Customer Reviews

Unreal

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In many ways this 1972 LONDON label release can best be described as one of the stranger R&B/funk and soul albums of the '70s...
Perhaps some analogy can be drawn to NEW BIRTH and FATBACK in terms of their one foot in old school R&B but willingness to "test" new directions...
and test they do...
Basically, the vocal styles are very straight ahead sweet soul... Actually, the members of the band started out as doo-wop singers, but decided to learn to play their own instruments, and by the '70s were hitting on hardcore funk soul styles... but they retained the their basic vocal style, hence giving the group its unique sound.
Another strength of the group was its producer. Failing to achieve label recognition in the US, they went over to the U.K. where veteran blues/rock producer Mike Vernon (John Myall, Fleetwood Mac, Ten Years After, even David Bowie) took over them on.
Despite being self trained, the members of the band are all quite good on their instruments...Drummer Darryl clifton especially. Like Garibaldi, he's able to take relatively simple ballads yet put an incredibly driving backbeat in them.
A number of studio musicians (horns and strings) were also brought in...
The release also includes 5 tracks off their album "Bloodstone" - - though the production isn't as good, there's some wicked drumming on LADY OF THE NIGHT. Reminds me a bit of a Rasputin Stash thing. DUMB DUDE is also a heavy mind tripper... and by the way, if you've heard this album before, am I the only person blown away by the cute little vocal thing at the climax of What Did You Do To Me, Pt. 2 ???

Though the album hits a bit of a lull around SOMETHING and the track following it, it ends with a ridiculously exciting funk feast, including the ridiculously catchy tunes LET ME RIDE and TRAFFIC COP (which sounds a bit like what [ASIN:B002CL3660 Black Heat's] ZIMBA KU would have sounded like if performed by Arrested Development (Arrested Development - Greatest Hits.)

All in all... for fans of '70s funk/soul... this gem definitely belongs on the shelf !

this is a cool, laidback album. most definitely the bomb. bloodstones best whole complete album. its got a little bit of everything. for the lovers, the funksters, for the rockers, its got it all. for a good dose of laid back mellow 70's soul, definitely get this one.