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With
4 albums already under her belt at Prestige Records in the early to mid
Seventies and all at the tender age of only 24 – PATRICE RUSHEN signed to
Elektra Records in 1978 - and soon became the darling of the World’s
dancefloors.
But
this hugely talented Californian singer and multi-instrumentalist has seen her
Funky catalogue languishing unloved by digital reissue companies for years or
been the province of massively expensive imports. Well along comes Edsel of the
UK and they’ve done the total business by the five albums she did with Elektra
between 1978 and 1984 - with this – the first of two Double-CD reissue sets.
UK
released 30 September 2013 - "Patrice, Pizzazz and Posh" by PATRICE
RUSHEN on Edsel/Rhino EDSK 7030 (Barcode 740155703035) offers 3 Albums from
1978, 1979 and 1980 originally on Elektra Records Remastered onto 2CDs with Four
Bonus Tracks (A and B-sides of twelve-inch single mixes) and plays out as
follows…
Disc
1 (79:00 minutes):
1.
Music Of The Earth
2.
When I Found You
3.
Changes (In Your Life)
4.
Wishful Thinking
5.
Let’s Sing A Song Of Love
6.
Hang It Up
7.
Cha-Cha
8.
It’s Just A Natural Thing
9.
Didn’t You Know
10.
Play!
Tracks
1 to 10 are her 5th album “Patrice” – released October 1978 on Elektra Records
6E-160 in the USA and on Elektra K 52104 in the UK.
Tracks
11 and 12 are BONUSES – Hang It Up (12” Version – 7:26 minutes) and Play! (12”
Version – 8:14 minutes) are the A&B-sides of a 1978 12” single on Elektra
AS-11404 (USA) and K 12336 (UK)
13.
Let The Music Play
14.
Keepin’ Faith In Love
15.
Settle For My Love
16.
Message In The Music
Tracks
13 to 16 are Side 1 of her 6th album “Pizzazz” – released October 1979 on
Elektra Records 6E-243 in the USA
Disc
2 (71:47 minutes):
1.
Haven’t You Heard
2.
Givin’ It Up Is Givin’ In
3.
Call On Me
4.
Reprise (Message In The Music)
Tracks
1 to 4 are Side 2 of “Pizzazz”
5.
Never Gonna Give You Up (Won’t Let You Go)
6.
Don’t Blame Me
7.
Look Up!
8.
I Need Your Love
9.
Time Will Tell
10.
The Dream
11.
The Funk Won’t Let You Down
12.
This Is All I Really Know
Tracks
5 to 12 are her 7th album “Posh” – released November 1980 on Elektra Records
6E-302 in the USA and Elektra K 52260 in the UK
Tracks
13 and 14 are BONUSES – Look Up! (Long Version) and Never Gonna Give You Up
(Short Version). Track 13 was a 12” Version on Elektra AS-11469 (USA) and K
12506 T (UK) while the Short Version of Never Gonna Give You Up was only on the
1980 American 12” Promo (Elektra AS-11486)
The
outer card wrap gives the whole reissue a quality feel – as does the chunky
32-page booklet which pictures the albums, original Elektra labels, publicity
photos, lyrics, track by track recording info and exceptionally detailed liner
notes by Soul Expert and long-time Edsel Associate TONY ROUNCE.
The
original production values of Charles Mimms, Jr. on all three LPs was top notch
anyway – uber high class and funky as a vicar’s sermon after too much wine. So it’s not surprising to find that the
remastered sound by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy is gorgeous throughout – full of
presence and toe-tapping detail.
The
incredible session-musicians roster also reads like a Mafia hit list of people
you’d want on your platters - Abraham Laboriel on Bass and Guitars, Larry
Williams on Tenor Sax, David T Walker on Guitar, James Gadson on Drums,
Paulinho Da Costa on Percussion… But what’s more impressive is that this lady
is a PRINCE – playing a huge array of instruments herself whilst writing,
singing and co-producing the whole shebang as a musical genius should.
It
opens with the hugely infectious "Music Of The Earth" then mellows
with the lovely "When I Found You". It’s back to floor-filling boogie
with "Changes (In My Life)" - but the remaster really shines on the
gorgeous acoustic ballad "Wishful Thinking". And funk lovers will
thrill to the stepper "It's Just A Natural Thing".
"Pizzazz"
upped the ante (and hair-dos) and with winners like "Haven’t You
Heard" (a US No. 7) and the irresistible crowd-pleaser "Let The Music
Take Me" - it was a big album for her. But things went stratospheric with
"Posh" featuring the monster "Never Gonna Give You Up" and
the utterly wicked "Look Up!" - a fabulous dancefloor pleaser that’s
regularly spun even now - 34 years after the event (lyrics from it title this
review). I also love having the longer
mixes of those monster hits – a very nice touch on the bonus track front.
To
this day these three LPs are held in real affection by Soul and Funk lovers
everywhere – and with damn good reason. You have to say that Edsel have done
Patrice Rushen’s uplifting musical legacy proud. Way to go boys…
PS:
Edsel
have also done Straight From The Heart (1982) and Now (1984) on another 2CD set
(Edsel EDSK 7031) with a whopping 10 Bonus Tracks (mostly 12” Mixes and their
hugely sought-after Instrumental versions). Also make a further beeline to her
stunningly funky "Shout It Out" album on Prestige from 1977 – it was
reissued on CD by Soul Brothers of the UK in 2009 and sounds utterly amazing
(features "The Hump" and "Let Your Heart Be Free").
