Artist: Al Jarreau
Title: Look To The Rainbow (Live in Europe)
Year: 1977
Label: Warner Brothers
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Review
For the grown folks.

Check out the sound!

Rainbow In You Eyes

Take Five

Better Than Anything

Burst In With A Dawn

Additional info on Al Jarreau

Been super busy, sorry for the lack of posts this week…

However, I’m taking a quick break to catalog more records…

This stuff takes time! Stay tuned though…

Peace.

Artist: Kool & The Gang
Title: Light Of Worlds
Year: 1974
Label: De-Lite
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.0/5.0

Review
This is a good record. I am not a huge fan of Kool & The Gang, honestly, but lately I’ve been picking up some of their earlier work (1970 through about 1974), and I really like the sound that they had before going commercial. Earlier on, the sound was raw, it was dirty, it was like basement funk or something, block-party funk. You can’t beat that! Light of Worlds, an easy find for those that are interested, it’s definitely worth a listen and a purchase.

Check out the sound!

The Fruitman

Summer Madness

Design
Totally different than most Kool & The Gang covers that I’m used to. This one is a little less intriguing, feels a bit mystic to me actually. It doesn’t evoke the feeling that the sound evokes. I can appreciate the dotted type treatment a little, but overall this cover is kind of dull…MINUS the pop colors of blue and red overprinted color.

Additional info on Kool & The Gang

Artist: Fred Wesley and the JB’s
Title: Damn Right I Am Somebody
Year: 1973
Label: People
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
A gem! One of the best Fred Wesley and the JB’s records of all-time! Recorded during the same session as the famous James Brown LP, The Payback…Damn Right I Am Somebody is as funky and as soulful as they come. Expect that signature JB’s sound, Fred Wesley horns, and hard hitting guitars throughout. This is definitely a versatile piece, because they break the formula a bit, which makes the album memorable, and not just “another JB’s joint”. They offer different sounds with this record as well, which makes it that much more unique.

Check out the sound!

Damn Right I’m Somebody

You Sure Love To Ball

Blow Your Head

Design
This is a great cover! From the painting, to the type, down to the composition. It’s definitely telling a story, a story of strength and power to the people! Notice the chains on the young black male on the right, hmmm…I wonder what the JB’s could be symbolizing? I have an idea, that in some cases, the black man is being held down in society, starting from a young age…I’m almost positive that the JB’s were hinting at that. There is a ton of symbolism in this cover art, but I will let you as the viewer make your own interpretations. This was released during very political times in the African-American community, so the passion behind it was very strong I’m sure. Now…INTERPRET!

Additional info on Fred Wesley

Artist: The Education of Sonny Carson (Soundtrack)
Title: Self-titled
Year: 1974
Label: Paramount
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Review
An amazing blaxploitation soundtrack, that not many people are aware of. I think viewing the movie will definitely help identify with the music. The Education of Sonny Carson is a classic, I’m not going to give away the story, but it’s about Brooklyn NYC gangs in the 70’s, amongst other things. BUY IT!

Leon Ware lends his talents for lead vocals here, delivering a very strong performance. The sound is very gritty overall, very heartfelt in a sense (at times), but it gets across the feeling of storytelling, through sound. Simply by listening one can imagine what would be going on in the film at that point.

A rare piece of material, and a special one! Enjoy…

Check out the sound!

The Rumble

Exercise Run

The Robbery and The Chase

Girl, Girl, Girl

Where Do I Go From Here? (Sonny’s Theme)

Check out the vid!

Design
As much as I love the record, this cover is HIDEOUS! LOL! They spent ZERO money on creating it, obvious, right?…

Additional info on The Education of Sonny Carson

Artist: Patrice Rushen
Title: Straight From The Heart
Year: 1982
Label: Elektra
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
This is the 80’s at its best, a definite classic. Patrice Rushen delivers a VERY solid lp here, bringing tracks that make the listener feel good, feel bad, dance, sing, etc. She leads all vocals, and plays keyboards and synthesizers. Straight From The Hrart, it’s truly an experience.

Check out the sound!

Where There Is Love

You Remind Me

Forget Me Nots

Design
The only thing I’m really feeling about this design is the grid on the back cover. What I do think is interesting, however, are the crazy beads in her hair, that musta took hours right? lol…

Additional info on Patrice Rushen

Artist: The Main Ingredient
Title: L.T.D.
Year: 1970
Label: RCA
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Review
This is the Main Ingredient’s first LP…just…ya know, one of those great soul albums of the early 70’s! All created prior to Cuba Gooding, Sr. joining as lead singer. The original lead vocalist was Donald McPherson, sadly he passed away unexpectedly after the release of this LP…with leukemia.

This album is packed with harmony. The vocal arrangements are what draw me into every track on this particular record. The background vocals are strong as well.

Check out the sound!

Magic Shoes

I Was Born To Lose

Can’t Stand Your Love

You’ve Been My Inspiration

Design
Grainy photography is never a bad thing…to me. The typeface is pretty different for the era, which is the early 70’s. Take a look at their poses…classic New York swag!

Additional info on The Main Ingredient

Artist: Mandre
Title: M3000
Year: 1979
Label: Motown
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 2.0/5.0

Review
Hmmm…I wonder where Andre Benjamin of Outkast came up with his alias, as Andre 3000? If I had to take a wild guess, I would say that he was influenced by the legendary Michael Andre Lewis, who went by the stage name of Mandre, and titled his last LP M3000 (which stood for Mandre3000). Get the connection?

This LP is actually not that good, and I hate to say that, for the simple fact that Mandre was such a great group early on, as Maxayn, and later with the first Mandre album. This was the groups final album, M3000. They did NOT go out with a bang. In fact, the only two tracks that are worth a listen, I have included in this post, and they SAVE this album for me. I expected so much more from a group with so much talent, it came to a point where they let the electronic equipment control them, and completely take over their signature musicianship.

Check out the sound!

M3000 (Opus VI)

L’Oasis

Design
I like the logo a lot, with the reflection…this cover is pretty bold overall. Not quite sure what the back cover represents, it’s a little out there, but it’s fitting for the sound of this record. But it’s definitely an eye-catching cover, I just wish the music was consistent.

Additional info on Mandre

Artist: Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess
Title: Casually Formal
Year: 1986
Label: Atlantic
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
You have to be a fan of 80’s music to really appreciate this album, it really captures the essence of that 1986 sound…and captures it very well. I LOVE this record, bottom line. The Aleems are twin brothers (Taharqa & Tunde-Ra Aleem) who teamed up with a buddy, Leroy Burgess (the king of boogie and former Black Ivory lead singer), who just so happened to live in the same building as they did in Harlem growing up. Turns out that the album was completed by the twin brothers alone, but they did not like the way that their vocals sounded on the tracks, so they asked Burgess to join the group as lead singer, and to help write, produce and compose some of the tracks. That was the best move that they could have made, because this turned out to be a CLASSIC underground boogie and soul lp. The sound is really synthetic…REALLY synthetic, some of the tracks were produced using programs on the 1986 Apple IIc computer…that shows that they embraced the technology, as well as the switch to electronic instruments and synthetic sounds. I can dig that, because a lot of musicians who made the switch were heavily scrutinized by traditionalist elitists. The Aleems featuring Leroy Burgess actually made beautiful music, and the arrangements by the trio are fantaaaaaaaaaaaastic! They all play instruments, so they understand chords, and they had a formula for “feel good”…so the sounds were something of beauty, the electronic instrumentation was on point.

Herbie Hancock put it best…”the electronic equipment is like an axe, it can be used to chop wood to build a house, or it can be used as a weapon to slaughter your neighbor. With synthesizers, they can produce sounds that hurt the ears, or produce beautiful sounds that draw you in…”. So it’s really about WHO is using it and HOW, not WHAT you use.

Enjoy.

Check out the sound!

Think

Stay

Loves On Fire

Design
The design is definitely cheesy. But you MUST give it to these grown men for going hard enough to rock out with white tuxedo jackets and dress shirts, with red bow-ties and cumberbun’s!!! LOL!!! They also have on some sort of weird Wrangler-looking denim with the snow white Reebok’s on…not to mention that these cats are captured in mid air (shaking my head in shame)…and Leroy Burgess has the nerve to sport a jerry-curl (he’s still the MAN though!). The photographer and stylist should have been fired immediately!!! LOL!!!

I will say, however, that although the props on the back cover (specifically the table and chairs) are lame, the composition and the idea…I like…which is that a tab was paid, and a couple split, to get home and reeeeeeeeeeeeally get the night started.

Additional info on Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess

Artist: Elaine Brown
Title: Self-titled
Year: 1973
Label: Black Forum
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.5/5.0

Review
Let me start off by saying that Elaine Brown was the former chairperson for the Black Panther party, she was a Panther from 1967 to 1977 (which is the year that they disbanded). She is a very strong, very outspoken black woman! As for her music, it was ALL about the struggle of African-Americans, it was about what she saw, what she felt, and what she wanted others to see and feel. She also was all about STRENGTH! Her lyrics are very deep, they’re all printed on the sleeve of this lp, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to read through them. From the tracks that I’ve posted, listen CLOSELY to what she’s saying.

This album was released on Black Forum, a very political driven label, and a sub-division of Motown. Most of the records under this division are rare, definitely out of press and were not re-issued.

The self-titled lp Elaine Brown was produced by Fonce Mizell (of the great Mizell Brothers), and Freddie Perren…so that alone speaks for the quality of the music. They set the mood for this record, and it’s almost like story-telling music, the sound is amazing to me. Her voice is VERY unique, really a different vocal pattern, but it’s ownable, and original.

Check out the sound!

Child In The World

I Know Who You Are

Design
This cover is great. From the very accurate pencil drawing, to the African pattern gracing the border. The font is bold, which it needs to be, because everything about her music is BOLD. Her record cover feels…how her music sounds…

Additional info on Elaine Brown

Artist: The Players Association
Title: Self-Titled
Year: 1977
Label: Vanguard
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.75/5.0

Review
All I can say is…WOW! (Spelled backwards…WOW) This is another one of those records I saw in the record store, intrigued by the record label (because I’m used to only seeing disco 12′ releases from Vangaurd, not full LP’s), and gave it a listen. After hearing the first track…I knew that I was buying this lp…PERIOD. I love finding records like this, obscure, and that possess an amazing sound quality. This particular piece demonstrates two styles coming together, boogie, and mellowed-out soul grooves. I’d particularly like to point out “Moon In Pisces”, which is my favorite track on the record, (and not just because I am a Pisces), but this song has a really distinct sound that was ahead of its time in my opinion, similar to RAMP, it almost sets the listener up for what (neo soul/soul) music would become for this generation. Some of the other tracks that I’ve chosen to feature are high-energy, feel-good tracks that are deserving of something other than simply dancing, it’s LIFE music.

Check out the sound!

Moon In Pisces

I Like It

Hustlin’

Design
Not really the greatest cover, but the model that they photographed is interesting. She becomes almost sculptural. There’s no concept, so there’s not much to say about this cover, I’m not exactly sure of what message they want to get across, if any. And I’m definitely not a fan of the font chosen. With a group named The Players Association, they are supposed to have a nice lockup…not this random Shakey’s Pizza looking logo.

Additional info on The Players Association

Artist: Isaac Hayes
Title: Joy
Year: 1973
Label: Enterprise
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 2.0/5.0

Review
NOT one of Isaac Hayes best releases, honestly. So this review will be quick. I posted this lp anyway, due to the fact that the title track “Joy” is a winner, and a must-hear. Funky, groovy, and has a killer drum break throughout…ALL 18 minutes of this masterpiece of a song…yes, 18 minutes! The rest of the album is of a much lesser quality. With that said, enjoy the one track I’ve posted for this record.

Check out the sound!

Joy

Design
I really like the typeface used for this record cover, it’s also debossed (look closely). I must add, however, it seems a bit odd seeing Isaac Hayes in a major prance here (his ballet leap), it’s something I wouldn’t expect from him. Flipping to the back cover, check out this chain linked vest…only a celebrity can pull this off…only a celebrity.

Additional info on Isaac Hayes

Looking for a quick Saturday night flick, an interesting one? Well check out this documentary about digging for records, features a few legends, such as Showbiz (from Showbiz & AG), Evil Dee (of Black Moon), just to name a couple. I enjoyed this thoroughly…hopefully you will to.

A very talented dude, Herbie Hancock, explains and rocks out on his Fairlight CMI with Quincy Jones, this is such an amazing video! Enjoy.

Artist: Jackie Jackson
Title: Selt-titled
Year: 1973
Label: Motown
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
Now, when I first got this record, I was excited due to the fact that, at the time, I wasn’t even aware that Jackie Jackson had his own LP. (For those that don’t know, Jackie Jackson is the oldest of the brothers in the famous Jackson 5 group.) So I was anxious to hear this record to see what he could do without his younger brother Michael running the show. Folks, let me tell you, I was blown away. First off, the production team on this release was none other than The Corporation, which included Fonce Mizell of the great Mizell Brothers, and Freddie Perren, just to name a couple. Second, Jackie represented in a major way, delivering strong love ballads, simple songs about life, heartbreak, relationships, etc. It seemed real personal, which made the record believable, and interesting, because everybody can relate. Finally, he got funky on a track that caught me waaaaaay off guard, I feel like that song came staight from the heart, “Is It Him or Me?”. A lot of cats only dig this record because it contains a nice little drum break, but I am a lover of music and endorse this entire album as a banger to go and get….for music sake.

Check out the sound!

Love Don’t Wanna Leave

Is It Him Or Me?

Design
Basic layout with a picture within a picture effect. Nothing spectacular, and I’m not a fan of the font that’s used. Uhhh, this one is up in the air. OH! I do, however, like the warmth overall, the autumn color palette, and the nice use of white space. That does it for this one…

Additional info on Jackie Jackson

Artist: Dale Jacobs & Cobra
Title: Cobra
Year: 1978
Label: Epic
Format: LP (Original Promo White Label)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
An amazingly obscure album from the unknown Dale Jacobs. I picked this album up due to the intrigue of the cover alone initially, but after listening, I was a fan. This is an album that explores electronic sound, a one-time thing from the musician/producer. Jacobs is traditionally known for writing and producing film/television/radio scores and live performances. This Cobra album came about while in the studio with his friends and fellow musicians…just experimenting with some new electronic equipment. These experiments (in my mind), turned out to be classic compositions! The type of music that happens once in an artists career, and this just-so happens to be Jacobs’ first and last album. I think he knew that he got it right the first time around. Keep your ears open and get hip to “Almost Home”, probably my favorite track on the LP, due to the chords that he plays out, and the overall subtle nature of the cut. But again, the whole album is a gem, if you can find it, add it to your collection for sure.

Check out the sound!

Almost Home

Cobra

Computer Samba

Design
This is an intriguing cover to say the least…drunk chick on the couch, bull constrictor on the floor (…bull constrictor on the floor???) That’s right folks, the first thing I noticed is that the snake that appears on this cover is NOT a cobra, clearly you can see by the head/neck area, and the pattern of the snake skin, this is a bull constrictor. Otherwise, however, this is a very nice album cover. I love the setting, the props, and the type. Notice the relationship of the “RA” in COBRA. I have also taken a liking to the ampersand, I have never seen one that looks that odd before, but it’s a sweet little detail that does not interrupt the main lockup. The tone and overall hue of the cover is appealing, feels sort of pine-esque (not a word). Finally, the white space and the five column grid on the back cover is working wonderfully, that’s a perfect example of how to create tension with the space, notice the relationship (on the back cover) of the placement of “Dale Jacobs & Cobra”, to that of the rest of the copy. Nice.

Additional info on Dale Jacobs & Cobra

Artist: Bobbi Humphrey
Title: Fancy Dancer
Year: 1975
Label: Blue Note
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
Another Mizell production!!!…yes, another one. This is a wonderful album, contains the bangers “Please Set Me At Ease” and “Uno Esta”. Great production work from a major part of the Sky High team, Chuck Davis. I feel that Davis produced the best track on the album, which you can listen to below, “The Trip”, which has a deep sound to it all throughout, which meshes well with the softer tone of Humphrey’s jazz flute. This album is about the melody, this artist is about the melody, take it in, it always goes down smooth.

Check out the sound!

The Trip

Uno Esta

Please Set Me At Ease

Design
Very fun illustration done for this cover. It’s very abstract to say the least, but I like the detailing…done by Barbara Nessim. But what’s also nice is the type treatment on the front cover, the close tracking of the words gives a nice bold presence, and looks clean, too.

Additional info on Bobbi Humphrey

Artist: The WIZ (Soundtrack)
Title: Self-titled
Year: 1978
Label: Motown
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0

Review
Let me start by saying that this movie is an absolute CLASSIC…PERIOD! For those that don’t know, The WIZ is an African-American production of the Wizard of OZ. The film starred Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, and a young Michael Jackson, amongst others. One of the most amazing things about this movie is the score, the music itself…so naturally when I saw the soundtrack in the record store, I picked it up without hesitation. Not a rare record, not an expensive record, but this is definitely a record with many great tracks on it. Produced by none other than the great Quincy Jones, this album is a sleeper! But I’ll wake you all up (be sure to check out the sound clips below). For anybody that’s in the mood to hear some killer grooves, be sure to listen to the Emerald City sequence of Green, Red, and Gold…those three tracks are a MUST.

Check out the sound!

Green

Red

Gold

Mean Ol’ Lion

Poppy Girls

Design
This is a dope painting, and the inside cover is amazing, a very dynamic piece that captures the feel of the film. Dark, but sort of electric in a sense. Not much of a concept cover, and rightfully so, it’s representing a movie, so it is what it is. The nice touch of sparkle on the hand-painted bold typography on the cover is a subtle detail that I rather enjoy.

Additional info on The WIZ

Artist: The Moments
Title: Those Sexy Moments
Year: 1974
Label: Stang
Format: LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0

Review
Holy grail piece! They are officially one of my favorite groups now.

The Moments come extra strong with this record. Delivering nothing but the best in what we call…soul music. Have you ever had a record where you didn’t have to skip any tracks? Well, for me, this is DEFINITELY one of those records! Nothing but quality on both sides of the vinyl. The arrangements are on point, the writing is phenomenal, and the sound is kind of gritty/dusty, which a lot of producers of today try to duplicate with their sound. I am especially drawn to the weird, unexpected chords that are played randomly throughout the LP, it kind of fools the metronome of the mind. Those Sexy Moments just feels like it came natural to the group, every element of making a great LP is personified to the maximum through this record.

Viewers, if you come across this record…make it an immediate purchase!

Note that the Moments eventually transitioned into the group, Ray, Goodman, and Brown later in the 70’s.

Check Out The Sound!

Seven Days

Next Time I See You

Sexy Mama

Design
This cover, in my opinion, is amazing! From the pattern of the wallpaper, to the animal fur rug, the big chow chow dog curled up on the floor, and finally, to the picture frame on the wall showing the members of the group. Designed by Stephen Saban, Joanna Saban, and Michael Longacre for Sokoloff Associates, Inc. They did a great job. I must say, there is a very strong sense of texture on the cover, starting with the headboard on the bed, then to the pink picture frame, next the fur carpet, and finally, the texture that the wallpaper pattern creates. A lot right? Right, but it works here for some straaaaange reason. That reason being the fact that there is not much color, it’s very saturated overall, minus the bright pink picture frame. This seemingly small design decision makes the busy cover work. In closing, notice the hand-written type…simply beautiful! I love the “S” in “Sexy”. This is truly a unique cover in my opinion…and it only adds to the greatness of how dope the music is already.

Additional info on The Moments

Artist: Bumblebee Unlimited
Title: Sting Like A Bee
Year: 1979
Label: RCA
Format: LP (Original Promo)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 3.0/5.0

Review
A decent attempt. This is a studio group, a producers concept album, Bumblebee Unlimited is NOT a real group. Basically this album creates hot boogie instrumentals and fuses them with sped up vocals, and the idea of it actually works. It doesn’t sound bad at all, although I enjoy the music itself in this case, more than the sped up vocals. See what you think…

Check out the sound!

I Got A Big Bee

Lady Bug

Design
I tell you, these boogie/disco covers just get weird-er and weird-er…

Additional info on Bumblebee Unlimited