Breakwater is an American funk band from Philadelphia. The band released two albums: Breakwater in 1978, and Splashdown in 1980. The latter features the song "Release the Beast", which was sampled on "Robot Rock" by the electronic duo Daft Punk.
Background The band, originally from Philadelphia, was formed in 1971. The original members of Breakwater consisted of Gene Robinson, James Gee Jones, Lincoln 'Zay' Gilmore, Steve Green, Vince 'Garnel' Dutton, Greg Scott, John 'Dutch' Braddock, and Kae Williams, Jr. They were signed to the Arista label in 1978.Soulwalking - breakwater Their second album Splashdown, which was released in 1980 has been referred to by Tom Bowker of the Broward Palm Beach New Times as a funk masterpiece.Broward Palm Beach New Times, October 16, 2014 - Earth, Wind & Fire and Breakwater: A Tale of Two Funk Shows in Two Different Cities By Tom Bowker
Releases In September, 1979, their single "You Know I Love You", written by Greg Scott, and produced by Rick Chertoff was a Billboard top single pick.Billboard, September 22, 1979 - Page 71 Billboard's Top Single Picks
"Release the Beast" "Release the Beast" is the third song off of their second album Splashdown. The song has been sampled by the French house group Daft Punk on their song "Robot Rock"."Robot Rock" (liner notes). Daft Punk. Virgin Records, a division of Universal Music Group. 2005. The song was also used by Reese's during their 2023 Halloween advertising campaigns.
Later years On October 16, 2014, the eleven-piece band with four man horn section played Warmdaddy's on S Columbus Blvd in Philadelphia.Broward Palm Beach New Times, October 16, 2014 - Earth, Wind & Fire and Breakwater: A Tale of Two Funk Shows in Two Different Cities By Tom Bowker It was announced that the band and fellow seventies act Pockets, an R&B funk band from Baltimore, would appear at London's Brooklyn Bowl on January 7, 2017.Brooklyn Bowl - Friday, 6 January 2017, Breakwater and The Pockets
Discography + US singles Title Release info Year Notes "Work It Out" / "Feel Your Way" Arista AS 0404 1979 "No Limit" / "Feel Your Way" Arista AS 0424 1979 "You Know I Love You" / "Unnecessary Business" Arista AS 0457 1979 "Splashdown Time" / "Let Love In" Arista AS 0518 1980 "Say You Love Me Girl" / "Time" Arista AS 0542 1980 "Release the Beast" / "Time" Arista AS 0565 1980 45Cat - Breakwater - Discography
+ US Albums Title Release info Year F Notes Breakwater Arista AB 4208 1978 LP Splashdown Arista AB 4264 1980 LP Breakwater Get On Down GET-51269 2010 CD Discogs - Breakwater – Breakwater Splashdown Get On Down GET-51268 2010 CD Discogs - Breakwater – Splashdown Breakwater / Splashdown Expansion EXP2CD 49 2016 CD CompilationDiscogs - Breakwater Discography, Compilations
References
External links
Breakwater at Soulwalking Breakwater on Facebook