The Brothers Johnson, whose third album, Blam!!, demonstrates that funk can be sleek and gritty at the same time. This 1978 classic is full of definitive examples of sophisti-funk; if you're a lover of that style, tracks like "Ain't We Funkin' Now" (a major hit), "Mista' Cool," "Ride-O-Rocket," and the title song are required listening. Equally strong are the mellow ballad "It's You, Girl" and the pop-jazz instrumental "Streetwave," both of which were well-received by quiet storm enthusiasts. The person the Brothers Johnson can thank for this album being so consistent is producer Quincy Jones.

Tracklist:
A1 Ain't We Funkin' Now
A2 So Won't You Stay
A3 Blam!
B1 Rocket Countdown/Blastoff
B2 Ride-O-Rocket
B3 Mista' Cool
B4 It's You Girl
B5 Streetwave