General Caine
General Caine | |
|---|---|
| Origin | California,United States |
| Genres | Funk,rap,soul,R&B |
| Years active | 1978–1988 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
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General Kane(known as General Caine before 1986) was an American music group fronted by Mitch McDowell (born Mitchell Leon McDowell on June 29, 1954, inSan Bernardino, California;died January 22, 1992, in San Bernardino).[1]
Overview
[edit]McDowell took the professional name General Kane in tribute to an officer who had supported his artistic ambitions when he was atmilitary school.[2]After leaving that institution, he formed the groupBooty People.They released one album forMCA Records.Mitch assembled an eight-piece funk group and signed with Groove Time Records in 1978, releasing two albums:Let Me In(1978) andGet Down Attack(1980).[2]
The group then moved toTabu Records.General Caine's third album entitledGirlsfeatures the hit song "For Lovers Only". The radio station 93.1 FMWZAKin Cleveland (Ohio) penned "For Lovers Only" as a theme song for their late night segment with the same title. Their debut single for the Tabu label and the fourth albumDangerouswith many songwriting chores, were done by Johnny Guitar Carson.
After a brief appearance atCapitol Recordswith one single released called "Where's the Beef?" (a popularcatch phraseat that time), a slimmed down version of the group with new writers and producers signed a recording contract withMotown Recordsin the mid-1980s. With a slightly new name (from General Caine to General Kane to reflect the changes in the band's lineup) and sound, they debuted for the new Motown Records label with the albumIn Full Chill(1986).[2]"Crack Killed Applejack" was an uncompromising reflection of drug addiction on the inner city streets and reached number 12 in the black music charts despite being barred from airplay.[2]Subsequent releases mellowed General Kane's approach without losing their commitment to the basic rap sound of the late 1980s. The group's albumWide Openincluded a romantic ballad, "Close Your Eyes",which featured vocals from two of the group's less prominent members, Cheryl McDowell and Danny Macon.[2]
Mitch McDowell pursued a career in law enforcement as a bail bondsman after leaving the music industry. He was murdered in January 1992 along with a nephew, Akili John Davis, 18, who worked in his office. Police noted that the office safe was empty.[3]
General Kane's catalogue remained in print through the efforts of their former producer, Grover Wimberly III, who runs his own label, Groove Time Records.[2]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Let Me In(1978)
- Get Down Attack(1980)
- Girls(1982)
- Dangerous(1983)
- In Full Chill(1986)
- Wide Open(1987)
Singles
[edit]| Year | Song | US R&B [4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Shake" | — | |||
| "L.R.J. Pop" | — | ||||
| "Get Down Attack" | — | ||||
| 1982 | "Don't Stop" | — | |||
| "The Girls" | 72 | ||||
| 1983 | "Ooh, Aah" | — | |||
| "Bomb Body" | 74 | ||||
| 1984 | "Where's the Beef?" | — | |||
| 1986 | "Can't Let Go" | — | |||
| "Crack Killed Applejack" | 12 | ||||
| "Hairdooz" | — | ||||
| "House Party" | — | ||||
| 1987 | "Girl Pulled the Dog" | 33 | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||
References
[edit]- ^"General Caine / General Kane Page".Soulwalking.co.uk.RetrievedNovember 15,2020.
- ^abcdefColin Larkin,ed. (2003).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music(Third ed.).Virgin Books.p. 214.ISBN1-85227-969-9.
- ^"Mitch McDowell, Singer Turned Bail Bondsman, Is Slain".Los Angeles Times.January 24, 1992.RetrievedJuly 24,2013.
- ^"General Kane Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography".Music VF.RetrievedNovember 15,2020.
External links
[edit]- Mitchell Lee “General Kane” McDowell Sr.atFind a Grave
- General CaineatDiscogs.
- General Kaneat Discogs.
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