Creative Source - Creative Source (1973)

Creative Source formed in 1972 when several West Coast session musicians joined up under the management of Ron Townsend, of 5th Dimension fame. Their self-titled debut album was released a year later on Sussex, which also happened to be Bill Withers' label. THE highlight of the album was the drawn out, funky cover of Withers' "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)," which would become a staple track for club DJ's of the time. The song reached #21 on the US R&B singles charts in 1974. Two other singles, "You Can't Hide Love" and "You're Too Good To Be True," also charted, and the album made it to #21 on the R&B album charts in 1974. Four more Creative Source albums followed over the next three years, but none came close to the promise of their debut, and the group disbanded in 1977 after losing their recording contract.

Album info at Discogs:

Creative Source

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

Skull Snaps - Skull Snaps (1973)

"Skull Snaps" is one funky album! 'Nuff said? Born out of the Diplomats, a New Jersey trio formed in '63 with a solid output but poor sales, Skull Snaps would only release this one album. A blend of driving funky bass and guitars, outstanding drum breaks, piercing horns and gloriously soaring vocals and harmonies, this is another one for the list of greatest albums nobody knows about. Highlights include "My Hang Up Is You" (with shades of Philly soul), "It's A New Day" (What? Hip Hop in 1973?), and "I'm Your Pimp" and "Tresspassing" (two classic Blaxploitation themes looking for movies to star in). This is why I trawl the music blogs and second had record stores... every now and then you discover something like this, and your heart sings!

Album info. is here:

Skull Snaps

CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Skull Snaps

(amazon.ca) Skull Snaps

(amazon.co.uk) Skull Snaps

The Intruders - Save The Children (1973)

The Intruders, formed in the early 60's, were the mainstay of Gamble & Huff production team through the latter half of that decade, and it was G&H's success with the band that convinced Columbia Records to front the money for the formation of Philadelphia International in 1971. Less pop than Motown, and less funk/blues than Stax, The Intruders were one of the earliest examples of what would become known as the Philly Sound, with lush orchestrations, upbeat melodies and sweet harmonies. "Save The Children" was released in 1973 on the Gamble label (and later re-released on Philadelphia International). The album's two singles, "I'll Always Love My Mama" and "I Wanna Know Your Name," were both hits, reaching #6 and #9 on the R&B charts. Unfortunately the band faded away somewhat after this album.

Info. can be found at Discogs:

Save The Children

CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Save The Children

(amazon.co.uk) Save The Children

Claudia Lennear - Whew! (1973)

Maybe not the face that launched a thousand ships, but certainly the face, body, voice or something that caused two great artists to write two great songs in her honour - Mick Jagger penned "Brown Sugar" for her, and David Bowie "Lady Grinning Soul." This is one of those albums I would have bought as a teen without even hearing a note - the cover is so darn hot! In the years before making "Whew!" (her only album), Lennear worked as a session singer, doing back-up vocals for the likes of Ike & Tina Turner, Leon Russell and Joe Cocker, among others. When it came to this album, she did two sets of songs: one, with Ry Cooder playing guitar and producing, became Side 1, and the other, a suite produced by Allen Toussaint, Side 2. The work with Cooder has a harder, bluesy, rocking feel than does the Tuossaint works, which are slightly more mellow and funky, but the album overall is a strong one.

Album info:

Whew!

Blue Mitchell - Graffiti Blues (1973)

Most famous for his time with the Horace Silver Quintet in the late 50's and early 60's, and then with his own quintet through the late 60's, Blue Mitchell recorded 5 albums for Mainstream Records in the early 70's. These albums were not received as well by critics as his "traditional" hard bop albums (a common theme when jazz musicians "sold out" and played in a more funk-influenced style). This is perhaps the funkiest of the Mainstream albums, with killer groove following killer groove following killer groove, and almost 4 decades after it was recorded, the album still feels fresh and relevant.

Track info. as usual at Discogs:

Graffiti Blues

The Spirit Of Atlanta - The Burning Of Atlanta (1973)

Arguably one of the funkiest albums out there, this is an underground classic. Originally the album was supposed to be the soundtrack to a movie about the burning of Atlanta in 1864, and subsequent rebuilding efforts. Not sure if the movie was ever completed, but thank goodness the album was! I just can't understand why this band and album aren't better known. Not a weak track in the collection, and a real head bobber and foot tapper!

Track and recording information available at Discogs:

The Burning Of Atlanta

24-Carat Black - Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth (1973)

Superb concept album from Stax, focusing on the hardships of inner city ghetto life. The album was re-released on CD in 1994, but is almost impossible to find. The group only released one album in their time, though there was an album of unreleased material called "Gone: The Promises of Yesterday" released in 2009.

More info available on Discogs:

Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth

CD Available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth

(amazon.ca) Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth