Show Time - Slave (1981)
Ideated from: I keep a playlist of things that have been reissued, remastered, or given some kind of historical or archival release. I’ll tick some of those off this week.
These guys were contemporaries of Ohio Players and a bunch of other funk bands to come out of Dayton OH in the 70s. That sounds weird to say, but I suppose no weirder than 90s Seattle alt rock or 80s Minneapolis post-punk.
Anyway, this is the end of a string of highly rated records featuring drummer and singer Steve Arrington. Several things I read about this record and the band mentioned them somehow being “smooth” and “dirty” at the same time, and I can’t think of a better way to put it.
The rhythm section has a lot of grit to it, and they drive the tunes steadily while we get horns, harmonies, guitars, and synths on top giving it a smooth polish.
Tracks I Liked
Party Lites - wicked bassline that drives the whole tune
Spice Of Life - proto-Prince
Smokin - I always wonder if they have to do multiple takes and tell the crowd noise “no, you have to be having more fun” on these kinds of tracks. Or do they just add it in the mixdown?
