Over the period of the next 2 Albums, Maze moved around the Country (USA) quite a bit (Recording Wise).
For 1979 Release “Inspiration” the Band moved to Louisiana to Record it, by this time “Maze” were known as “Album Sellers” rather than “Single Hitmakers” This and the next 2 Releases were all on Capitol Records.
The Album went “Gold” again and it reached Number 33 in US Pop Charts and Number 5 in US R&B Chart.
It contained 2 Singles “Feel That You’re Feelin’ ( 67 US Pop and 7 US R&B) and “Timin’ (55 US R&S).
During most of 1980 Maze took a break from Touring, during this period they made a few Personnel Changes: Ron Smith replaced Wayne Thomas on Guitar, Billy Johnson replaced Ahaguna Sun on Drums and Phillip Woo replaced Kevin Burton on Keyboards.
The Band moved again, this time to Sausulito, just outside of “San Francisco” to Record the next Album, the Album was the Great “Joy and Pain” the Title cut is Probably “Maze’s” Signature / Greatest Track and the Most Requested in Concerts, but it was never Released as a Single!
The Album again went Gold peakin’ at 31 in US Pop Charts and reaching 5 in US R&B Chart.
The 2 Single Releases were “Southern Girl” reaching Number 9 in US R&B Chart and ” The Look in Your Eyes” reaching 29 in US R&B Chart.
During their time “Maze” have released 2 Live Recording’s on Vinyl/CD, The First being in 1981, the Album entitled “Live In New Orleans” it as previous Albums went Gold.
It was Recorded at the “Saenger Theartre” in New Orleans on 15 November 1980, this Venue was chosen as a “Thank You” to the People of New Orleans, as this was where Maze’s first Album a few years earlier had “Broken First”
Maze appeared here for several Shows, but the Album was Cut from 1 single show!
6 Live Tracks and 4 Studio Tracks were used, 3 of the Studio Tracks were released as singles with R&B Chart placings in Bracket’s: “Running Away” (7) “Before I Let Go” (13) and “We Need Love To Live” (29).
Chart Positions for the Album were 34 US Pop and 3 US R&B.
The Album is reguarded as one of the “Best” Live Albums of all time by an R&B Act, it is Rated alongside James Brown’s
“Live at The Apollo”
Download some Maze
“Inspiration”
http://www.4shared.com/minifolder/I9LqSVD6/inspirationmaze.html
“Joy and Pain”
http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=13066486-ee4
Funky-Soul-Vinyls-Blog 