Our Songs To Drop Pounds Too…if you’re grown

Editor’s Note: Hey CocoaFit-sters… meet the newest member of Team CocoaFit, Charles K. Cunningham. He is our resident music expert (snob) for “grown folks music”! Don’t ask him about the new school stuff ’cause you’ll get’s NO LOVE… but we love his ear so check out his selections. Oh and if you don’t have these on vinyl… you can find them on I-tunes!

                                                   Charles K. Cunningham

Make You Sweat – C&C Music Factory 

Great for keeping you motivated during those dreaded bicep curls…

C&C Music Factory produced seven #1 dance/club play hits in the 90’s, including this cut that went #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and R&B singles chart. They unfortunately committed a “Milli Vanilli” and hired a model to “visualize” Martha Walsh’s “big” vocals and pretend she sang them. Not to be silenced, Wash successfully sued for vocal credit. When their front-man Freedom Williams went solo- his debut sold less than 2000 copies and he slipped into witness protection.

Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You – Robert Palmer

When you want a moderate pace for your Sunday afternoon run…

Maker of pop/rock hits like Addicted To Love, Simply Irresistible and I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On this White Chocolate 80’s MTV staple debuted his uber-creative medley on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1990. Palmer had 10 Top 40 Hits and 2 #1’s in his career before his death in 2003. He was among many successful British artists who revered African-American R&B; including the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse and Adele.

Every Little Step – Bobby Brown

To make the treadmill bearable when there’s nothing on cable…

This song and video came out at the height of his fame in 1988, when Whitney Houston crowned him ‘the king of R&B’! Between 1988 and 1992 he sold 12 million records. So the next time you and your girlfriend’s are calling him a “has been”, remember we’re all one hit away from a come back!

Object Of My Desire – Starpoint

This will keep you focused on the goal during your last set of lunges…

This sextet thrived in an era when you could throw a rock and hit a really good R&B band (Midnight Starr, Atlantic Starr, Loose Ends etc). Today this period is viewed as a Musical Ice Age- a spasm of legendary talent and depth compresses in a relatively short period. This song was their only top 40 hit but it’s a masterpiece.

The Boss – The Braxtons

You’ll be dancing on the elliptical to this one…

Toni Braxton’s sisters released this single as part of their underrated debut CD in 1995…long before their current stint on reality television. It was a fresh spin on the Diana Ross classic from 1979. The CD included other good tunes like Only Love and I’d Still Say Yes featuring Howard Hewitt.

Bonus Cut – Never Stop – The Brand New Heavies

Any workout is better with the Heavies…

This is a song guaranteed to pick you up, get your toes tapping and your hips shaking! Hard to believe this song is 20 years old since the grooves are timeless. N’Dea Davenport provided great vocals to support the group’s amazing sound.

All the aforementioned songs will inspire you to move whether your goal is to lose 10 or 100 pounds. Make the music fun and the results will happen.

Charles K. Cunningham edits www.musicheck.com a website geared towards providing music information in rock .soul and jazz for adults 35+. Email comments to ckcunningham@musicheck.com. You can follow him on Twitter @musichecklive or like him on Facebook.