yet another find from Backspin Records. this little curio might not be the rarest record around (in fact it had one of DETROIT EMERALDS biggest hits of their career!) but it captures an interesting moment in their career and is one of the better examples of "a TOM MOULTON mix" disco record.
the aforementioned hit is "Feel the Need." here, in 1977, it's the paradigm of a Tom Moulton mix. what's salient though is that it was an even bigger hit for the DE's in 1973 when it went to #22 on the R&B charts. the rest of the album carries this mindset of classic motown-inspired R&B commingled with healthy does of extended disco mixes. so the first side ends with "feel the need," you flip the record and get down to the ballad-y disco groove of "wednesday" and then BAM!
"Love for You" opens with what is easily the most aggressive 2 seconds on the entire record. the guitar continues to set the tone throughout the song, coming across like Ravi Shankar jamming with the Isley Brothers. when the guitar sits out the grandiose disco production (sweeping strings, horn stabs, etc) elegantly shines. now, I dare you to sit back, listen and try to take in everything going on in this song. layer upon layer upon layer. still it comes across as a effortless little disco love song, and nowhere else on the record is ABRIM TILMON'S songwriting more palpable than on this cut. like a psychedelic motown disco jam that the TEMPTATIONS wish they could have done.
this record was the DETROIT EMERALDS rebound attempt after leaving the court in 1973. even though they scored a giant disco hit ("Feel the Need") their comeback was shortlived as their next album would be their swan song. even though the DETROIT EMERALDS enjoyed most of their success in the early 70's, this little foray into disco is a fleeting moment of brillance that should be preserved.
the aforementioned hit is "Feel the Need." here, in 1977, it's the paradigm of a Tom Moulton mix. what's salient though is that it was an even bigger hit for the DE's in 1973 when it went to #22 on the R&B charts. the rest of the album carries this mindset of classic motown-inspired R&B commingled with healthy does of extended disco mixes. so the first side ends with "feel the need," you flip the record and get down to the ballad-y disco groove of "wednesday" and then BAM!
"Love for You" opens with what is easily the most aggressive 2 seconds on the entire record. the guitar continues to set the tone throughout the song, coming across like Ravi Shankar jamming with the Isley Brothers. when the guitar sits out the grandiose disco production (sweeping strings, horn stabs, etc) elegantly shines. now, I dare you to sit back, listen and try to take in everything going on in this song. layer upon layer upon layer. still it comes across as a effortless little disco love song, and nowhere else on the record is ABRIM TILMON'S songwriting more palpable than on this cut. like a psychedelic motown disco jam that the TEMPTATIONS wish they could have done.
this record was the DETROIT EMERALDS rebound attempt after leaving the court in 1973. even though they scored a giant disco hit ("Feel the Need") their comeback was shortlived as their next album would be their swan song. even though the DETROIT EMERALDS enjoyed most of their success in the early 70's, this little foray into disco is a fleeting moment of brillance that should be preserved.
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