FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 8

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Soul/Funk/Jazz/R&B Albums ever Released. All of them, I purchased as Vinyl many Years ago and also I have them on CD today.

You may have a Differing view (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

# 8...ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS........DANCE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY

Released in December of 1975, Archie Bell & the Drells Debut Album for TSOP was called "Dance Your Troubles Away" it had been over 6 years since their previous release, "There's Gonna Be A Showdown" on Atlantic Records!

The Album, Recorded at the Sigma Studios in Philadelphia, had 7 tracks (as follows) varying from Disco to Ballads to Mid-Tempo Tracks, this was because TSOP (Gamble & Huff) were uncertain how to Market the Band!


A1 : Let's Groove
A2 : I Could Dance All Night
A3 : I Wont Leave you Honey, Never


B1 : Dance Your Troubles Away
B2 : The Soul City Walk
B3 : Let's Go Disco
B4 : I love You (But You Don't Even Know It)


Several different Writers and Producers were Employed for the making of the Album, the Producer's were as follows:


Bunny Sigler : A2 A3
Gene McFadden : A1 B1 B2 B4 
John Whitehead : A1 B1 B2 B4
Kenny Gamble : B2
Leon Huff : A1 B1 B2 B3 B4
Victor Carstarphen : A1 B1 B2 B4 

Their were 3 Single Releases from the Album, The First was 6 months Prior (in June) to the Album Release was "I Could Dance All Night" which Reached # 25 on the US R&B Chart,  the Second Single was "The Soul City Walk" which reached # 42 on th US R&B Chart, it also Charted in The UK Pop Charts at # 13, the third & Final Single was "Let's Groove" which was the Highest Placed Single at # 7 in the US R&B Chart. 


The Album turned out to be "Archie Bell & Thr Drells" Best Selling Album in the US, Charting at # 95 in the Pop Chart.

The Backing Vocals and Rhythm Section for the Album were supplied by "Instant Funk"

It was a Great Album with only One Track I didn't Like too much, and that was "Let's Go Disco" My Favorite Tracks were "Let's Groove " and of course "Soul City Walking" 

I can quite clearly remember Buying this Album from "Airfield Tapes & Records Too" (a Record Shop in My Town, back then) and walking back to Work, that Afternoon and then going Back Home, to put it on my "GEC" Record Player!


A few facts concerning the Band:   
Archie Bell & the Drells came from Houston, Texas, as well as Archie, the Drells were Lee Bell (Archie's Brother) James Wise and Willie Purnell.

They had Recorded for "Gamble & Huff" previously in the 60's, but on the Atlantic Record Label.


The Band had Re-United for this Album and this was their 4th out of 8 Albums Recorded during their Recording History.

DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM HERE

CHECKOUT ALL PREVIOUS RELEASES HERE

CHECKOUT  IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE ALBUM HERE

DEBUT ALBUM FROM THE GREATEST FUNK BAND! SLAVE part 1

Around Summertime of 1977, I was still working as a Chef in the same Hotel, but by now I was by now seeing Susan all the time, I will always remember sitting in her bedroom with her listening to The Isley Brothers "Go for your guns" album, we both had the Vinyl Album! our Favorite Track was "Footsteps in the dark" GREAT TRACK!

By mid "77 most of the Music I brought was Soul, apart a few Funk Albums i.e
BRASS CONSTRUCTION, BROTHERS JOHNSON, BOOTSY, BOHANNON, FATBACK.

I recall one day going to Airfield Tapes to buy an Album, and one stood out from the rest, it was the Front Cover that caught my eye, they were called "SLAVE" I had never heard of them!
anyway there was 9 Band Members pictured on the back Cover, so I brought the Album!

What a GREAT ALBUM it was, I recorded it to Cassette Tape for the Car, and listened to it for Months, I still have the Vinyl Album to this day, but of course I now have the CD version!

The GREAT TRACKS on the Album were "SLIDE" "PARTY HARDY" "SCREW YOUR WIG ON TITE" and my Favorite "YOU AND ME"

This Album was nothing like I had ever heard before, it was what I had been listening to up until then, ie Soul Music but it had something else, what you would describe as Rock Music, please listen to the Album Tracks on the Walkman at the bottom of this post! and to this day I still regularly play "SLAVE" 



SELECT A TRACK FROM 4 SLAVE CUTS FROM DEBUT ALBUM
BY PRESSING FFWD BUTTON.

THE HOT SUMMER OF 1976 IN THE U.K / MUSIC and a GOOD BEATING IN TOWN!

I remember the Hot Summer of 1976 in the U.K, this was the Year I got my First Car (see previous Blog entry)We had a new Record Shop open our Town it was called " Airfield Tapes and Records 2" it was a Great shop! it Sold lots of Different Soul and Funk Albums and Singles by Singers and Groups Some I had heard of and some I hadn't heard of before!


I can remember walking to the Shop on one Particular occasion, the weather was Boiling hot, I purchased Archie Bell and the Drells Vinyl Album "Dance Your Troubles Away" it had 2 Great Singles on it, "Soul City Walk" and "Let's Groove" that was a Great Album!

Three others Things happened to me in '76 that I wont forget in a hurry!
Firstly around early Summertime, I got the C**P Kicked out of me by I think it was 4/5 Blokes, who were in our Town for a Holiday!

"How the Hell did that Happen" I hear you say! I remember sitting on the steps outside the ABC Picture House in our Town, with about 4/5 so called Mates, and these about 6 Men walked passed and one of the Boys with me Shouted out some sort of Insult, it was a chap by the Name of Gregory Page ( I never did like him!) anyway this was the Era of wearing Shoes called Stacks, (Great BIG Heels and Soles) so when these Blokes heard what "PAGE" Had Shouted they came after us!

Now Stacks and Running dont go together, and I was Caught! as I said at least 4 of them were there Kicking and Punching me, the main thing I remember was being Head -Butted several times by different Blokes, I recall being Pulled up then the Butt and going to the floor and then being pulled up again and butted again, over and over!

My nose and Forehead were sore for Weeks!

I recall the only Help I got, was from a Woman who was in the Bus Queue, who was grabbing them and Shouting at them to stop!

Where was all my so called Friends! they had all Run Off!

As it turned out these Blokes were on Holiday at one of the Caravan Parks just outside of Town, I'll always remember the Main Chap, had long curly Afro Hair and had on a pair of Clogs with an American Flag Pattern on them! they were from Liverpool, one of my older Friends at that time got a few of his Mates together and went looking for them, they were never seen in the Town again!

More of the other things that happened in '76 later!