Lakeside - Real Love

“A solid mid-'80s album featuring the Ohio funk band Lakeside at its prime. They did superb groove and uptempo tunes, made acceptable change of pace ballads, and never tried to be something they weren't, like a political or cause group. They were a bit smoother than their role models The Ohio Players and Slave, but still had a tougher sound than most of their other labelmates at Solar.” - Ron Wynn - AllMusic Lakeside is a funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit, "Fantastic Voyage". It was in 1977 that Lakeside's success really started to accelerate. That year, the group, going by the name Lakeside released their self-titled debut album, which featured the single, "If I Didn't Have You". It was also around this time that the group debuted on Soul Train, performing a Beloyd Taylor and Peter Cor composition "Shine On", which helped pave the way for what was to come. As fate would have it the time had come for Lakeside to be a major player in creating the next chapter, with the addition of barefoot drummer Fred Alexander Jr. At this time the group was being approached by Whitfield Records, Motown and Solar Records. In the end, the band chose Solar Records, owned by Dick Griffey, with stable mates The Whispers, Shalamar, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, and Carrie Lucas.
Lakeside is an American funk band known for their 1980 R&B hit "Fantastic Voyage." In 1969, guitarist Stephen Shockley formed the Young Underground in Dayton, Ohio. Vocalist Mark Woods from the Nomads joined, and by 1971, they became Ohio Lakeside Express with Thomas Shelby and Shirley Wood. Eddie Thomas of Curtom Records discovered them and signed them to his new label, Lakeside. Despite initial setbacks, they found success in 1977, releasing their debut album and performing on Soul Train. They joined Solar Records in 1978, releasing "Shot of Love" with the hit "It's All the Way Live." Their 1980 album "Fantastic Voyage" and its title track became their biggest hit. The band released several more albums and hits like "Raid" and "Outrageous" until their popularity waned in the late 1980s. Tyrone Griffin, later a member, is the father of singer Ty Dolla Sign.