"Nothing But The Truth: 3 Motown Albums On 2CDs Plus Bonus Tracks" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH – Includes Their First, Third and Fourth Albums on Gordy Records (USA) and Tamla Motown (UK) - "The Undisputed Truth" (July 1971 USA, February 1972 UK), "Law Of The Land" (June 1973 USA, September 1973 UK), "Down To Earth" (August 1974 USA, January 1975 UK) Plus Six Bonus Single Sides – Featuring Joe Harris, Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Evans with Production, Arrangements and Musical Direction from Norman Whitfield (25 August 2017 Ace Records/Kent Soul 2CD Anthology – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Just My Speed..."

INCLUDING THE ALBUMS 
"The Undisputed Truth" (US Debut Album, US 1971, UK 1972)
"Law Of The Land" (Third Album, US and UK 1973)
"Down To Earth" (Fourth Album, 1974 USA, 1975 UK)

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!

Amidst my coveted original vinyl LPs lies the rear sleeve of a debut album from 1971 with a cool duderino and his two hipster girl-cats walking in some American park - all multi-coloured jackets, leather onesies, bellbottoms and satellite-receiving afros looking so damn right on man - it hurts. The album is "The Undisputed Truth" by The Undisputed Truth and the bodies are the three lead vocalists - Joe Harris, Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Evans. 


The two ladies of TUT (Calvin and Evans) emerged from a Sixties Girl Group called The Delicates while Harris had been on the scene since 1962 - first with The Fabulous Peps and later joining The Ohio Untouchables who would go on to become the hugely successful Ohio Players - major Soul players in the Seventies. The other key element came in the shape of Motown's rebel-child Writer, Producer and Arranger Norman Whitfield and his work with The Temptations as they re-wrote the R 'n' B playbook by practically inventing Psychedelic Soul/Funk With A Message For The People. Let the music take me higher indeed...

Ace Records of the UK have used their Kent-Soul label imprint for some seriously revered releases before - the 2008 "Take Me To The River" Book Set for instance and its two 3CD Book sequels "The Fame Studio..." from 2011 and "Back To The River - More Southern Soul" from 2015. Or even the five compilations in their Dave Godin Soul Treasures Tribute Series for instance. But if I'm to be a truthful Christmas bunny, then this little twofer from 2017 is the peach I return to most. The Temptations were fabulous too throughout this period - but there's just something cooler about The Undisputed Truth that makes me want to seek out everything they ever did. There's a lot of smiling faces (sometimes) to get through, so here goes...

UK released Friday, 25 August 2017 - "Nothing But The Truth: 3 Motown Albums On 2CDs Plus Bonus Tracks" by THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH on Ace/Kent-Soul CDTOP2 469 (Barcode 029667084628) is a 2CD Anthology offering three American Gordy Records albums from 1971, 1973 and 1974 (1972, 1973 and 1975 UK on Tamla Motown) plus Six Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:

CD1 (69:38 minutes):

1. You Got The Love I Need [Side 1]

2. Save My Love For A Rainy Day

3. California Soul

4. Aquarius

5. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)

6. Smiling Faces Sometimes [Side 2]

7. We've Got A Way Out Love

8. Since I've Lost You

9. Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone

10. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

11. Like A Rolling Stone

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "The Undisputed Truth" - released July 1971 in the USA on Gordy G-955L and February 1972 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11197 (Stereo). Produced by NORMAN WHITFIELD - it peaked at No. 7 on the US R&B charts (didn't chart UK)

12. Law Of The Land [Side 1]

13. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

14. Girl You're Alright

15. Killing Me Softly With His Song

16. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

17. This Child Needs Its Father

Tracks 12 to 17 are Side 1 of their third album "Law Of The Land" - released June 1973 in the USA on Gordy G 963L and September 1973 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11240 (Stereo) - peaked at No. 52 in the US R&B charts (didn't chart UK). Their second album "Face To Face With The Undisputed Truth" released February 1972 in the USA on Gordy G-959L and July 1972 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8004 is not covered by this 2017 Ace release (is available separately - see my review).

CD2 (70:20 minutes):

1. Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No) [Side 2]

2. Feelin' Alright?

3. Love And Happiness

4. With A Little Help From my Friends

5. If I Die

6. Walk On By

Tracks 1 to 6 are Side 2 of their third album "Law Of The Land" (see Disc 1)

7. Help Yourself [Side 1]

8. Big John Is My Name

9. Brother Louie

10. I'm A Fool For You

11. Our Day Will Come

12. Just You 'N' Me [Side 2 - see Notes below]

13. The Girl's Alright With Me

Tracks 7 to 13 are their fourth studio album "Down To Earth" - released August 1974 in the USA on Gordy G6-968S1 and January 1975 in the UK on Tamla Motown STML 11277 - peaked at No. 35 in the US R&B charts (didn't chart UK). Probably dues to a lack of songs at the time of release - Side 2 of the US "Down To Earth" LP on Gordy Records reissued two songs from the "Law Of The Land" LP and one from the debut - so Side 2's US 5-track running order is "Just You 'N' Me", "Love And Happiness", "Law Of The Land", "This Girl's Alright With Me" and "Save My Love For A Rainy Day". This 2CD obviously doesn't duplicate them on Disc 2. Just to confuse matters further, the February 1975 British LP for "Down To Earth" ran differently also - to 12 Tracks instead of 10. The first added song is "Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love" as Track 6 on Side 1 - while Side 2 saw "Let's Go Back To Day One" mixed into its six songs in this order - "Just You 'N' Me", "Love And Happiness", "Law Of The Land", "The Girl's Alright With Me", "Save My Love For A Rainy Day" and "Let's Go Back To Day One".   

BONUS TRACKS:

14. Let's Go Back To Day One – appeared only on the January 1975 UK variant of the "Down To Earth" LP on Tamla Motown STML 11277

15. What It Is (Single Version) – A-side of a 25 January 1972 US 7” single on Gordy G 7114F – B-side was "California Soul"

16. What's Going On (Edit) – B-side to "Help Yourself", a 14 February 1974 US 7” single on Gordy G 7134F. The single edit is 4:58 minutes while the full album version of 9:25 minutes can be found on their second LP "Face To Face With The Undisputed Truth" (February 1972 on Gordy G-959L)

17. You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth (Single Edit) – A-side of a 16 November 1971 US 7” single on Gordy G 7112F – B-side was a 7:03 minute edit of the 10:46 minute album track "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" on the debut LP

18. Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love – first issued as the B-side to "Mama I Got A Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)", a 15 February 1973 US 45 on Gordy G 7124F. Also used as the last track on Side 1 of the UK variant of the "Down To Earth" LP in January 1975 (not on the US album)

19. Law Of The Land (Single Version) – A-side of a 5 May 1973 US 45 on Gordy G 7130F

The chockers 24-page booklet features typically superb detailed liner notes from long-time Ace Records contributor TONY ROUNCE – clearly enthused by a band he digs. You get the front cover artwork to the three LPs (not the rears) – rare Euro picture sleeves to stuff like "Help Yourself", "Law Of The Land" and "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing..." – a 9-single page worth of US and UK demos on Gordy and Tamla Motown - complimented by sheet music for "Smiling Faces Sometimes" and pictures of our groovy threesome giving it some righteous shuffle on some Soul Train bandstand. The Remasters by DUNCAN COWELL are absolutely cracking even when the hiss of the early 1971 stuff is amplified – it’s not overdone – and besides the music quickly drowns out any quibbles. By the time you get to the "Law Of The Land" album – Joe Harris and his ladies are clear as a bell. To the music...

As much as I treasure owning it and being top heavy with other people's hip songs – the debut is not all Soul-Funk genius for damn sure and could have easily condemned The Undisputed Truth to being a glorified covers band and vanity project for Norman Whitfield. Some of the covers must undoubtedly have felt cheesy even at the time they were released and are almost unlistenable now – a terrible version of Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" is one culprit while the Hair Musical and 5th Dimension hit "Aquarius" just about aligns with Mars. But these are saved by fabulous Northern Soul shufflers like the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield opener "You Got The Love I Need" - actually a Temptations tune from 1966 called "I Got Heaven Right Here On Earth" with The Undisputed Truth's lead vocals laid down in March 1971. It was issued as US 45 flipside in May 1971 to the band-breaker "Smiling Faces Sometimes" on the A (Gordy G 7108). Prior to that, their debut US 45 came in the shape of another talcum powder shuffler called "Save My Love For A Rainy Day". Issued February 1971 on Gordy G 7106 (USA) - it was paired with Side 2's "Since I've Lost You" - another Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield catchy hit. Hell, they liked it so much and obviously out of viable material, "Save My Love..." got used yet again to flesh out the tracks on their fourth platter "Down To Earth" in 1974 and 1975 (see discography notes below).

Ashford & Simpson's lovely "California Soul" still holds up but my fave (and I suspect I'm not alone in this) is the heavy-heavy Psych-Soul of "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" - a stunning 10-minutes-plus cover of the Temptations "Puzzle People" track from 1970. It's all echoed fuzz and shouted chants (right on honey) and leads into the masterpiece that Side 2's opener and defining moment for the band - "Smiling Faces Sometimes". While UK fans had to wait until February 1972 for an actual album, the October 1971 British 45 on Tamla Motown TMG 789 set pulses racing even if it didn't chart (inexplicable giving its utter brilliance). No such problem Stateside where after a steady DJ and Radio build up from its May 13th release on Gordy G 7108, it finally entered the US R&B charts in early July 1971 and promptly charged all the way up to No. 2 - impressive for only their second single-release there.

I've always felt that "Law Of The Land" to be one of 'the' great forgotten Soul/Funk LPs. Their cover of the Roberta Flack hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song" just about stays on the right side and while the ladies take lead on the Temps masterpiece "Just My Imagination..." – a cosy little home out in the country – what a gorgeous melody and sentiment. The social conscience of "This Child Needs Its Father" urges Joe to come back home – a mother walking with her baby – holding her head up high even if she is aching - dying down inside - those strings and brass arrangements making you feel her tired loneliness. Undisputed Truth tackle the Dave Mason Traffic belter "Feelin' Alright?" by slowing it down to a cool-as-ice groove - but then sexy up Al Green's "Love And Happiness" in that battling brass/strings Norman Whitfield way (sounds kinda good y'all).

But more impressive is the trio's fabulous vocals on the stunning Funk of "Mama I Got A Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)". What a tune – your son and his guitar are going to go far...well they did in my book. He tackles a barnstorming "With A Little Help From My Friends" (possibly his best ever vocal) while "If I Die" is a funky black-man's burden declaration that's brilliant both lyrically and musically. "Big John Is My Name" continues the cool on the "Down To Earth" album and how good is it to have those exclusive British tracks at last.

A genuinely great anthology from Kent-Soul – keeps me smiling faces all the ruddy time. Buy it and I envy you the right on...

"Air Cut" by CURVED AIR – Fourth UK Album from April 1973 on Warner Brothers Records – Featuring Sonja Kristina, Mike Wedgwood, Eddie Jobson, Kirby Gregory and Jim Russell with Production by Martin Rushent (26 January 2018 UK Esoteric Recordings CD Reissue in a Card Digipak – Ben Wiseman Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Curly-Haired Elfin Boy..."

One of the great Prog crimes of the early Seventies (and I can count a few) was the critical and commercially reaction to Curved Air's fourth album "Air Cut".

Unleashed by Warner Brothers on a largely disinterested UK public in April 1973, it genuinely should have amounted to accolades galore and a tippity-toppity chart position - but misery-guts to all involved - received neither. Thankfully, time has been kinder to its complicated soundscapes and fans have dug deeper, because in my book this is undoubtedly one of the greats of the Prog Rock genre and an overlooked Rock Album gem from the period.

Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) seem to think so too because this rather brill little CD Reissue and Remaster has done our curly-haired Elfin boy proud. Even without extras, the Audio is fantastic and the presentation pleasingly in-depth (and with enthusiastic band involvement). So if you'll forgive me yet another Vidal Sassoon scissors pun, let's get our 'air cut' (oh dear)...

UK released Friday, 26 January 2018 - "Air Cut" by CURVED AIR on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 2617 (Barcode 5013929471740) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the original 8-Track 1973 LP that plays out as follows (40:06 minutes):

1. The Purple Speed Queen [Side 1]

2. Elfin Boy

3. Metamorphosis

4. World [Side 2]

5. Armin

6. U.H.F.

7. Two-Three-Two

8. Easy

Tracks 1 to 8 are their fourth album "Air Cut" - released April 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46224 (no US equivalent). Produced by MARTIN RUSHENT - it didn't chart. Track 1 written by Kirby Gregory and Sonja Kristina, Tracks 2 and 8 written by Sonja Kristina, Track 3 written by Eddie Jobson and Sonja Kristina, Tracks 4 and 7 written by Mike Wedgwood, Track 5 written by Eddie Jobson, Mike Wedgwood, Kirby Gregory and Jim Russell with Track 6 written by Kirby Gregory

CURVED AIR was:

SONJA KRISTINA – Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

EDDIE JOBSON – Electric Violin, Piano, Mellotron, Organ, VCS3 Synthesiser and Electric Piano

KIRBY GREGORY – Guitar and Vocals

MIKE WEDGWOOD – Bass Guitar and Harmony Vocals (“Easy”)

JIM RUSSELL – Drums and Percussion

The card digipak is very pretty, its inner spread mimicking the lovely Ian Fink drawing of the band that graced the gatefold of the original 1972 LP – all five sat like cartoon hippy minstrels around harps and flowers and rivers and flitting hummingbirds (yeah baby). Better lies inside the 24-page booklet – concert memorabilia from the period – live photos – Sounds Magazine reviews – the lyrics to all seven singing tunes except the instrumental "Armin" – and even a rare Malvern Winter Gardens gig with the Gary Moore Band as a support act, the stunning Irish guitarist no doubt plugging his similarly Proggish album "Grinding Stone" out around that time on CBS Records. There are contributions from Sonja and Mike – both clearly proud of their accomplished fourth album work and glad it has received reappraisal across the decades – but the AUDIO is the big draw…

Repertoire of Germany did a CD Remaster of "Air Cut" in 2006 in a card digipak but I can’t help but feel that this BEN WISEMAN 2018 version trumps the Audio on that in every way. This transfer is from the first generation tapes and man you can hear it (a first officially). What is also more evident now is the Producer. MARTIN RUSHENT would of course go on to have huge late Seventies fame with Punk, New Wave and Electronica acts like The Stranglers, The Buzzcocks and Human League – but back in the early part of the Seventies his Prog/Folk-Rock pedigree read like a virtual whose-who of names. He’d been involved in two solo albums for Jonathan Swift on CBS Records – T.Rex and "Electric Warrior", Gentle Giant on Vertigo, Badger and Johnny Harris on Atlantic, Darien Spirit on Charisma, Osibisa on MCA and oodles more. Its clear that as the lovely Side 2 finisher "Easy" plinks its little-boy-with-a-troubled-mind piano notes out through your speakers – soon joined by guitars and superbly complimentary harmony vocals from Mike Wedgwood – that Rushent knew how to mix it all into one cohesive sound.

With Violinist Darryl Way and Keyboardist Francis Monkman having jumped ship after the third album "Phantasmagoria" (released in April 1972) – the remaining three re-grouped and got real lucky. Eddie Jobson's band Fat Grapple had supported Curved Air at a Newcastle Mayfair gig and despite his youth - the 17-year olds playing stunned (a little like Gary Moore in fact). Alternating between Violin and Keyboards – Jobson filled in two gaps. Second up was ace-axeman Kirby Gregory who had been in a band called Armada with future Stretch buddy – Elmer Gantry. Curved Air now had the players and the material…

Musically "Air Cut" feels like this new line-up of Curved Air was channeling Queen, Rush, Genesis, Yes and em - Curved Air - all in the one place. Not only are many of the pieces Gentle Giant-complicated - they are beautifully played. This is a band on its fourth outing and not the naivety of a debut. With the new bloods Eddie Jobson and Kirby Gregory – they hit exceptional-players pay dirt big time. Jobson would go on to Roxy Music after the failure of "Air Cut" (not surprising they wanted him), but what is shocking is that he was only 17 going on 19 when CA got hold of him. And with guitarist Gregory – they were and still are quite rightly proud of the results.

The music quickly switches from Rush guitar-riffage in "U.H.F" to "Foxtrot" piano pretty in the same song. The 10:40 minutes of the Side 1 finisher "Metamorphosis" written by Sonja Kristina and Kirby Gregory is very "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" a year before it happened and contains some of the most accomplished and moving keyboard solos by a staggeringly young Eddie Jobson. For instance at about 3:15 minutes into "Metamorphosis", Sonja and the band's Prog rhythms give way to beautiful grand-piano runs by Jobson - the passage has musicality that would make Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson sit up, fidget and call their therapists in a lather of worry-sweat. As Sonja comes back in with sweetly judged lyrics, it feels "Selling England By The Pound" good. For sure the "Two-Three-Two" tune features lyrics that grate and emotionally upset, but apart from that - the only other real downside is the lack of outtakes - session eavesdrops and alternates fans would now dearly love to hear.

When "Air Cut" failed and the band fizzled out - Gregory left and along with his old band-mucker Elmer Gantry formed Stretch who actually did score a sizeable No. 15 chart hit with their "Why Did You Do It" funkster on Anchor Records in late 1975. But my heart lies (like my sagging waistline) with the air that curved...

A superb reissue and one of so many reasons as to why bands and collectors alike look to Esoteric Recordings of the UK with such affection…

2018 CURVED AIR Reissues on Esoteric Recordings

Francis Monkman and Ben Wiseman Remasters

Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are 'Expanded Editions' - No. 4 is album-only

1. Airconditioning (November 1970 UK Debut LP)

2CD Remaster UK released 26 January 2018 on Esoteric Records PECLEC 22616 (Barcode 5013929471641)

2. Second Album (September 1971 UK LP)

CD + DVD Remaster released 24 August 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22637 (Barcode 5013929473744)

3. Phantasmagoria (April 1972 UK LP)

CD + DVD Remaster released 27 July 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 22638 (Barcode 5013929473843)

4. Air Cut (April 1973 UK LP)

CD Remaster (no Bonus material) released 26 January 2018 on Esoteric Recordings PECLEC 2617 (Barcode 5013929471740) First Use of Original Tapes

"Crusaders 1" by THE CRUSADERS – March 1972 US Double-Album on Blue Thumb Records and UK Single LP on Island/Blue Thumb Records – Featuring Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson, Wilton Felder, Nesbert "Stix" Hooper with guests Arthur Adams, Larry Carlton, David T. Walker and Chuck Rainey (August 2006 Universal/Verve/Blue Thumb 'Originals' CD Reissue – Bob Irwin and Jayme Pieruzzi Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Where You Want It..."

Dropping the Jazz in their name for only the second time since the Fifties and Sixties (the preceding US-only album "Pass The Plate" from May 1971 on Chisa Records showed the band as THE CRUSADERS for the first time on the front cover of the single-LP gatefold sleeve) - our Funky Heroes seemed somehow to sense that the Seventies would be their decade both nationally and internationally - and frankly funky frank – they were damn right.

Originally released March 1972 as a 2LP studio set - "Crusaders 1" by THE CRUSADERS featured the classic four-piece line-up of Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson and "Stix" Hooper augmented by cool friends like Guitarists Arthur Adams, Larry Carlton and David T. Walker all sat on stools alongside Bassist Chuck Rainey - stunning session cats who would regularly feature on Steely Dan albums only a few years later absolutely because of their playing chops and zippy-licks genius. But a bit about this CD reissue first...

Still available in December 2019 as a quality Remaster for only a fiver to UK buyers - "Crusaders I" is part of Universal's ORIGINALS CD Reissue Series. A nice bonus (especially for UK buyers who are used to the 7-track single LP issued by Island Records in Blighty in 1972) is that this US-based CD goes with the American 14-track double-album configuration. So more bang for your buck for us - especially with stunners like their 11-minute cover of Carole King's gorgeous "So Far Away" not being on the British LP. British fans did eventually get the 2LP set but that wasn't until July 1976 when ABC Records of the UK reissued both "Crusaders 1" and the follow-up double "The 2nd Crusade" as double-albums. 

Digitally both "Crusaders 1" and their second double-album for Blue Thumb Records originally issued March 1973 as "The 2nd Crusade" hit the shops in August 2006 as CD Remasters ("The 2nd Crusade" is on Blue Thumb BTS 7000 - Barcode 602517040670). But unfortunately "The 2nd Crusade" CD has been deleted a good few years and subsequently crept up to a £25+ price tag (I'd argue the band was on fire during the 70ts, so acquire that sucker too if you can, cost or not). But let's get to One...

UK released August 2006 - "Crusaders 1" by THE CRUSADERS on Universal/Verve/Blue Thumb Originals BTS 6001 - 0602517040663 (Barcode 602517040663) is a CD Reissue and Remaster of the US 14-Track 1972 Double-Album and plays out as follows (77:41 minutes):  

1. That's How I Feel [Side 1]

2. So Far Away

3. Put It Where You Want It [Side 2]

4. Mystique Blues

5. Full Moon

6. Sweet Revival [Side 3]

7. Mud Hole

8. It's Just Gotta Be That Way

9. Georgia Cottonfield

10. A Shade Of Blues [Side 4]

11. Three Children

12. Mosadi (Woman)

Tracks 1 to 12 are "Crusaders 1" - released March 1972 in the USA on Blue Thumb BTS 6001 as a 12-Track Double-Album and as a Truncated 7-Track Single LP in the UK on Island/Blue Thumb ILPS 9218. The British LP consisted of CD Tracks 3, 1 and 10 making up Side 1 with Tracks 6, 7, 8 and 9 making up Side 2. 

The US 2LP set peaked at No. 29 on the American R'n'B album charts and No. 96 on the Rock charts. In July 1976, ABC Records finally issued "Crusaders 1" as a 2LP set on ABC Records ABCD 609 in the UK (they also issued in the same month the double-album of "The Second Crusade" on ABC Records ABCD 610). Produced by STEWART LEVINE - Tracks 1 and 11 written by Wilton Felder, Track 2 is a Carole King cover version, Tracks 3, 6, 9 and 10 written by Joe Sample with Tracks 4, 7, 8 and 12 written by Wayne Henderson.

THE CRUSADERS was:

JOE SAMPLE - Keyboards

WILTON FELDER - Tenor Saxophone and Electric Bass

WAYNE HENDERSON - Trombone

NESBERT "Stix" HOOPER - Drums and Percussion

Guests:

Arthur Adams, Larry Carlton and David T. Walker on Guitars with Chuck Rainey on Bass

The gatefold slip of paper that acts as an inlay just about mimics the minimal gatefold double-album of old (that black and white photo of the four boys on the inner and album credits) - but unfortunately naught else – no new assessments or liner notes. But at least the mastering by BOB IRWIN and JAYME PIERUZZI at Sundazed Studios in New York does the business - fab punch out of groovers like "Put It Where You Want It" and "That's How I Feel" - tunes that regularly represent this period on Best Ofs and Anthologies for The Crusaders. To the music...

As the wah-wah guitar combined with electric piano and thumping bass of "That's How I Feel" comes slinking across your speakers only to build into a Beatles "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" instrument-crescendo some five minutes later with Wilton and Wayne letting rip on Sax and Trombone – you release that the sexy cool of Jazz Funk has grabbed these Yanks by the musical cahonies. It's properly fab stuff and even a bit mad Mothers of Invention towards its final moments. But while the Side 1 opener was to get the juices going, the near 12-minutes of "So Far Away" is mellow mid-paced Jazz-Funk-Soul bliss to me. And it seems few in the Soul and Jazz world could resist the undeniably fab melodies on Carole's "Tapestry" album – the Isley Brothers including "It's Too Late" on their June 1972 T-Neck album "Brother, Brother, Brother" (see separate review). It's a little maddening though that we don't know who the guitar soloist is – Arthur or Larry or David – sounds like Arthur?

England's Island Records issued a 2:50 minute edit of "Put It Where You Want It" as a pre-LP 45 in January 1972 on Island/Blue Thumb WIP 6143 with an edit of Henderson's "Mosadi (Woman)" on the B-side. But the irresistibly catchy Joe Sample five-minute funk fest "Put It Where You Want It" that opened original copies of the British LP – soon incurred a slew of eager covers. None other than those smart Rock-Funk lads from Scotland - Average White Band – even added lyrics to their March 1973 UK 7" single on MCA Records MUS 1187. A US group called Southern Fried did a 45 version of it too on their rare Cream 1020 single, Nino and April on A&M Records, Hot Stuff on Bell Records as well...

I will admit that "Full Moon" is a bit more Jazz than Jazz-Funk for my liking and the faster-faster speed of "Sweet Revival" makes me want to reach for the skip button. But Wayne Henderson and his guitar buddies pull some wickedly great flicks and licks out of the fabulously funky "Mud Hole" – a six and half-minute neck jerker you can’t help thinking could have been a very tasty edited 45 too. Things mellow with "It's Just Got To Be That Way" - a Trombone smoocher that stays just about on the right side of Lounge Bar Central. Joe's piano opens the stomp that is "Georgia Cottonfield" and again some scratchy guitar playing adds a bottom end to the classy brass duo. The clavinet funk of "A Shade Of Blues", the Shaft wah-wah slick of "Three Children" and the settle down with a gin and tonic fizz of "Mosadi (Women)" end proceedings on a very impressive note (love that piano solo).

For sure I'm a declared Crusaders nut (Joe Sample's solo material too) - but here is a wee nugget that time has casually forgotten. And for under a fiver, the remastered "Crusaders 1" on CD can (and should be) yours...