"Boogie To The Top: The Very Best Of" by IDRIS MUHAMMAD - including tracks from the album "Power Of Soul" (1974), "House Of The Rising Sun" (1976), "Turn This Mutha Out" (1977) and "Boogie To The Top" (1978) - featuring Grover Washington, Jr, Eric Gale, Joe Beck, Hiram Bullock, David Sanborn, Mike and Randy Brecker, Fred Wesley of The JB's, Bob James, Patti Austen, Will Lee and more (May 2015 Robinsongs CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Turn This Mutha Out..."

Now here's a sweetie for lovers of primo Jazz Funk – 10 tracks by New Orleans Fusion Drummer IDRIS MUHAMMAD from four of his Kudu Records LPs back in the grooving heyday of the Seventies. You also get the added bonus of three rare edited 7" single mixes tagged on at the end for good measure. And it all sounds fabulous too. Let's get to the details...

UK released 11 May 2015 – "Boogie To The Top: The Very Best Of" by IDRIS MUHAMMAD on Cherry Red/Robinsongs CDMRED 659 (Barcode 5013929165939) breaks down as follows (72:23 minutes):

1. Loran’s Dance

2. Power Of Soul

Tracks 1 to 2 both from the LP "Power Of Soul" released 1974 in the USA on Kudu Records KU 17. Grover Washington, Jr on Saxophone, Randy Brecker on Trumpet, Bob James on Keyboards, Joe Beck on Guitar, Gary King on Bass with Idris Muhammad on Drums.

3. Baia (Boogie Bump)

4. House Of The Rising Sun

5. Theme For New York City

Tracks 3 to 5 from the LP "House Of The Rising Sun" released 1976 in the USA on Kudu Records KU 27.

Track 3 features David Sanborn on Alto Sax, Mike Brecker on Tenor Sax, Don Grolnick on Piano, Eric Gale on Bass, Idris Muhammad on Drums with Debbie McDuffie, Hilda Harris & Patti Austen on Backing Vocals.

Track 4 features Frank Lloyd on Lead Vocals, David Sanborn on Alto Sax, Leon Pendarvis on Piano, and Eric Gale on Guitar and Will Lee On Bass with IM on Drums.

Track 5 features David Sanborn on Alto Sax, Fred Wesley on Trombone, Roland Hanna on Keyboards and Eric Gale on Guitar with Wilbur Bascomb on Bass and IM on Drums.

6. Crab Apple

7. Could Heaven Ever Be Like This

8. Turn This Mutha Out

Tracks 6 to 8 are from the LP "Turn This Mutha Out" released 1977 in the USA on Kudu Records KU 34.

Track 6 features Frank Lloyd on Vocals, Mike & Randy Brecker on Tenor Sax and Trumpet, Hiram Bullock on Guitar, Cliff Carter on Synth (as well as others).

Track 7 features Ronnie Cuber on Baritone Sax, David Tofani on Soprano Sax, Charlie Brown and Hiram Bullock on Guitars, Cliff Carter on Synth, Mike Brecker on Trumpet with IM on Drum.

Track 8 features Frank Lloyd on Vocals, Hiram Bullock on Guitar, Cliff Carter on Synth, Wilbur Bascomb on Bass, Sue Evans on Percussion and IM on Drums.

9. Stick It In Your Face

10. Boogie To The Top

Tracks 9 and 10 are from the album "Boogie To The Top" released 1978 in the USA on Kudu Records KU 38.

Track 9 features Jeremy Steig on Solo Flute with Hugh McCracken on Solo Harmonica.

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Could Heaven Ever Be Like This (Part 1) – 1977 USA 7" single edit on Kudu KU-939 [3:25 minutes]

12. Turn This Mutha Out (Part 1) – 1977 USA 7" single edit on Kudu KU-940 [3:40 minutes]

13. Boogie To The Top (Part 1) – 1978 USA 7" single edit on Kudu KU-943 [3:30 minutes]

The 12-page booklet has superb liner notes from noted-writer CHARLES WARING discussing Leo Morris (his real name) and his career to his sad passing in July 2014 aged 74. There some label repros of those yellow and black Kudu Records labels – but the big news is the NICK ROBBINS remasters that bring out all the classy musicianship that peppered every track (originally produced by CTI’s Creed Taylor and Dave Matthews. Other good names like Wayne Dickson at Big Break Records were involved in the reissue. The CD is a picture disc with other Robinsongs CD releases advertised on the inlay beneath the see-through tray.

Proceedings open with the slinky and breathy Jazz Funk of "Loran's Dance" and immediately you’re in Crusaders territory – a cool sensual groove played by superlative musicians who know how to bring it to a sexy boil. The audio is wicked.  His cover version of Hendrix’s Band Of Gypsys tune “Power Of Soul” is typical of so many tracks on here. A funky little number where Grover Washington, Jr. solos over a tight-as-a-drum rhythm section with the whole seven minutes feeling like a dancefloor driver (Joe Beck’s guitar solo is ace). It’s just brilliant and sounds great too.

As the Funk passes by the array of huge names behind the Muhammad backbeat make their talented presence known on every track – Grover Washington, Jr. on Saxophone, David Sanborn on Alto Sax, Randy Brecker on Trumpet, Fred Wesley on Trombone, Bob James on Keyboards, Hugh McCracken and Hiram Bullock on Guitars, Eric Gale on Bass and so on. It’s quite clear Idris went for commercialism by the “House Of The Rising Sun” album in 1976 bringing on board lead vocalist Frank Lloyd with Patti Austin filling in those Backing Vocals. His cover of the Animals hit is very George Benson but with perhaps a little too much of a nod towards the Disco Beat that dominated the scene at the time.

Things get real gritty with the “Turn This Mutha Out” album and in a great way. “Crab Apple” slides along with Steely Dan guitar licks and a backbeat that just won’t quit while the flang-effect opening of “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This” feels very Donald Byrd “Spaces And Places” with the Mizell Brothers at the writing helm. And on it goes to the three single edits which DJs will love chopping down those more commercial cuts into manageable dancefloor sizes...

A great set of tunes, quality presentation and top-notch audio. Well done to all at Cherry Red and Robinsongs (who continue a hot streak of CD reissues in this vein)...