Maze featuring Frankie Beverly's 25 Greatest Hits

From funky party rockers to silky smooth ballads.

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Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly's 25 Greatest Hits - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly has been going strong for almost four decades thanks to their Beverly's beautiful songwriting and singing, the band's virtuosic skills, powerhouse live shows and, of course, their ever-loyal fans. And now, after being overlooked by the mainstream for years, they're finally getting their due with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. We already gave you a rundown of their long history, but we know what really brought you here: their incredible music. Here, we list Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly's 25 best songs, from funky party rockers to silky smooth ballads. Click on for a classic ride. —Alex Gale (Photo: Courtesy Captiol Records)

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Today is Frankie Beverly's birthday and we're taking a walk down memory lane.

"Back in Stride" - The band's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard R&B charts, "Back in Stride," with its heavy use of synthesizer horns and drum machines, is mid-'80s funk fusion at its most life-affirming.(Photo: Courtesy Captiol Records)

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"Back in Stride" - The band's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard R&B charts, "Back in Stride," with its heavy use of synthesizer horns and drum machines, is mid-'80s funk fusion at its most life-affirming.(Photo: Courtesy Captiol Records)

"The Look in Your Eyes" - Wearing their influences on their sleeve, Maze mixes lush Philly soul with the soaring melodies and thoughtful chord changes of Marvin Gaye, one of their mentors and early boosters, on this gorgeous ballad from their 1980 classic Joy & Pain. (Photo: Leon Morris/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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"The Look in Your Eyes" - Wearing their influences on their sleeve, Maze mixes lush Philly soul with the soaring melodies and thoughtful chord changes of Marvin Gaye, one of their mentors and early boosters, on this gorgeous ballad from their 1980 classic Joy & Pain. (Photo: Leon Morris/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

"Too Many Games" - With a frenetic slapped bass line keeping the groove, this hit from 1985's Can't Stop the Love is an attack on fake, manipulating lovers disguised as a funk party-rocker.  (Photo: Courtesy Captiol Records)

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"Too Many Games" - With a frenetic slapped bass line keeping the groove, this hit from 1985's Can't Stop the Love is an attack on fake, manipulating lovers disguised as a funk party-rocker. (Photo: Courtesy Captiol Records)

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"Timin'" - A slept-on, feel-good anthem from 1979's aptly titled Inspiration, perhaps Maze's best album, "Timin'" features wise life advice from Frankie, an epic announcement of an intro by the band and an undeniable uptempo groove. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Timin'" - A slept-on, feel-good anthem from 1979's aptly titled Inspiration, perhaps Maze's best album, "Timin'" features wise life advice from Frankie, an epic announcement of an intro by the band and an undeniable uptempo groove. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

"Lovely Inspiration" - The opener to Inspiration, which, like many of Maze's best, is an ode to the man upstairs hiding inside a love song, sets off an incredible album with a shimmering slow-burn.  (Photo: David Corio/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

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"Lovely Inspiration" - The opener to Inspiration, which, like many of Maze's best, is an ode to the man upstairs hiding inside a love song, sets off an incredible album with a shimmering slow-burn. (Photo: David Corio/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly - In 1985, the band dropped Can't Stop the Love, which featured their most commercially successful single to date, "Back in Stride,” their first song to top Billboard’s R&B charts.

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"Magic" - Though much of 1985's Can't Stop the Love finds the band embracing the synthesized sounds of the day, this song about falling in love is classic, signature-smooth Maze. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

"Twilight" - An anomaly in Frankie Beverly and Maze's soul-heavy catalog, this mostly instrumental number from their 1993 album Back to Basics is a stone-cold take on early-'80s electro-funk, complete with pulsing drum machines and Kraftwerk-like synths. (Photo: Courtesy Facebook/Capitol Records)

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"Twilight" - An anomaly in Frankie Beverly and Maze's soul-heavy catalog, this mostly instrumental number from their 1993 album Back to Basics is a stone-cold take on early-'80s electro-funk, complete with pulsing drum machines and Kraftwerk-like synths. (Photo: Courtesy Facebook/Capitol Records)

"Silky Soul" - Maze skillfully paid tribute to the late Marvin Gaye, one of their mentors, on this 1989 hit, singing of his "velvet touch" and smartly alluding to "What's Going On" on the bridge. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Silky Soul" - Maze skillfully paid tribute to the late Marvin Gaye, one of their mentors, on this 1989 hit, singing of his "velvet touch" and smartly alluding to "What's Going On" on the bridge. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Lady of Magic" - "Lady of Magic" is a shimmery, shining standout from the band's amazing debut, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, combining beautiful phased guitar chords with transcendant doo-wop harmonies and helping the band establish its notoriously loyal fanbase. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Lady of Magic" - "Lady of Magic" is a shimmery, shining standout from the band's amazing debut, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, combining beautiful phased guitar chords with transcendant doo-wop harmonies and helping the band establish its notoriously loyal fanbase. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

"The Morning After" - While other R&B veterans were trying to keep up with new-jack swing and hip hop, Maze stuck to its guns with this 1993 hit, one of their most velvety ballads yet. (Photo: Courtesy Facebook/Capitol Records)

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"The Morning After" - While other R&B veterans were trying to keep up with new-jack swing and hip hop, Maze stuck to its guns with this 1993 hit, one of their most velvety ballads yet. (Photo: Courtesy Facebook/Capitol Records)

"Never Let You Down" - "Never Let You Down" was the highest charting single from the band's 1983 classic We Are One, and it's one of the most compassionate songs on an album overflowing with love and happiness. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Never Let You Down" - "Never Let You Down" was the highest charting single from the band's 1983 classic We Are One, and it's one of the most compassionate songs on an album overflowing with love and happiness. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

"Love Is the Key" - After knocking down the door with one of the band's most triumphant, danceable intros — no small feat, given their track record — this song brings the relentlessly positive, uplifting message of their 1983 album We Are One to the dance floor. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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"Love Is the Key" - After knocking down the door with one of the band's most triumphant, danceable intros — no small feat, given their track record — this song brings the relentlessly positive, uplifting message of their 1983 album We Are One to the dance floor. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

"I Wanna Thank You" - Though it was most likely intended as a love song — either to a significant other, or a higher power — this swinging 1983 ballad has become a highlight of Maze's epic live performances, used to show gratitude to the diehard fanbase that has kept the band going strong despite being ignored by the mainstream.

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"I Wanna Thank You" - Though it was most likely intended as a love song — either to a significant other, or a higher power — this swinging 1983 ballad has become a highlight of Maze's epic live performances, used to show gratitude to the diehard fanbase that has kept the band going strong despite being ignored by the mainstream.

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"We Are One" - Whether it's about the human race or a quarreling couple, this uplifting 1983 hit from the album of the same name will bring tears to your eyes, striking a delicate balance between finger-snapping funk and pensive ballad. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"We Are One" - Whether it's about the human race or a quarreling couple, this uplifting 1983 hit from the album of the same name will bring tears to your eyes, striking a delicate balance between finger-snapping funk and pensive ballad. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

"You" - Though its pulsing drum intro gives a subtle nod to the all-powerful disco sound of the time, this classic single from Maze's amazing debut album showed a band that wasn't interested in following trends, introducing their mash-up of doo-wop, jazz, soul and funk with polished expertise.   (Photo: Courtesy Facebook/Capitol Records)

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"You" - Though its pulsing drum intro gives a subtle nod to the all-powerful disco sound of the time, this classic single from Maze's amazing debut album showed a band that wasn't interested in following trends, introducing their mash-up of doo-wop, jazz, soul and funk with polished expertise. (Photo: Courtesy Facebook/Capitol Records)

"Workin' Together" - The off-kilter rhythm section and idealistic lyrics of "Workin' Together" shows hints of Sly Stone and the Isley Brothers at their gutbucket funkiest, and helped Maze's sophomore album, Golden Time of Day, hit gold.  (Photo: Redferns/GettyImages)

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"Workin' Together" - The off-kilter rhythm section and idealistic lyrics of "Workin' Together" shows hints of Sly Stone and the Isley Brothers at their gutbucket funkiest, and helped Maze's sophomore album, Golden Time of Day, hit gold. (Photo: Redferns/GettyImages)

"Runnin' Away" - Live in New Orleans would already be one of the best live soul albums of all time, but this party-owning studio cut, along with "Before I Let Go," takes it to even higher levels of amazing-ness and helped Maze once again snag a gold plaque despite being ignored by pop radio. (Photo: Facebook/Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Runnin' Away" - Live in New Orleans would already be one of the best live soul albums of all time, but this party-owning studio cut, along with "Before I Let Go," takes it to even higher levels of amazing-ness and helped Maze once again snag a gold plaque despite being ignored by pop radio. (Photo: Facebook/Courtesy Capitol Records)

"Feel That You're Feelin'" - This smooth, sun-kissed 1979 anthem, a mainstay of Maze's live shows, feels like falling in love.  (Photo: James Crump/WireImage)

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"Feel That You're Feelin'" - This smooth, sun-kissed 1979 anthem, a mainstay of Maze's live shows, feels like falling in love. (Photo: James Crump/WireImage)

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"While I'm Alone" - With the band's dope doo-wop harmonies backing Beverly's silky, high-flying lead, this sunny song shows the strong influence of Marvin Gaye, who not only recruited the then up-and-coming band to open for him on tour but also convinced them to change their name from Raw Soul to Maze. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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"While I'm Alone" - With the band's dope doo-wop harmonies backing Beverly's silky, high-flying lead, this sunny song shows the strong influence of Marvin Gaye, who not only recruited the then up-and-coming band to open for him on tour but also convinced them to change their name from Raw Soul to Maze. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

"Southern Girl" - With its Larry Graham–esque bassline and Roy Ayers–esque synth work, this driving 1980 ode to Dixie chicks shows Maze sticking to its classic soul/funk chops in the face of a turbulent, rapidly changing post-disco musical landscape.  (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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"Southern Girl" - With its Larry Graham–esque bassline and Roy Ayers–esque synth work, this driving 1980 ode to Dixie chicks shows Maze sticking to its classic soul/funk chops in the face of a turbulent, rapidly changing post-disco musical landscape. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"I Can't Get Over You" - 1989's "I Can't Get Over You" is one of Maze's best ballads, filled with heartrending, unquenchable longing and giving the band their second No. 1 on the R&B charts. (Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images)

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"I Can't Get Over You" - 1989's "I Can't Get Over You" is one of Maze's best ballads, filled with heartrending, unquenchable longing and giving the band their second No. 1 on the R&B charts. (Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images)

"Golden Time of Day" - With ethereal guitar work and operatic, Minnie Riperton-inspired wails beautifully lacing summery organs, this title track from Maze's 1979 sophomore album sounds like summer. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

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"Golden Time of Day" - With ethereal guitar work and operatic, Minnie Riperton-inspired wails beautifully lacing summery organs, this title track from Maze's 1979 sophomore album sounds like summer. (Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records)

"Joy and Pain" - One of Maze's most recognizable hits — thanks in part to Rob Base sampling it years later without the band's permission — the title track from their classic third album is haunting and happy at the same time, with Beverly's familiar soul philosophy floating over upbeat drum-machine percussion and guitar plucks.    (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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"Joy and Pain" - One of Maze's most recognizable hits — thanks in part to Rob Base sampling it years later without the band's permission — the title track from their classic third album is haunting and happy at the same time, with Beverly's familiar soul philosophy floating over upbeat drum-machine percussion and guitar plucks. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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"Happy Feelin's" - This heavenly hit from the band's outstanding 1977 debut hints at the band's journey, with undeniable traces of Philly soul, the band's geographic and sonic origin, combined with the summery, breezy optimism of their new home, the Bay Area. Just try not to smile listening to this. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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"Happy Feelin's" - This heavenly hit from the band's outstanding 1977 debut hints at the band's journey, with undeniable traces of Philly soul, the band's geographic and sonic origin, combined with the summery, breezy optimism of their new home, the Bay Area. Just try not to smile listening to this. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

"Before I Let Go" - If we didn't pick this song for the top spot, there'd be riots in the streets. A beloved favorite of weddings, barbecues and parties everywhere, is Maze's instantly recognizable signature song, fueled by an unforgettable bassline and Frankie Beverly's soaring, breathless vocal runs. If you don't like this song, we don't know how you made it this far. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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"Before I Let Go" - If we didn't pick this song for the top spot, there'd be riots in the streets. A beloved favorite of weddings, barbecues and parties everywhere, is Maze's instantly recognizable signature song, fueled by an unforgettable bassline and Frankie Beverly's soaring, breathless vocal runs. If you don't like this song, we don't know how you made it this far. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)