Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)

(Redirected from Toni Smith)

"Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" is a song by jazz trumpeter Tom Browne. The single—a memoir of the Jamaica neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised—is from his second solo album, Love Approach. Browne got the idea for the song while he was at his parents' home.[2] The vocals for the single were performed by Toni Smith (Thomassina Carrollyne Smith), who also helped compose the song. The song hit number one on the US Billboard R&B chart for a month.[3] "Funkin' for Jamaica" peaked at number nine on the dance chart[4] and made the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] but it never charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)"
US 12-Inch single cover
Single by Tom Browne
from the album Love Approach
B-side"Her Silent Smile"
ReleasedJuly 1980
GenreJazz-funk[1]
Length3:44 (Single Version)
4:43 (Album Version)
LabelGRP/Arista
Songwriter(s)Tom Browne, Toni Smith (Thomassina Carrollyne Smith)
Producer(s)Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen
Alternative covers
UK 7-Inch single cover

Personnel

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  • Tom Browne – trumpet
  • Dave Grusin – piano
  • Bernard Wright – electric piano, synthesizer
  • Bobby Broom – guitar
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Buddy Williams – drums
  • Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion
  • Alvin Flythe – rap, handclaps
  • Mike Flythe – rap, handclaps
  • Kevin Osborne – rap, handclaps
  • Toni Smith – vocals, handclaps

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1980–81) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 10
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[11] 9
US R&B (Billboard)[11] 1
Chart (1992)
(1991 Remix)
Peak
position
Europe (European Dance Radio)[12] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 40
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 45

Year-end charts

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Chart (1981) Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 66
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 57

Covers and samples

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References

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  1. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "A Vision of Love: R&B". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 719. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  2. ^ "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.) : Song Review". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 88.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 46.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 83. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ "Tom Browne – Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  8. ^ "Tom Browne – Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. ^ "Tom Browne – Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)". Top 40 Singles.
  10. ^ a b "Tom Browne: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ a b "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.) (song by Tom Browne) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. February 1, 1992. p. 21. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tom Browne" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  14. ^ "Tom Browne – Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.) (1991-Remix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1981". Ultratop. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  17. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  18. ^ "Bob Baldwin Discography Page". Bobbaldwin-new.homestead.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  19. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 85.
  20. ^ "The Black Eyed Peas - What It Is". YouTube. 2010-09-03. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  21. ^ "Samoa Soul overview". AllMusic.
  22. ^ "Patrick Yandall — Samoa Soul". SmoothViews.com.
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