9 April 2015, No. 71, Heatwave, ‘Ain’t No Half Steppin’’

I skipped a day anyway, after I promised to be funky daily, but there was no outcry from an enraged public, so I’m glad I let only myself down. It was worth the wait, this song, and maybe yesterday I wouldn’t have been able to give it the proper attention. No. 71’s foreboding intro belies the smoothness of Heatwave’s commitment to full soul, ’cause there “Ain’t No Half Steppin’.” Like many on the list, this song’s been sampled a lot. I’m partial to its appearance in “Keep Risin’ to the Top” by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew (which is built on the Keni Burke tune at No. 74, but that’s for another day). So, then, Heatwave at No. 71 with “Ain’t No Half Steppin’.”