Brainstorm -

Brainstorm was an American soul-funk band from Detroit, best known for the R&B hits “Lovin’ Is Really My Game,” “Wake Up and Be Somebody,” “Hot for You,” and the quiet storm evergreen “This Must Be Heaven.” On Tabu Records, they released the 1977–79 albums Stormin’, Journey to the Light, and Funky Entertainment.

Members: Belita Woods (lead vocals), Charles “Chuck” Overton (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone), Jeryl Bright (trombone), Professor R J Ross [Bob Ross] (keyboards), Renell Gonsalves (drums), Larry H. “Leap” Sims, Gerald Kent (lead guitar, rhythm guitar), Bongo Lady Way [Trenita Womack] (vocals), E. Lamont Johnson (bass), Willie Wooten (keyboards), Deon Estus (bass)

Background

Brainstorm formed in 1976 in Detroit from a pool of veteran and novice players.

Singer Belita Karen Woods (b. October 23, 1948) first emerged in 1969 on the soul indie Moira Records with two singles: “That’s When I’ll Stop Loving You” (b/w “You Do Your Thing And I’ll Do Mine”) and “Magic Corner” (b/w “Grounded”). In 1973, she cut “I Just Love You” (b/w “Who’s Fooling Who”) on Epic Records.

Bassist Don Estus (b. July 4, 1956) studied under James Jamerson, the bassist for Motown’s house band, the Funk Brothers.

Keyboardist Professor R J Ross (aka Bob Ross) played long beforehand in The Sixpence, which cut the 1967 single “You’re the Love” (b/w “What To Do”) on Impact Records.

Keyboardist William L. Wooten, III played on 1975/76 albums by The Dramatics (The Dramatic Jackpot, Joy Ride) and the Soul Children (Finder Keepers).

Trumpeter Larry Simms backed Odell Brown on the soul-jazz organist’s eponymous 1974 third album.

Saxophonist Charles Overton, a St. Loius native, played in Shades of Time, which cut “Can You Dig It,” released on a 1970 split-single on Better World with “Poverty Child” by soul singer Fleming Williams.

Brainstorm also included guitarist Gerald Kent, bassist Lamont Johnson (a Bohannon sideman), jazz drummer Renell Gonsalves (b. July 13, 1948, Chicago), and future Cameo trumpeter Jeryl Bright (b. July 18, 1955, Los Angeles).

Stormin’

Brainstorm released their debut album, Stormin’, in April 1977 on Tabu.

Stormin’ showcases the band’s nine-member lineup delivering energetic, dance-oriented R&B with disco and Latin inflections. Belita Woods leads with commanding, soulful vocals, supported by layered harmonies, tight horn arrangements, and smooth string textures arranged by Jerry Peters.

Songwriting credits span the core band members and collaborators: Belita Woods and Trenita Womack co-wrote “Lovin’ Is Really My Game,” Womack penned “Waiting for Someone,” bassist E. Lamont Johnson wrote “Easy Thangs” and the title track, guitarist Gerald Kent wrote “Wake Up and Be Somebody,” saxophonist Chuck Overton co-wrote “Hangin’ On” with Kent, and keyboardist Professor R. J. Ross co-wrote “This Must Be Heaven” with Overton, Johnson, and Myles. Peters arranged and wrote the string interlude “Prelude,” and Ross wrote “We Know a Place.”

Up-tempo tracks include “Lovin’ Is Really My Game,” which fuses disco rhythms with urgent, expressive vocals, and “Wake Up and Be Somebody,” which layers Latin-inspired percussion over brisk R&B patterns. “This Must Be Heaven” unfolds as a romantic quiet storm ballad with gentle harmonies and a gradual, uplifting build. Mid-tempo numbers like “Easy Thangs,” “Stormin’,” and “We Know a Place” provide steady rhythmic textures that contrast the brisker cuts.

A1. “Lovin’ Is Really My Game” (4:59)
A2. “Waiting for Someone” (6:13)
A3. “This Must Be Heaven” (6:35)
A4. “Easy Thangs” (4:48)

B1. “Prelude” (0:51)
B2. “Wake Up and Be Somebody” (6:25)
B3. “Stormin'” (4:20)
B4. “We Know a Place” (4:22)
B5. “Hangin’ On” (4:06)

Sessions occurred at Total Experience Studios in Hollywood, California with producer Jerry Peters, executive producer Clarence Avant, and engineer/remix by F. Byron Clark. Brainstorm handled arrangements and composition across the bulk of the material, with Peters arranging strings performed by Charles Veal Jr.

Stormin’ features artwork by Gribbitt! and Tim Bryant, with photography by Ron Slenzak.

Singles included “Wake Up and Be Somebody” and “Lovin’ Is Really My Game,” which reached No.’s 48 and 14 on the US R&B charts, respectively. The album peaked at 31 on Billboard‘s Top Soul Albums chart.

Journey to the Light

Brainstorm released their second album, Journey to the Light, in February 1978 on Tabu.

The album continues Brainstorm’s Detroit soul-funk trajectory, blending brisk R&B rhythms with quiet storm ballads and jazzy flourishes. Belita Woods leads with soaring vocals across upbeat and mid-tempo numbers, supported by Trenita Womack and Deon Estus on select tracks, with tight horn and keyboard arrangements framing the ensemble.

Songwriting credits are shared among band members and collaborators: Woods sings on material written by Womack and band members; Womack wrote “Loving Just You,” Kent wrote “Everytime I See You, I Go Wild!,” Ross arranged contributions to “Brand New Day,” and Woods and band members co-wrote “Journey to the Light,” “If You Ever Need to Cry,” and “Positive Thinking.”

Up-tempo tracks like “Everytime I See You, I Go Wild!” exhibit angular synth and piano runs with urgent vocal delivery. Romantic ballads such as “If You Ever Need to Cry” and “Loving Just You” rely on slow, suspended rhythms and lush harmonic support. Jazzy touches appear in “Brand New Day,” which channels vibraphone-like Rhodes textures and airy horn flourishes. The “We’re On Our Way Home” suite divides into Part 1 and Part 2, framing the album with layered harmonies and steady rhythmic propulsion.

A1. “We’re On Our Way Home (Part 1)” (3:44)
A2. “Loving Just You” (4:31)
A3. “Everytime I See You, I Go Wild!” (6:14)
A4. “Brand New Day” (3:23)

B1. “Journey To The Light” (5:19)
B2. “If You Ever Need to Cry” (6:30)
B3. “We’re On Our Way Home (Part 2)” (2:50)
B4. “Positive Thinking” (4:31)

Sessions occurred at United Sound Systems and Total Experience Studios with producer Jerry Peters and engineers Jerry Estus and F. Byron Clark, with mastering by John Golden.

Art direction was handled by Eleven-Twenty-Four, with photography by Hauser & D’Orio.

Lead vocals are performed by Belita Woods, with Trenita Womack contributing to select tracks. Instrumentation includes Charles Overton on saxophones, Jeryl Bright on trombone, Larry Sims on trumpet and flugelhorn, Deon Estus on bass, William Wooten on piano, electric piano, and synthesizer, Gerald Kent on guitar, and Renell Gonsalves on drums and percussion.

Funky Entertainment

Brainstorm released their third album, Funky Entertainment, in May 1979 on Tabu.

The album emphasizes up-tempo, dance-oriented R&B with pronounced disco influences, contrasting the more contemplative approach of their previous work. Belita Woods leads with energetic vocals across extended tracks, while Trenita Womack adds backing vocals, percussion, and flute; tight horn and string arrangements accentuate the ensemble’s rhythmic drive.

Primary songwriting is handled by Woods and band members Overton, Kent, Estus, Bright, Sims, Gonsalves, Wooten, and Womack. Secondary contributions include Sam Dees on “A Case of the Boogie,” Jerry Peters and L. Mack on “You Put a Charge in My Life,” and Gonsalves on “Don’t Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down.”

Dance-focused tracks such as “Hot For You,” “A Case of the Boogie,” and “Popcorn” feature layered percussion, piano runs, and horn lines with tightly varied pacing. The title track, “Funky Entertainment,” blends brass accents with syncopated rhythms, while the ballad “You Put a Charge in My Life” slows the tempo for expressive vocal interplay. Closing track “Don’t Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down” combines sharp rhythmic shifts with ensemble energy, maintaining momentum through the album’s final section.

A1. “Hot for You” (10:48)
A2. “A Case of the Boogie” (9:05)

B1. “Popcorn” (4:46)
B2. “Funky Entertainment” (4:12)
B3. “You Put a Charge In My Life” (4:10)
B4. “Don’t Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down” (4:42)

Sessions occurred at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California, and Love ‘N Comfort Studios with producer Jerry Peters and engineers F. Byron Clark and Steve Williams. Mastering was handled by Frank De Luca and Rick Gianatos, who also mixed several tracks; Bob Hughes provided additional remixing.

Instrumentation features Belita Woods on lead and backing vocals, Trenita Womack on lead and backing vocals, percussion, flute, and piano, Charles Overton on saxophone and backing vocals, Deon Estus on bass, Renell Gonsalves and Harvey Mason on drums, Gerald Kent, Greg Poree, Joe O’Doherty, Paul Jackson Jr., and Phil Upchurch on guitars, William Wooten on keyboards, Larry Sims on horns, Jeryl Bright on trombone, and a full string section with concertmaster Asa Drori. Backing vocals include Gwen Matthews, Jim Gilstrap, and Syreeta Wright.

Discography: