Midnight Star

Midnight Star was an American soul-funk band from Frankfort, Kentucky, that recorded eight albums for Solar between The Beginning in 1980 and Work It Out in 1990. Their breakout came with No Parking on the Dance Floor in 1983, which produced “Freak-A-Zoid,” “Wet My Whistle,” and “Slow Jam.” They followed with Planetary Invasion and the No. 1 R&B hit “Operator,” then reached further heights with Headlines, which yielded Midas Touch” and “Engine No. 9.”

After Headlines, co-founders Reginald and Vincent Calloway formed a breakoff duo and scored a 1990 hit with “I Wanna Be Rich.” 

Members: Reginald Calloway (trumpet, 1976-88), Vincent Calloway (trombone, 1976-88), Belinda Lipscomb (vocals), Melvin Gentry (guitar), Kenneth Gant (bass), Bobby Lovelace (drums), Bill Simmons (various instruments), Bo Watson (keyboards), Jeff Cooper (guitar, keyboards, 1976-?)

Background

Midnight Star was formed in 1976 at Kentucky State University by trumpeter Reginald Calloway. The original lineup included singer Belinda Lipscomb, guitarist/drummer/vocalist Melvin Gentry, bassist Kenneth Gant, multi-instrumentalist Bill Simmons, keyboard player/vocalist Bo Watson, and guitarist/keyboardist Jeff Cooper, all KSU students. They later added a townie, trombonist Vincent Calloway (Reginald’s younger brother).

In 1978, Midnight Star played a showcase in New York City, attended by SOLAR Records founder Dick Griffey, who signed the young band.

The Beginning

Midnight Star released their debut album, The Beginning, on March 11, 1980, on Solar.

The lineup features vocalist Belinda Lipscomb, bassist Kenneth Gant, guitarist Jeffrey Cooper, keyboardist Bo Watson, saxophonist-keyboardist Bill Simmons, multi-instrumentalist Reggie Calloway (trumpet, flugelhorn, mellophone, flute, percussion), and multi-instrumentalist Melvin Gentry (guitar, bass, drums, percussion). Vincent Calloway adds trumpet, flugelhorn, and trombone. 

Session players include percussionists Harvey Mason and Leon “Ndugu” Chancler, keyboardist Michael Boddicker, reed players Jerome Richardson and William Collette, trumpeters Jerry Hey, Kenny Mason, and Oscar Brashear, trombonists George Bohanon and William Reichenbach, French horn player David Duke, and strings led by concertmaster Charles Veal Jr.

A1. “Keep the Spirit High” (4:57) – Lipscomb, Simmons, Watson, Cooper, Gant, Gentry, Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway
A2. “You’re the Star” (5:08) – Calloway
A3. “Follow the Path” (4:30) – Lipscomb
A4. “Set Me on Fire” (4:47) – Watson, Cooper, Gentry, Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway

B1. “Make It Last” (7:00) – Watson
B2. “Searching for Love” (6:08) – Watson
B3. “Two in Love” (6:27) – Simmons, Calloway

The album was recorded at Studio Masters and mixed at Conway Studios and Westlake Studios. Harvey Mason produced six tracks, while Leon Sylvers III produced “Make It Last.” Bob Brown, Buddy Brundo, and Peter Chaikin handled the recording, Steve Hodge mixed the album, and Wally Traugott mastered it at Capitol Mastering. Dina Andrews and Marge Meoli coordinated A&R.

Henry Vizcarra handled the art direction and design, Shusei Nagaoka supplied the illustration, and Scott Hensel took the photography. RCA manufactured and distributed the release, and the Indianapolis pressing carried RCA plant credit.

Solar issued “Make It Last” (b/w “Follow the Path”) in March 1980, which reached No. 85 R&B, and “You’re the Star” (b/w “Two in Love”) in June 1980.

Standing Together

Midnight Star released their second album, Standing Together, on July 16, 1981, on Solar.

They retain the prior core and bring Vincent Calloway fully into the lineup on trumpet, flugelhorn, and trombone. The writing shifts further inside the band, with full-group credit on “Standing Together” and “Tuff,” Bo Watson leading three songs, Reginald Calloway writing “Can’t Give You Up,” and additional shared credits spread across Simmons, Watson, Gentry, and Calloway. Harvey Mason adds percussion, and Janice Gower contracts the strings.

A1. “Standing Together” (5:00) – Midnight Star
A2. “Tuff” (5:05) – Midnight Star
A3. “Can’t Give You Up” (4:13) – Reginald Calloway
A4. “Hold Out” (4:58) – Bo Watson

B1. “I’ve Been Watching You” (6:00) – Bo Watson
B2. “I Won’t Let You Be Lonely” (4:05) – Simmons, Watson, Reginald Calloway
B3. “I Got What You Need” (4:38) – Watson, Gentry, Reginald Calloway
B4. “Open Up to Love” (4:38) – Watson, Reginald Calloway

Leon Sylvers III produced the album at Studio Masters and Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles. Benjamin Wright arranged horns and strings on “Standing Together,” “Can’t Give You Up,” “I Won’t Let You Be Lonely,” and “Open Up to Love,” William Simmons handled that role on “Hold Out” and “I Got What You Need,” Reginald Calloway arranged “Tuff,” and Gene Dozier arranged “I’ve Been Watching You.”

Gribbitt! handled the art direction and design, and Scott Hensel supplied the photography.

Solar issued “I’ve Been Watching You” (b/w “Open Up to Love”) in June 1981, which reached No. 36 R&B; “Tuff” (b/w “I Got What You Need”) in November 1981, which reached No. 60 R&B; and “Can’t Give You Up” (b/w “Hold Out”) in April 1982. Standing Together reached No. 54 on the R&B albums chart.

Victory

Midnight Star released their third album, Victory, on July 16, 1982, on Solar.

Reginald Calloway produced the album with the group, and the writing stayed inside the band across all eight tracks. Bo Watson, Melvin Gentry, and Reginald Calloway share three songs, Belinda Lipscomb leads or shares three others, William Simmons wrote “Love Is Alive,” and Louis Lipscomb joins Belinda Lipscomb on “Be With You.”

Victory retains the Standing Together lineup. Benjamin Wright arranges horns and strings on selected tracks, and Janice Gower serves as concertmaster.

A1. “Victory” (5:00) – Watson, Gentry, Reginal 
A2. “Strike a Match” (6:24) – Reginal 
A3. “Move Me” (5:25) – Watson, Gentry
A4. “Make Time (To Fall in Love)” (4:09) – Watson, Reginald

B1. “Hot Spot” (7:27) – Belinda Lipscomb, Watson, Gentry, Reginald, Vincent 
B2. “You Can’t Stop Me” (4:09) – Belind 
B3. “Be With You” (4:01) – Belinda, Louis Lipscomb
B4. “Love Is Alive” (4:28) – Simmons

Sessions occurred at Fifth Floor Recording in Cincinnati and Studio Masters in Los Angeles. Gary Platt handled the recording and mix, assisted by Bob Craig, Jeff Reynolds, Jerry Studenka, and Judy Clapp. Wally Traugott mastered the record. Kristen Kasell Nikosey and Norm Ung handled the art direction, Tom Nikosey supplied the logo design and illustration, and Jeffrey Kauck took the photography.

Solar issued “Hot Spot” (b/w “I Won’t Let You Be Lonely”) in July 1982, which reached No. 35 R&B and No. 108 on the Billboard 200 singles chart, and “Victory” (b/w “Love Is Alive”) in November 1982, which reached No. 83 R&B.

No Parking on the Dance Floor

Midnight Star released their fourth album, No Parking on the Dance Floor, on June 6, 1983 on Solar.

Reggie Calloway produced the album, which became the group’s commercial breakthrough and highest-charting release.

No Parking welcomes drummer Bobby Lovelace as a full member. Musical guests include percussionist Tim Cornwell, guitarist Kenny Edmunds, and synth programmer Wes Boatman.

A1. “Electricity” (6:58) – Simmons, Reggie
A2. “Night Rider” (4:40) – Lipscomb, Simmons, Watson, Cooper, Gentry
A3. “Feels So Good” (4:23) – Lipscomb, Gant
A4. “Wet My Whistle” (5:06) – Reggie

B1. “No Parking (On the Dance Floor)” (4:27) – Simmons, Lovelace, Vincent
B2. “Freak-A-Zoid” (8:06) – Simmons, Reggie, Vincent
B3. “Slow Jam” (4:17) – Lipscomb, Watson, Edmunds
B4. “Playmates” (4:10) – Lipscomb, Simmons, Watson

The album was recorded at Counterpart Creative Studios and Fifth Floor Recording Studios in Cincinnati and mixed at those same rooms. Ric Probst handled the recording and mix, with additional engineering from Dale Smith, Jeffrey Reynolds, Jerry Studenka, Steve Williams, and Taavi Mote. Brian Gardner mastered the album at Allen Zentz Recording. Denise Minobe and Norm Ung handled the art direction, Mark Galarneau designed the logo, and Jim Shea supplied the photography.

Solar issued “Freak-A-Zoid” on on May 16 as an advance single (b/w “Move Me”), which reached No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Wet My Whistle” followed in October (b/w “You Can’t Stop Me”) and reached No. 8 on the R&B chart and No. 15 on the dance chart.

In late January 1984, “No Parking (On the Dance Floor)” became the third single (b/w “Feels So Good”) and reached No. 43 on the R&B chart, followed in July by “Night Rider” (b/w “Slow Jam”).

No Parking on the Dance Floor reached No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 27 on the Billboard 200. It also reached No. 30 in New Zealand and later received double-Platinum certification in the US.

Planetary Invasion

Midnight Star released their fifth album, Planetary Invasion, on November 11, 1984 on Solar.

Planetary Invasion retains the prior lineup, with Bobby Lovelace added on drums and percussion and expanded roles for Kenneth Gant (keyboards, trombone), Jeffrey Cooper (keyboards), and Vincent Calloway (trumpet, flute, keyboards, vocoder). Popa T appears as an additional musician.

A1. “Body Snatchers” (7:08) – Simmons, Watson, Gentry, Reggie, Vincent 
A2. “Scientific Love” (6:15) – Lipscomb, Watson, Gant, Gentry, Vincent 
A3. “Let’s Celebrate” (4:55) – Lipscomb, Watson, Lovelace, Cooper, Gentry, Reggie 
A4. “Curious” (4:00) – Watson, Lovelace, Gentry

B1. “Planetary Invasion” (6:10) – Simmons, Watson, Lovelace, Reggie, Vincent 
B2. “Operator” (7:30) – Lipscomb, Watson, Reggie 
B3. “Today My Love” (4:50) – Watson, Reggie
B4. “Can You Stay With Me” (4:00) – Lipscomb, Simmons, Cooper, Reggie

Reggie Calloway produced the album at QCA Recording Studios and Fifth Floor Studio in Cincinnati. Ric Probst handled the engineering, Jim Greene and Robin Jennings added engineering support, and Brian Gardner mastered and cut the lacquer at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Kenneth Gant arranged “Today My Love.”

Kristen Kasell Nikosey and Norm Ung handled the art direction, Tom Nikosey supplied the logo design and illustration, and Jeffrey Kauck took the photography.

Solar issued “Operator” (b/w “Playmates”) on October 13, 1984, which reached No. 1 R&B, No. 18 on the Hot 100, No. 15 on the dance chart, and No. 66 in the UK; “Scientific Love” (b/w “Make Time (To Fall in Love)”) in February 1985, which reached No. 16 R&B, No. 80 on the Hot 100, and No. 19 on the dance chart; and “Body Snatchers” (b/w “Curious”) in May 1985, which reached No. 31 R&B.

Planetary Invasion reached No. 7 on the R&B chart and No. 32 on the Billboard 200.

Discography:

• The Beginning (1980)
• Standing Together (1981)
• Victory (1982)
• No Parking on the Dance Floor (1983)
• Planetary Invasion (1984)
• Headlines (1986)
• Midnight Star (1988)
• Work It Out (1990)

Sources:

• Discogs: Midnight Star
• RYM: Midnight Star
• 45cat: Midnight Star
• MusicBrainz: Midnight Star