Tina Turner‘s electric performance in ‘Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome’ is spotlighted in today’s edition of Retro Rewind!

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Meet us below…

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, just as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’re looking back to Letoya Luckett‘s official debut solo single, ‘Torn.’  The lead offering from her self-titled debut album (click here to read our full length ode to the project), the Teddy Bishop-produced tune – which famously samples The Stylistics’ 70’s classic ‘You Are Everything’ (also found aboard Mary J. Blige‘s 1997 hit ‘Everything’) – came as quite the sleeper hit for Luckett.  Easily the underdog after watching the likes of her former Destiny’s Child bandmates rise to varying levels of Billboard 200 and Hot 100 success, the cut – released in March 2006 –  eventually found itself in mention with their releases by summer 2006.

Making its way to a #31 peak this week that year, ‘Torn’s true crowning glory was its success on the R&B charts (rocketing to a peak of #2 there).  Both chart achievements remain Luckett’s career bests (to date).

Look inside to see who joined her in the top 40 this week 12 years ago:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we celebrate ‘Scream,’ the iconic pairing of music’s most legendary siblings Michael and Janet Jackson. Released as the first single from Michael’s ‘HIStory’ album and produced by Janet’s longtime producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the track serves as an open letter to the press following MJ’s 1993 legal drama. The high-octane cut see the sibling flaunt a more aggressive tone (compared to their preceding offerings), which in tandem compliments their controversial lyrics (“Just stop pressuring me, stop f*cking with me”).

A dream collaboration on paper, the blissful reality was rendered ever better with the help of ‘Scream’s award-winning video – the most expensive in history.  Going on to surpass the platinum mark and be marked a fan favorite among both stars’ respective catalogs, look inside to remember the magic that was ‘Scream’ (and see who joined the song in the top 25 this week 23 years ago):

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’ll fast backward to Maxwell’s (born Gerald Rivera) 1999 hit ‘Fortunate.’  Found aboard the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence-led film ‘Life,’ the neo-soul jam – penned and produced by R. Kelly – was initially rejected by Rivera before Kelly convinced him to record it instead of the title track to the film’s soundtrack (a tune later made a hit by K-Ci & Jojo).

Released in March of that year, the tune eventually peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year).  Unknown to the crooner at the time, ‘Fortunate’ not only went on to be the Hot 100 peak of his career but also the biggest hit of his career with sales that currently hover slightly under the Platinum mark.  Going on to become a fan favorite amongst his many unforgettable R&B gems, look inside to relieve the magic of ‘Fortunate’ and see who joined him in the Hot 100 this week 19 years ago:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we want to replay ‘I Know What You Want’ – the 2003 duet from Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey.  The second single from Rhymes’ 2002 project, ‘It Ain’t Safe No More,’ the tune – released in March 2003 – was a much-needed hit for the rapper and the then-ailing songstress as it peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year).  For Busta, the song helped revive interest in its parent album as ‘I Know What You Want’s single predecessor, ‘Make It Clap,’ failed to make much noise on the Hot 100 (peaking at #46).  For Carey, the sales and radio performance of ‘Want’ came as a return to form after a particularly low period in her career following the commercial failures of albums ‘Glitter’ and ‘Charmbracelet’ respectively.  

The ‘Butterfly’ singer would later soar back even higher heights on the charts in the years that followed, but Rhymes couldn’t exactly sing the same tune.  Though he scored two top 10 hits betwen 2005-2012 thanks to his co-starring role on the Pussycat Dolls’ signature hit, ‘Don’tcha,’ and Chris Brown‘s comeback ‘Look at Me Now’ respectively, ‘Want’ became Busta’s last Hot 100 top 10 entry as a leading act to date.

Look inside to relive the Rick Rock-produced cut and see who joined them in the top 25 this week 15 years ago:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, just as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’re ready to ode ‘I’m Ready’ – the second single from unsung R&B maestro Tevin Campbell‘s sophomore album, ‘I’m Ready.’ Released in winter 1994, ‘Ready’ (the song) – penned and produced by Darryl Simmons and Babyface (who also performed background vocals) – had big shoes to fill as the follow-up to the Hot 100 top 10 success of ‘Can We Talk?’ It did not disappoint.

Eventually peaking at #9 on the Hot 100 (the same as its predecessor), ‘Ready’ went on to be his last appearance in the chart’s topmost dectet of positions.  Going on to nab a nomination for “Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance – Male” at the next year’s ceremony, ‘Ready’ the song (and its parent album) would go down as his last two nods at the awards show.

The industry may have not been as kind to the singer over the years that followed, but we at TGJ keep Mr. Campbell on repeat.  Look inside to help us remember ‘I’m Ready’ and see who joined him in the top 25 this week 24 years ago on this week’s ‘Chart Rewind’:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’re turning the lens to ‘The Most Beautiful Girl in the World’ – the lead single from pop icon Prince‘s ‘The Beautiful Experience.’  Released in 1994, the tune – one of the first efforts under his signature symbol (and unpronounceable) moniker and title ‘Artist Formerly Known as Prince’ – ‘World’ is considered the release that solidified his ability to remain a commercially viable act despite the name change and lack of major label support (as it was released “independently”).

Going on to be his first and only #1 in the United Kingdom, the song also fared well Stateside as it eventually went Gold and peaked at #3 (where it was found this week 24 years ago).   It was his last antemortem top 10 hit.

Look inside to see who joined The Purple One on the Hot 100 this week in 1994:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week it’s all about ‘All For You’ – pop icon Janet Jackson‘s 2001 smash hit from her seventh studio album of the same name.   Written by Jackson and her longtime collaborators, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the cut – which samples Change‘s ‘The Glow of Love’ – was released in March 2001 and crowned the kick off single for the ‘All For You’ album.  Not even a month later ‘All’ saw itself enjoying the views from the Billboard Hot 100’s perch.

Going on to reign for a collective 7 weeks, it was the year’s longest holder of the chart’s peak position.  A platinum hit for the diva, ‘All For You’ remains her last chart-topper on the Hot 100.  Join us inside as we not only relive the number, but also see who joined her in the top 25 this week 17 years ago:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we believe it’s time to pay homage to 1998’s ‘Believe,’ the last chart-topping single from pop goddess Cher.  Delivered as the lead single from her 22nd album of the same name (click here to read our ode to the album in full), the song zoomed to #1 on the Hot 100 in five months after its release and eventually topped the charts of over 20 other countries.  The feat gave her several distinct honors, including:

• Oldest artist to occupy #1 spot on Hot 100 (age 52 at the time)
• Longest span between #1 singles (1974-1999)
• Longest gap between first #1 single and last #1 single (1965-1999)

In the UK, the song was the first ever by a solo female to reach triple platinum status.  As of time reporting, it remains the biggest selling single by a solo female artist on our side of the pond.  Easily becoming a fan favorite of the timeless diva’s, the song snagged one Grammy for ‘Best Dance Recording’ at the 2000 ceremony.

Dethroned this week 19 years ago by R&B supergroup TLC, tuck in to relieve the magic of the tune and see who joined them in the top 25 this week in 1999:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

In honor of her 32nd birthday (March 28), this week we’ll call on Lady Gaga‘s 2010 megahit ‘Telephone.’ Originally penned for and later passed on by Britney Spears, Gaga eventually took the reins on the Darkchild-produced tune and consulted industry gal pal/‘Video Phone’ co-star Beyonce to support.  The result?  Absolute slayage.

With a fierce short music film to assist, the song debuted in the top 30 in early December 2009.  By March 2010, it was already in the top 10 (where it peaked at #3 this week that year).  Becoming Gaga’s sixth consecutive top 10 hit and Beyonce’s 14th as a solo artist, the tune would go on to nab a Grammy nod and sell an impressive 3.5 million copies in the United States alone.

Slide down memory lane with this triple platinum hit inside:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we’ll reflect on the hits found aboard the ‘Waiting To Exhale’ soundtrack [click here to read our ode to the full album].  A diva-filled, star-studded affair featuring the likes of the film’s star Whitney Houston, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, and many more, the set – completely comprised of tunes written by Babyface (barring ‘My Funny Valentine’) – is easily one of the most successful soundtracks of all time.  That point was driven home by the Hot 100 successes of its singles.

As if spawning two #1 singles wasn’t enough (courtesy of Houston’s ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop)’ and Braxton’s ‘Let It Flow’), the album also boasted two top 5 singles (Blige’s ‘Not Gon’ Cry’ and Brandy’s ‘Sittin Up In My Room’) and the top 10 hit ‘Count On Me’ (Houston & gospel legend Cece Winans).  Three of the aforementioned occupied the top 10 concurrently, as seen below on the Hot 100 snapshot from this week in 1996.

Proof of the soundtrack’s enduring success some months after its release, ‘Waiting To Exhale’ would go on to sell 12 million albums worldwide and nab 11 nominations (including ‘Album of the Year’) at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Look inside to relive it all.

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week all we want to do is hear ‘All the Man That I Need’ – the second single from Whitney Houston‘s multiplatinum third album ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ [click here to read our ode to the full album].  Released in December 1990, ‘Man’ – a remake of the Linda Clifford hit released 8 years prior – succeeded the album’s title track (which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100) by peaking similarly this week in 1991.

Becoming the 9th #1 single of her career, ‘Man’ held the top spot for two weeks before being unseated by fellow powerhouse diva Mariah Carey and her hit ‘Someday.’  That dethroning certainly didn’t stop the overall power of the tune, however.  It was later certified Gold and remains a fan favorite among the singer’s lengthy list of hits.

Look inside to relive the magic of ‘All the Man That I Need’ and see who joined Houston in the top 25 this week 27 years ago:

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