{{Short description|1980 studio album by Slave}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Stone Jam | type = studio | artist = Slave | cover = Stone Jam.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|1980|11|}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Funk | length = | label = Cotillion | producer = Jimmy Douglass, Steve Washington | prev_title = Just a Touch of Love | prev_year = 1979 | next_title = Show Time | next_year = 1981 }} '''Stone Jam''' is the fifth album by the American funk band Slave. It was released in 1980 on Cotillion Records and reissued in 1997 on Rhino Records. It was produced by Jimmy Douglass and Steve Washington. The album was listed on the ''Billboard'' 200, ''Billboard's'' 1981 Year-End Chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It contains the hit singles "Sizzlin' Hot", "Feel My Love", and "Watching You".
==Overview== Slave's fifth album, ''Stone Jam'', was their highest charting since their first, ''Slave'',<ref name="Whitburn2007">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn|title=The Billboard Albums: Includes Every Album That Made the Billboard 200 Chart|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5jQ5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22stone+jam%22+%22slave%22|accessdate=20 January 2011|year=2007|publisher=Record Research Inc|page=963|isbn=978-0-89820-166-6|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105191600/https://books.google.com/books?id=5jQ5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22stone+jam%22+%22slave%22|url-status=live}}</ref> and their second to be certified Gold,<ref name="gold">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ASQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PT5|title=General News|date=1 August 1981|magazine=Billboard|page=6|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105191600/https://books.google.com/books?id=ASQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PT5#v=snippet&q=%22stone%20jam%22%20%22slave%22&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Slave'' received the certification in 1977.<ref name="slavecert">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=slave&artist=slave&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=COTILLION&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2011&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=Slave ''Slave''|publisher=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Database|accessdate=20 January 2011}}</ref> The band's drummer, Steve Arrington, took on more singing responsibilities than on previous albums and this, combined with the vocals of Starleana Young, contributed to the album's success.<ref name="Henderson">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-r49520/review|title=Slave - ''Stone Jam'' Album Reviews, Songs & More|last=Henderson|first=Alex|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=1 December 2022|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105191601/https://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-mw0000592895|url-status=live}}</ref> The single "Watching You" entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and also joined "Sizzlin' Hot" and "Feel My Love" on the R&B Singles Chart.<ref name="single">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-r49520/charts-awards/billboard-single|title=''Billboard'' singles: ''Stone Jam''|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105192109/https://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-mw0000592895|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception and accolades== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Henderson" /> }} ''The Morning Call'' deemed the album "musically boring," but conceded that "Sizzlin' Hot" and "Let's Spend Some Time" "may cut it on the dance floor."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Bev |title=Records |work=The Morning Call |date=13 Dec 1980 |department=Weekender |page=67}}</ref>
Alex Henderson of AllMusic breaks Slave's brand of funk into two categories; 'hardcore' and 'sophisticated'. He notes that their earlier work falls into the former category but, with the exception of the tracks "Stone Jam" and "Sizzlin' Hot", this album is in the later. He goes on to write that this "sleeker" approach is "every bit as appealing" as their earlier more aggressive work. He describes the tracks "Dreamin'", "Feel My Love" and "Let's Spend Some Time" as "addictive jams" and the album as "consistently melodic".<ref name="Henderson" />
Jam-Master Jay of Run–D.M.C. has named it as one of his favorite albums.<ref name="Rasen">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ugCQfxwym0C&q=%22stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PA27|title=Rap 'n' Roll|last=Rasen|first=Edward|date=May 1985|work=Spin|page=27|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105192103/https://books.google.com/books?id=9ugCQfxwym0C&q=%22stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PA27#v=snippet&q=%22stone%20jam%22%20%22slave%22&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The album made the ''Billboard'' 1981 Year-End Pop Chart at number 99<ref name="pop">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%2299.+stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PT59|title=Year End-Pop|date=26 December 1981|magazine=Billboard|page=YE–8|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=4 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104062127/https://books.google.com/books?id=BCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%2299.+stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PT59|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Soul Chart at number 7.<ref name="soul">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%227.+stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PT79|title=Year End-Soul|date=26 December 1981|magazine=Billboard|page=YE–28|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=4 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104062129/https://books.google.com/books?id=BCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%227.+stone+jam%22+%22slave%22&pg=PT79|url-status=live}}</ref>
The song "Watching You" was interpolated twice by rapper Snoop Dogg, first in the chorus of "Gin and Juice" in 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/a9nm8r/80s-rewind-rap-songs-that-sample-hits-from-the-1980s/6wb2gh|title='80s Rewind: Rap Songs that Sample Hits from the 1980s\|publisher=BET|access-date=10 December 2014|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216062631/http://www.bet.com/music/photos/2014/08/80s-rewind-rap-songs-that-sample-1980s-hits.html#!092813-shows-hha-2013-show-highlights-snoop-dogg-lion-uncle-performs|url-status=live}}</ref> then in "Let's Get Blown" in 2004.<ref name="Kimble">{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/10-years-later-how-pharrell-revived-snoop-doggs-career-rg-rhythm-gangsta-masterpiece|title=10 Years Later: How Pharrell Revived Snoop Dogg's Career With 'R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece'|last=Kimble|first=Julian|date=20 November 2014|work=Vibe|accessdate=10 December 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129142859/http://www.vibe.com/article/10-years-later-how-pharrell-revived-snoop-doggs-career-rg-rhythm-gangsta-masterpiece|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Tracks== #"Let's Spend Some Time" (Mark Antone Adams/Jimmy Douglass/Mark Hicks/Jennifer Ivory/Curt Jones/Ray Turner/Steve Washington/Starleana Young) – 4:38 #"Feel My Love" (Adams/Steve Arrington/Hicks/Jones/Turner/Washington/Danny Webster) – 4:31 #"Starting Over" (Adams/Hicks/Jones/Floyd Miller/Turner/Young) – 4:27 #"Sizzlin' Hot" (Adams/Arrington/Miller/Turner/Washington/Webster) – 5:07 #"Watching You" (Adams/Arrington/Turner/Washington/Webster) – 4:41 #"Dreamin'" (Adams/Arrington/Jones/Miller/Turner/Washington) – 4:20 #"Never Get Away" (Adams/Arrington/Hicks/Jones/Turner/Webster) – 5:09 #"Stone Jam" (Adams/Hicks/Jones/Turner/Washington/Webster/Young) – 6:43
'''Bonus tracks''' #<li value = 9>"Feel My Love" (Disco Mix) – 4:47 #"Sizzlin' Hot" (Single Version) – 4:06 #"Watching You" (Single Version) – 3:28
==Personnel== *Mark Antone Adams – assistant producer, bass guitar *Steve Arrington – drums, percussion, vocals *Charles Carter – assistant producer, saxophone *Bill-Dog Dooley – assistant engineer *Jimmy Douglass – arranger, engineer, mixing, producer, vocals *Bob Heimall – art direction, design *Mark Hicks – guitar *Bill Inglot – remastering *Jennifer Ivory – assistant executive producer *Curt Jones – guitar, vocals *Tom Lockett – assistant engineer, saxophone, vocals *Randy Mason – assistant engineer *David McLees – reissue producer *Floyd Miller – horn, percussion, trombone, vocals *Ray Turner – keyboards *Rickey Vincent – liner notes *Steve Washington – arranger, assistant engineer, executive producer, mixing, producer, trumpet, vocals *Danny Webster – guitar, vocals *Starleana Young – vocals
==Charts and sales certification== ===Album charts=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Chart ! Peak |- |rowspan="2"| 1981 | ''Billboard'' 200 | 53<ref name="Whitburn2007" /><ref name="albumcert">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-r49520/charts-awards|title=''Billboard'' albums: ''Stone Jam''|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105192103/https://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-mw0000592895|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | R&B Albums | 5<ref name="albumcert" /> |- |}
===Single charts=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Single ! Chart ! Peak |- | 1980 | "Sizzlin' Hot" |rowspan="3"|R&B Singles Chart | 57<ref name="single" /> |- |rowspan="3"| 1981 | "Feel My Love" | 62<ref name="single" /> |- |rowspan="2"| "Watching You" | 6<ref name="single" /> |- |''Billboard'' Hot 100 | 78<ref name="single" /> |- |}
===RIAA certification=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Format ! Certification ! Date |- | Album | Gold | 30 March 1981<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=stone%20jam&artist=slave&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2011&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=Slave ''Stone Jam''|publisher=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Database|accessdate=20 January 2011}}</ref> |- |}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Format ! Label ! Catalog |- | 1980 | Vinyl | Cotillion | SD 5224 |- | 1997 | CD | Rhino | 72625<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-r49520|title=Overview: ''Stone Jam''|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=20 January 2011|archive-date=11 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211082638/http://allmusic.com/album/stone-jam-r49520|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1980 albums Category:Slave (band) albums Category:Rhino Entertainment albums Category:Cotillion Records albums