Bill Withers - Still Bill (1972)

Bill Withers' debut album, "Just As I Am," was a huge success, and expectations were justifiably high for the self-produced follow up, "Still Bill." Withers delivered, and then some, with a cohesive effort that expounded on all varieties of love, from purely romantic on "Kissing My Love," to jealous paranoia on "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)," to one-sided love on "Use Me," to supportive friendship on "Lean On Me," and everything in between. The music is sometimes laid back, sometimes gritty and funky, with able back up from friends and ex-Charles Wright band members James Gadson, Benorce Blackmon, Ray Jackson and Melvin Dunlap. "Lean On Me," number 205 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time, went to #1 on the Billboard Pop and R&B charts, and "Use Me" hit #2. "Who Is He..." has been covered numerous times, including a 12-minute stunner by Creative Source in 1973, and versions by Gladys Knight and Meshell N'degeocello. The album is available on CD, both as a standalone and as a 2-for-1 with "Just As I Am." Either disc makes a welcome addition to any collection.

Album info from Discogs:

Still Bill

CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Still Bill

(amazon.ca) Still Bill

(amazon.co.uk) Still Bill

Gil Scott-Heron - Free Will (1972)

Gil Scott-Heron's third album is something of a mishmash of the first two - part confrontational, spoken word, rhythmic poetry, and part soul-jazz-funk-blues musical genius. On Side 1 - the music side - Gil, backed by many of the same musicians as on "Pieces Of A Man," excels. The title track, "The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues," "Speed Kills" and "Did You Hear What They Said?" are all classics. Side 2 is a mixed bag, ranging from the blunt, paranoid conspiracy theory of "The King Alfred Plan" to the simple and subtle "Billy Green Is Dead" to the tongue-in-cheek flippancy of "Sex Education: Ghetto Style." Overall a bit of a mixed bag, but still a strong effort with typical Scott-Heron inventiveness and insight.

Check out Discogs for album info:

Free Will

Available on Import CD from Amazon:

(amazon.com) Free Will

The Undisputed Truth - Face To Face With The Truth (1972) and Law Of The Land (1973)

The second and third albums by the Undisputed Truth saw more crossover with the work of the Temptations, with versions of "You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth," "Ungena Za Ulimwengu," "Friendship Train," "Law Of The Land" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone." Much of the other material on these albums also consisted of covers, with highlights including an extended version of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," and a rather attractive reading of Lori Lieberman's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" (completely overshadowed by Roberta Flack's Grammy-winning version released at almost the same time).

Album info. from Discogs:

Face To Face With The Truth

Law Of The Land

Kool And The Gang - Good TImes (1972)

As a kid, I loved the TV show "Good Times." The show was total Blaxploitation TV, giving a true commentary on ghetto life, without the guns, sex and hard attitudes (unless you count "Sweet Daddy" Williams, the pimp/numbers runner as "hard"... hardly!) The album "Good Times" had nothing to do with the TV show, but also gave an experience of the turbulent times making up the black (in this case musical) culture of the day, with a variety of contrasting styles and influences jammed into its two sides. "Country Junky" is as funky as things come - a hybrid of James Brown and Sly Stone. "North, East, South, West" is a straight ahead instrumental groover, with the funkiest of bass lines. "I Remember John W. Coltrane" is a hauntingly beautiful jazz tune. "Rated X" would have fit right into a soundtrack for a black "Rocky" movie. And finally, the closer, "Father, Father," could easily have been Marvin Gaye on one of his incredible, early 70's works. "Good Times" was never as commercially popular as a lot of other earlier K&TG works, but it's full of great jazzed out funk. Well worth a listen, if you can find a copy.

To Discogs for info:

Good Times

Available as part of 2-for-1 CD on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Ladies Night & Good Times

(amazon.ca) Ladies Night & Good Times

(amazon.co.uk) Ladies Night & Good Times

The Crusaders - Hollywood (1972)

After today's earlier posts of Arthur Adams and Phil Upchurch, another Blue Thumb connection with The Crusaders. The group, together since 1960, dropped the "Jazz" part of their name in 1971 (they had been known as the Jazz Crusaders through the 60's), at the same time shifting from straight ahead jazz to a more jazz-funk style. "Hollywood" was the sophomore effort under that monicker, following on from "Pass The Plate." Both albums were released on the MoWest label, the L.A. subsidiary of Motown. For some reason this album is almost impossible to find in any form, even though most of the other Crusaders albums from the early 70's have been re-released. It's a solid effort, with a re-worked "Spanish Harlem," along with "Try A Little Harder," "Do Yourself A Favour" and "Papa Hooper's Barrelhouse Groove" all standouts. Arthur Adams features with the group for the first time on this album, as he would on a regular basis after the band signed on with Blue Thumb Records a few months later.

On to Discogs for album information:

Hollywood

Phil Upchurch - Darkness, Darkness (1972)

Another under-appreciated guitarist, Phil Upchurch recorded the double-album "Darkness, Darkness" soon after arriving in Los Angeles in 1971 from Chicago, where he had worked as prime sideman with both Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler. Upchurch signed with Blue Thumb Records at around the same time as The Crusaders and Arthur Adams joined the label, and it would appear that there was a general "love-in" between stable-mates; "Darkness, Darkness" featured members of The Crusaders, along with Adams (there would be continued cross pollination amongst this group of performers over the next several years). Donny Hathaway also participated on this album, playing electric piano on two tracks. Upchurch's output had a more laid back, mellow, mainstream jazz feel than that of his Blue Thumb label mates, but he could funk it up when he wanted to. Most of the songs on "Darkness, Darkness" are covers, with two originals. Highlights are the covers of "Cold Sweat" by James Brown, andMarvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues."

Info. from Discogs:

Darkness, Darkness

Available on Japanese Import from Amazon:

(amazon.com) Darkness, Darkness

(amazon.ca) Darkness, Darkness

Arthur Adams - It's Private Tonight (1972)

Arthur Adams is perhaps one of the best jazz/blues guitarists no-one has heard of. He picked up guitar in his teens in Medon, Tennessee, and he started playing blues professionally when he moved to Nashville to attend university. Through the 60's he played back up to numerous musical luminaries, including Lightnin' Hopkins, Buddy Guy and Chuck Berry while living in Dallas in the first half of the decade, and then, after moving to Los Angeles, the Jackson 5, Willie Hutch, Kim Weston, Phil Spector and others. "It's Private Tonight" was Adams' debut solo album. It featured the single of the same title, released 3 years earlier and a regional hit. Backing artists included Phil Upchurch (another guitarist deserving of more attention), and Joe Sample and Wilton Felder, both members of the Crusaders (whom Adams would go on to support on several albums through the mid 70's). The album shares much stylistically with the Crusaders work of that time, with a funky jazz feel, but more emphasis on Adams' bluesy guitar and vocals.

Album info. here:

It's Private Tonight

S.O.U.L. - Can You Feel It? (1972)

S.O.U.L.'s second album, "Can You Feel It?" took their music to a new level. Maturity and refinement were more evident, lyrics were more thoughtful and probing, and original songs replaced covers, but the raw energy and love of musical performance remained. There isn't a weak track in this collection, and the album remained in the charts for 5 months. Although the band would record other records, this and the first album were the highlights of S.O.U.L.'s opus. The band is now sadly neglected in the States, but they maintain strong album sales overseas, particularly in Europe.

Discogs link for album info. here:

Can You Feel It?

2-for-1 CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) What Is It & Can You Feel It

(amazon.ca) What Is It & Can You Feel It

The Soul Children - Genesis (1972) and Friction (1974)

After Sam & Dave left Stax, there was a hole to fill at the label. Isaac Hayes and David Porter put this group together to fill it. The group were together for 10 years, from 1968 to 1978, during which time they scored 15 R&B hits. "Genesis" and "Friction" are the 3rd and 4th of 7 albums. These are available on a 2-for-1 CD, but I for one am not a big fan of the "two-fer" covers, hence the post of these originals.

Info. at Discogs:

Genesis and Friction

2-for-1 CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Genesis & Friction

(amazon.ca) Genesis & Friction

Maceo And All The King's Men - Funky Music Machine (1972)

See the previous post for group history. This was the group's 2nd album together. Another masterpiece of the funk genre.

Album info. at Discogs:

Funky Music Machine

Album available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Funky Music Machine

(amazon.ca) Funky Music Machine