"...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
