"Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (27 February 2019 UK Ace/Kent Soul Reissue - 2LPs Remastered Onto 2CDs) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Spaced Out..."

Between July 1971 and April 1979 - Norman Whitfield's Motown Soul/Funk band THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH issued eight studio albums in the USA - six on Gordy Records and the final two on his own label Whitfield Records (they were on Tamla Motown and Whitfield in the UK). And much like that other off-kilter Motown act RARE EARTH - their digital output has been a minefield for fans across the decades.

Well at last, with this 27 February 2019 twofer release, Ace Records of the UK (via their Kent-Soul label imprint) has plugged the final CD gaps - their fifth and sixth albums "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October). So for fans of this wicked and often underrated band - this 2019 double-disc reissue will finally allow to purchase their entire catalogue on CD (see list below) and I for one couldn't be a happier Little Red Riding Hood (cosmically speaking of course). Here are the boogie bump boogie details...

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) offers two albums from 1975 Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonus material) and they play out as follows:

CD1 "Cosmic Truth" (41:20 minutes):

1. Earthquake Shake [Side 1]

2. Down By The River

3. UFO's

4. Lil' Red Ridin' Hood

5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me

6. Spaced Out [Side 2]

7. Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'

8. 1990

9. (I Know) I'm Losin' You

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Cosmic Truth" - released March 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-970S1 and June 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8023. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 44 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Disc 2 "Higher Than High" (39:40 minutes):

1. Higher Than High [Side 1]

2. Poontang

3. Life Ain't So Easy

4. Boogie Bump Boogie

5. Help Yourself [Side 2]

6. I'm In The Red Zone

7. Overload

8. I Saw You When You Met Her

9. Ma

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Higher Than High" - released October 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-972S1 and November 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12009. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 52 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Overlooking the alarming period photo of five gold and silver painted faces beneath bleached white afros that adorns the fullness of the centre pages for the 16-page booklet (it might be cosmic man, but my God do they look silly) - Soul and Funk aficionado and long-time associate to Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE provides the suitable loaded and affection liner notes. They're packed with repros of US and UK single labels, rare Euro picture sleeves for "Poontang", "Earthquake Shake", "Higher Than High" and "I Saw You When You Met Her" as well as Promo Photos and LP labels. It's a typically thorough job and the NICK ROBBINS Remasters pack a hefty punch. Great stuff as you would expect from Ace...

The full album cut of "Earthquake Shake" opens proceedings on a fabulous and frantic funky groove - disappearing half way through the song into almost silence (probably though it would make a great single edit) before the Funk slides back on in like a dude entering a bar (the "Cosmic Truth" album opener is a co-write with Joe Harris). Whitfield's band then dives into unusual territory - a fantastic cover version of Neil Young's "Down By The River" from his second album in 1969, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere". Across its six and half minutes, the pace is slowed right down, turning a once hard-edged angry rocking tune and converting it into an ache ballad, the Isley Brothers fuzz guitar floating over sublime vocals. Reminds me of the best tracks on September 1971's "Givin' It Back" by The Isley Brothers where they Soul-ified a whole album of contemporary Rock tunes. It segues right into more drum-driven Funk - the very cool "UFO's" telling us that there's unidentified objects in the sky and the concerned band wants to know where do these uptight lights come from? It was an obvious single and in April 1975 Gordy paired it with "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'" on the B-side of Gordy G 7143F but the Hendrix trippy vocal and groove didn't chart. As far back as October 1974, Gordy had issued "Lil' Red Riddin' Hood" as a US 45 ahead of the "Cosmic Truth" album with "Big John Is My Name" from 1974's "Down To Earth" as its B-side (Gordy G 7140F). It's 'funny smelling cigarette' lyrics reflected the times and again it's a fab Whitfield groove amped up with layers of vocals and stinging guitars over on the left channel. Cool and Funky cuts like "Spaced Out" give us floating keyboard notes that reflect the song's title while their returns to "1990" and a six-minute "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (both originally done by The Temptations) pour on the spacey synth notes and chug-a-bug grooves while telling the people there's trouble in the White House as Americans walk the streets with no food breathing dirty air. Love the whole damn album...

Between July 1971 and April 1979 - Norman Whitfield's Motown Soul/Funk band THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH issued eight studio albums in the USA - six on Gordy Records and the final two on his own label Whitfield Records (they were on Tamla Motown and Whitfield in the UK). And much like that other off-kilter Motown act RARE EARTH - their digital output has been a minefield for fans across the decades.

Well at last, with this 27 February 2019 twofer release, Ace Records of the UK (via their Kent-Soul label imprint) has plugged the final CD gaps - their fifth and sixth albums "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October). So for fans of this wicked and often underrated band - this 2019 double-disc reissue will finally allow to purchase their entire catalogue on CD (see list below) and I for one couldn't be a happier Little Red Riding Hood (cosmically speaking of course). Here are the boogie bump boogie details...

UK released Wednesday, 27 February 2019 - "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) offers two albums from 1975 Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonus material) and they play out as follows:

CD1 "Cosmic Truth" (41:20 minutes):

1. Earthquake Shake [Side 1]

2. Down By The River

3. UFO's

4. Lil' Red Ridin' Hood

5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me

6. Spaced Out [Side 2]

7. Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'

8. 1990

9. (I Know) I'm Losin' You

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth studio album "Cosmic Truth" - released March 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-970S1 and June 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8023. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 44 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Disc 2 "Higher Than High" (39:40 minutes):

1. Higher Than High [Side 1]

2. Poontang

3. Life Ain't So Easy

4. Boogie Bump Boogie

5. Help Yourself [Side 2]

6. I'm In The Red Zone

7. Overload

8. I Saw You When You Met Her

9. Ma

Tracks 1 to 9 are their sixth studio album "Higher Than High" - released October 1975 in the USA on Gordy Records G6-972S1 and November 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 12009. Produced and Arranged by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 52 on the US R&B LP charts (didn't chart UK)

Overlooking the alarming period photo of five gold and silver painted faces beneath bleached white afros that adorns the fullness of the centre pages for the 16-page booklet (it might be cosmic man, but my God do they look silly) - Soul and Funk aficionado and long-time associate to Ace and other reissue labels TONY ROUNCE provides the suitable loaded and affection liner notes. They're packed with repros of US and UK single labels, rare Euro picture sleeves for "Poontang", "Earthquake Shake", "Higher Than High" and "I Saw You When You Met Her" as well as Promo Photos and LP labels. It's a typically thorough job and the NICK ROBBINS Remasters pack a hefty punch. Great stuff as you would expect from Ace...

The full album cut of "Earthquake Shake" opens proceedings on a fabulous and frantic funky groove - disappearing half way through the song into almost silence (probably though it would make a great single edit) before the Funk slides back on in like a dude entering a bar (the "Cosmic Truth" album opener is a co-write with Joe Harris). Whitfield's band then dives into unusual territory - a fantastic cover version of Neil Young's "Down By The River" from his second album in 1969, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere". Across its six and half minutes, the pace is slowed right down, turning a once hard-edged angry rocking tune and converting it into an ache ballad, the Isley Brothers fuzz guitar floating over sublime vocals. Reminds me of the best tracks on September 1971's "Givin' It Back" by The Isley Brothers where they Soul-ified a whole album of contemporary Rock tunes. It segues right into more drum-driven Funk - the very cool "UFO's" telling us that there's unidentified objects in the sky and the concerned band wants to know where do these uptight lights come from? It was an obvious single and in April 1975 Gordy paired it with "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'" on the B-side of Gordy G 7143F but the Hendrix trippy vocal and groove didn't chart.

As far back as October 1974, Gordy had issued "Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" as a US 45 ahead of the "Cosmic Truth" album with "Big John Is My Name" from 1974's "Down To Earth" as its B-side (Gordy G 7140F). Its 'funny smelling cigarette' lyrics reflected the times and again it's a fab Whitfield groove amped up with layers of vocals and stinging guitars over on the left channel. Cool and Funky cuts like "Spaced Out" give us floating keyboard notes that reflect the song's title while their returns to "1990" and a six-minute guitar-work-out of "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (both originally done by The Temptations) pour on the spacey synth notes and chug-a-bug grooves while telling the people there's no love in the White House as poor Americans walk the streets with no food and their children are breathing in dirty air. Funky and still amazingly relevant – I love the whole damn album. The second album presented here "Higher Than High" simply offers up more of the same - and again with a shockingly high quality rate. Cuts like the Sly & The Family Stone homemade feel to "Poontang" (Hollywood types beware) and the piano-groove of "I'm In The Red Zone" are just brilliant. Gotta tell you papa indeed.

A really great reissue then from Kent-Soul (should we expect anything less) and one that fans will eat up. I miss Funk and Soul like this - rare grooves, social commentary, damn but them was the days my man...

By way of info for fans - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH CD REISSUES, A 2019 LIST:

1. "Nothing But The Truth – 3 Motown Albums on 2 CDS Plus Bonus Tracks"

Issued 25 August 2017 in the UK on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP2 469 (Barcode 029667084628)

Contains "The Undisputed Truth" Debut US LP from July 1971, third album "Law Of The Land" from July 1973 and fourth LP "Down To Earth" from August 1974 (all on Gordy Records) Plus Six Bonus Tracks

2. "Face To Face With The Truth" - their second album from February 1972 on Gordy Records – first reissued May 2003 as a CD Remaster on Universal Music Group/Gordy/Miracle Records 067 100-2 (Barcode 044006710020) - see review

3. "Face To Face With The Truth" – June 2015 second CD Reissue of their second album on Universal/Elemental 88509 (Barcode 8435395500941)

4. "Cosmic Truth/Higher Than High" – Their Fifth and Sixth albums both from 1975 on Gordy Records (March and October), reissued 27 February 2019 in the UK on Ace/Kent Soul CDTOP2 483 (Barcode 029667093828) on 2CDs (no bonus material) – review above

5. "Method To The Madness/Smokin'" – their seventh and eight albums from January 1977 and April 1979 on Whitfield Records reissued 20 November 2015 in the UK on Robinsongs WROBIN2CDD (Barcode 5013929950221) as a 2CD set (no bonus tracks) - see review