Rev McD.

Artist: Eugene McDaniels
Title: Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse
Label: Atlantic
Year: 1971
Format: Vinyl LP (Original White Label Promo)

Review
A moment of silence (hush the keyboards please)…
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Okay, here I present you with one of the greatest funk/soul/blues albums of all-time, that’s right…ALL-TIME. Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse, by Eugene McDaniels, is one of the most sought-after records by record enthusiasts worldwide. Why? Only because the tracks contain some of the sickest drum breaks, bass lines that traveled the underground railroad, and arguably the most controversial subject matter of its time (1971)…there is some DEEP lyricism going on in this LP.

Before I had my own, I hadn’t heard this record completely…only the myths of its greatness (from storytellers such as ?uestlove of the Roots, and Waajeed of the Bling 47Group). I must say, there is no myth, this is one of my favorite albums, and I continue to enjoy it more and more w/ each listen.

Check out the sample audio…

Supermarket Blues

• Play

Lovin’ Man

• Play

Notable
Album features a young Alphonse Mouzon on the drums
Album has been a major target for samples from classic hip-hop artists and groups

Design
The album art looks like it could be for a folk album or something. But once you really take a look at it, it’s pretty damn cool. Two opium-addicted chinamen (just kidding)…two Samurai swordsmen engaging each other in battle, while the head of Eugene McDaniels is placed in the center of the two men, as if to say they’re going for his head.

I am loving the fact that designer Thomas Nittner decided to treat the artists name as a jewel, so-to-speak, while the title of the LP wins the battle of hierarchy. But notice that beneath McDaniels name, it reads “the left rev. mc d.”. It’s not clear what that means, other than Reverend McDaniels, but I like it…it’s kinda open for interpretation I guess.

On the back cover there is a very intense oil painting on canvas of a samurai with a red eye, again, I’m not quite clear on it’s full meaning. To the left of the images is a quote from McDaniels that reads, “we have killed the very earth beneath our feet…yet we still kill each other and speak of the future”. I think that’s a very powerful statement that still can be something to think about…even today. To the far right, is a nice simple left aligned column w/ bold and regular fonts (Helvetica)…just clean.

posted by: Darien of flwrpt