnacles again but continue to work and be creative without the fanfare or accolades.
What I know is to date I have great success with an ongoing discography full of hit singles in various genres over many albums, have watched things I’ve done or worn become trends and open the door bridging music and style open for a new generation of female artists regardless of the lack of acknowledgement. “Friends” ft. Eric B and Rakim, as an example, and a hit from my second album is the first collaboration like that to become a Top 10 Crossover Hit Hot 100, R&B/Hip Hop and Dance – a formula that eventually had to be recognized with its own category and continues to dominate. “Friends” was not nominated however it’s significance in music and pop culture influence is indelible. In 2018 Billboard Magazine ranked me in the Greatest Dance Artists of All Time and in the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time for further clarity.
In my ongoing catalog songs that aren’t hits all represent an artist, songwriter, producer who happens to be a woman and black (the first to be marginalized generally) continues to write, record and release quality music on my own terms outside of the “machine” or conventional methods nor the assist of big time producers or executives using their clout to keep me afloat. Survived though a certain executive for a time was trying to have me ‘blackballed’ at black radio – my debut happened anyway despite his attempts because a higher power is always on my side, rather than a publicist on year round retainer to keep my name in the news, as some do. Thriving despite obstacles, traveling the world and better than ever with time is what’s real. It is frustrating at times to still not get the respect, however going to why I do what I do and always counting my blessings not woes or detractors. There are those who are still angered at my win for various reasons.
Over the years I’ve come to appreciate the meaning of success isn’t often what others see or view…status and big money, headlines, quantity of awards and so on are not it and aren’t what has driven or inspired me. Never thirsted for those things though of course though mad at any of those things, never about ‘playing the game’ to achieve any of it. Some of my music heroes and heroines never received a Grammy including Diana Ross with the exception of an honorary one. Ask Little Richard as well – the architect of Rock n Roll.
True success is maintaining your own self worth on your personal life journey which is unique to all of us – authenticity and living a life that brings you joy and joy to those you love is the greatest award and reward ..and to hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Presenting to MJ the night I won Best New Artist – surreal because I was such a fan and used to write him fan mail when he was in The Jackson 5.
2019 – Continuing to shine. Wattage!
“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”
Venerable Grammy Award Winning Artist, Style Icon and Trailblazer Jody Watley’s latest music triumph is her stunning jazz turn of the Bob Marley classic “Waiting In Vain.” Watley continues to delight and surprise – with decades of hits under her belt in various genres she broke new ground with a Top 10 in the Smooth Jazz field on the heels of being ranked as one of Billboard Magazines Greatest Dance Club Artists of All Time.
A truly timeless artist, songwriter and renaissance woman.
The venerable Grammy winning artist Jody Watley achieves another milestone as “Waiting In Vain” eases into the Top 10 after 11 weeks on the Smooth Jazz Network Charts with nearly 600 spins this week. Peaking at 25 on Billboard, Watley says “I do music for the love, and not charts especially at this point in my career..that said it’s nice to still be able to have new benchmarks of achievement and not simply rest on my past accomplishments.”
Available at digital outlets worldwide.
Billboard Airplay
KSBR-HD/Los Angeles, CA (Orange County)
WNWV/Cleveland, OH
WFSK/Nashville, TN
KUNV/Las Vegas, NV
WVAS/Montgomery, AL
Smooth Jazz Network (affiliates below)
WCLK/Atlanta, GA
WVST/Richmond, VA
WSBZ/Panama City, FL
WEIB/Springfield, MA
KJLU/Jefferson City, MO
Specialty Show Airplay
WWDM/Columbia, SC
CKSJ/St Johns, Canada
WAGH/Columbus, GA
KQXT/San Antonio, TX (Jazz show on A/C station)
WMJY/Biloxi, MS
WCLZ/Portland, ME
KBEM/Minneapolis, MN
WWDM/Columbia, SC
Smooth Jazz Airplay
WNAA/Greensboro, NC
KOKY/Little Rock, AR
TheVibeSmoothGrooveRadio.weebly.com
BlogTalkRadio.com
JazzBayRadio.com
WCHG/Hot Springs, VA
WOWE/Flint, MI
HTRJazzy.com
Smooth Jazz “In The Mix” Online Radio
SmoothJazzOnTheRocks.net
KYTE/Newport, OR
TheSourceSmoothJazzRadio.com
JazzMoodsRadio.com
RadioSeagull.com
StrawberryJazz.com
SmoothJazz905.com
WWUS/Key West, FL
KBEM/Minneapolis, MN
WSJRDBRadio.com
1000SmoothHits.de
TM Studios
Jazz-City.com
KCSW/Phoenix, AZ
SmoothJazzAndMore.com
Smooth Jazz Florida Plus HD
Love Smooth Jazz
Love Jazz Florida
Love Smooth Jazz Music
Smooth Jazz Mix New York
Smooth Jazz New York
Smooth Jazz NYC
Smooth Jazz Planet
Smooth Jazz Zone
A1 Smooth Jazz
Smooth Jazz Oasis
Smooth Jazz Smooth Wave
South Florida Smooth Jazz
Smooth Jazz Tampa Bay
Smooth Jazz CD101.9 New York
KKFI/Kansas City, MO
GrooveSuite.com
KRWV/Phoenix, AZ
CJazzChannel.com
WHCJ/Savannah, GA
WTCC/Springfield, MA
WRTC/Hartford, CT
WQTQ/Hartford, CT
AccuRadio.com (Smooth Jazz Chicago)
Smooth Grooves Radio/UK
SmoothJazzFlorida.com
SmoothJazz.com
WUSB/Long Island, NY
WJAB/Huntsville, AL
WSNC/Winston-Salem, NC
KUR/Reading, PA
KSHK/Kauai, HI
Smooth Jazz Network Airplay
iHeart Radio – Smooth Jazz Channel
WAEG-FM North Augusta, GA
WCHD-HD2 Dayton, OH
KWDR-FM Kennewick, WA
WKSC HD-2 Chicago, IL
KDXA HD-2 Des Moines, IO
KSOF HD-2 Fresno, CA
WSRW HD-2 Grand Rapids, MI
WMAG HD-2 Greensboro, NC
WLRQ HD-2 Melbourne, FL
WUBT-HD2 Nashville, TN
WMGF-HD2 Orlando, CA
KKCW HD-2 Portland, OR
WSNE HD-2 Providence, RI
WBTJ HD-2 Richmond, VA
KFBK-HD2 Sacramento, CA
KMJM HD-2 St. Louis, MO
KODJ HD-2 Salt Lake City, UT
KISC-HD2 Spokane, WA
COOL-FM Panama
KCCB-AM Corning, AR
WVSU-FM Birmingham, AL
KKLI-FM Colorado Springs, CO
WAJD-FM Gainesville, FL
WBHQ-FM Beverly Beach, FL
WSBZ-FM Walton Beach, FL
WUCR-FM Butler, FL
WCLZ-FM Portland, ME
WRMO-FM Bangor, ME
WHFC-FM Bel Air, MD
WLDR-FM Traverse City, MI
WVLY-FM Sundbury, PA
KQXT-FM San Antonio, TX
SmoothJazzFlorida.com
Smooth Jazz Florida Plus HD
Smooth Jazz Tampa Bay
Smooth Jazz Nox Miami
Smooth Jazz Tampa
Smooth Jazz Wave Boca Raton
Smooth Jazz CD101.9 New York
Smooth Jazz Mix New York
Radio Indigo Bangalore/Goa India 99.1
Aramco Saudi Arabia
CJCV-FM Winnipeg
Boracay Beach Radio – 97.3 FM Philippines
Smooth Jazz Top 20 Show Airplay
iHeart Radio – Smooth Jazz Channel
CD101.9 New York
KCCB 1260AM Corning, AR
KDXA HD-2 Des Moines
KKCW HD-2 Portland
KKLI 106.3 FM Colorado Springs
KODJ HD-2 Salt Lake City
KSOF HD-2 Fresno
KWDR-FM 93.5 and 102.3 Kennewick, WA
KZIZ-AM 1560 AM Seattle, WA
Radio Indigo Bangalore/Goa India 99.1
WAEG-FM 92.3 North Augusta, GA
WBHQ-HD-3 Beverly Beach, FL
WBTJ HD-2 Richmond
WCHB 1200 AM/ 99.9 FM Detroit, MI
WCLZ 98.9 FM Portland, Maine
WHFC91.1 FM Bel Air, Maryland
WKSC HD-2 Chicago
WLDR HD-2 Traverse City, MI
WLRQ HD-2 Melbourne
WMAG HD-2 Greensboro
WMJM HD-2 St. Louis
WRMO 93.7 FM Bangor Maine
WSJF-DB Smooth Jazz Florida
WSNE HD-2 Providence
WSRW HD-2 Grand Rapids
WUCR 107.9 FM Lake Butler, Florida
WVLY 100.9 FM Sundbury/Selinsgrove, PA
WXCT 98.3 FM Grand Rapids, MI
ARAMCO Saudi Arabia
Boracay Beach Radio-97.3 FM Philippines
CJCV 99.1 FM Winnipeg, Canada
COOL-FM Panama
DeLite Radio UK The A-List
Bernie O’Brien Radio Warrington
MediaBase:
^ 36 48 JODY WATLEY-Waiting In Vain (’18) (Avitone) 30 25 +5
^ 37 42 MICHAEL FIELDS JR-Lovette Road (Water From The Rock) 30 27 +3
^ 38 36 TAKE 6-Change The World (SoNo Recording Group) 30 30 0
^ 39 61 GROOVE FREQUENCIES-Imagine This (B2J) 29 19 +10
40 19 SADE-Flower Of The Universe (Epic) 29 41 -12
^ 41 30 MICHAEL J. THOMAS-My Love (Harbor Breeze) 28 8 +20
^ 42 58 D’LAURENT SMITH-Hand In Hand f/Boney James (—) 28 21 +7
^ 43 54 GREG ADAMS/EAST BAY SOUL-Look Book (Ripa) 28 22 +6
^ 44 43 MADOCA-Surrender (City Sketches Inc) 27 26 +1
^ 45 41 DONALD HAYES-What Dreams May Come (Grindhouse Music) 27 27 0
^ 46 40 NAJEE-Song For The Ladies (—) 27 27 0
47 39 BLAIR BRYANT-Sun Chaser f/Darren Rahn (Innervision) 27 28 -1
48 38 ROBERTO VALLY-Birdland (Woodward Avenue ) 27 29 -2
^ 49 86 NICK COLIONNE-Be Urself (—) 26 14 +12
^ 50 50 JERMAINE MONDAINE-Going Higher (Water From The Rock) 26 23 +3
From Billboard Music Chart History.
Oct, 3, 1987 – “Don’t You Want Me” is the third single from singer Jody Watley’s eponymous debut album. The song was produced by Bernard Edwards of Chic-fame and written by Jody Watley, Franne Golde and David Paul Bryant.
“Don’t You Want Me” was one of the biggest crossover singles for the year 1987, reaching top ten on the Billboard pop and R&B charts and becoming a number-one dance club hit.
“Don’t You Want Me” landed in the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart the week of October 24, 1987, advancing from #56 to #40. The song reached #6 on December 19, 1987 and remained there for three consecutive weeks.
Styling: Jody Watley
Art Direction: Jody Watley and Lynn Robb
Photography: Victoria Pearson