VARIOUS ARTISTS - GROOVE ON DOWN VOL 3
The two previous volumes of ‘Groove On Down’ featured many of the best  underground disco boogie tracks from the late 70’s and early 80’s. On this volume we include more of these tracks along with a few earlier tracks representing the best of the soulful disco . As with the previous volumes the emphasis is on the quality of the vocals and the deep grooves.

HERBIE HANCOCK – STARS IN YOUR EYES
Originally issued as  Columbia AS756

Herbie Hancock is recognised as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, his career stretches over 45 years. Herbie is a great innovator changing with the times. In the 1970’s  he recorded many great jazz fusion albums including the  influential ‘Headhunters’. By 1980 he had moved on and his sound had become more commercial for his ‘Monster’ album, which included this great upper mid tempo dancer ‘Stars In Your Eyes’. This version is the extended 12” remix with brilliant atmospheric introduction, a relentless backbeat, wicked guitar licks from Ray Parker Jr and great soulful vocals from Gavin Christopher.

CHOICE FOUR – COME DOWN TO EARTH
Originally issued as RCA PD11094

Choice Four were a soulful disco group from Washington DC, who recorded two albums in the mid 70’s for the RCA label. In 1976 Van McCoy wrote produced and conducted the track ‘Come Down To Earth’ for their ‘On Top Of  Clear’ album. The track was a top 10 R&B hit on 7”single. In 1977 the track was remixed and extended by David Todd to form this 10 minute opus with a relentless groove, which is reminiscent of a Norman Whitfield production..

RHYZE – DO YOUR DANCE
Originally issued in album ‘Just How Sweet Is Your Love Sam LP703

Rhyze from Jersey City NJ started out in the early 70’s as the Nu Sound Express and recorded a couple of funky singles. They reformed in 1980 with Paul Kyser at the helm again. ‘Do Your Dance’ is taken from their debut hit album ‘Just How Sweet Is Your Love’.recorded for the SAM label. which helped them win Billboards new R&B group of the year. This remix was unissued at the time, it omits the mellow intro of the album cut and extends at the end making it a killer disco funk dancer. They went on to record another album ‘To The Top’ in 1981 that includes the great track ‘Bizzaar’ that was featured on Groove On Down volume  2.

PHIL HURTT –GIVING IT BACK
Originally issued as Fantasy D105

Phill Hurtt is a well known songwriter and producer from Philadelphia who worked as an independent writer producer for Philadelphia International and Atlantic in the 70’s. His biggest successes were co-writing with Thom Bell  ‘I’ll Be Around’ for the Spinners  (and Terri Wells) and winning five nominations as Billboard’s disco composer of the year in 1977. A year later he signed with Fantasy records and scored a UK top 40 hit with the disco soul  ‘Giving it Back’ which he co-wrote with Richie Rome.  This 12” version was remixed at Sigma Sound, and has been a popular club track ever since.

CUBA GOODING –HAPPINESS IS JUST AROUND THE BEND
Orignally issued as Streetwise  SWRL 2214

New Yorker Cuba Gooding became the lead singer of the group Main ingredient in 1971
His soulful voice can be heard on their hits ‘Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely’ and ‘Everybody Plays The Fool’ and their six albums up to 1980. He also recorded two solo albums for Motown in the late 70’s. ‘Happiness Is Just Around The Bend’ had been recorded by The Main Ingredient in 1974 for their Euphrates River album. Cuba re-recorded the track in 1983 for the Streetwave label with a more up tempo backing and had a massive international club hit, which is always a floor filler. His sons Cuba Gooding Jnr and Omar Gooding are well known Film and TV actors.

GREG HENDERSON –DREAMIN
Originally released as Rain A250

‘Dreamin’ is a boogie classic from 1982 which first appeared on the small Rain label , before being issued on SAM in America and Greyhound Records in Europe. This track epitomises the best of soulful disco boogie and has become an anthem. Greg produced a second twelve inch on Rain ‘Never Too Late’ and was involved in Rome Jeffries ‘Good Love’ on the same label.

PAUL SIMPSON CONNECTION –USE ME LOSE ME
Originally released as Streetwise SWRL2209

Writer, Producer and arranger Paul Simpson worked with Vince Montana and Goody Goody, Surface and other groups and later on moved into house music where he had success with Adeva. His biggest hit was ‘Treat Her Sweeter from 1985 on Easy Street but this 1982 track recorded for Streetwise is another underground boogie club anthem, that is irresistable on the dance floor.

MTUME –SO YOU WANNA BE A STAR
Originally released as Epic .AS878

Percussionist James Mtume teamed up with fellow former Miles Davis band member Reggie Lucas and jazz musicians Hubert Eaves, Howard King and Basil Fearington to form the group Mtume, fronted by the gutsy vocals of Tawatha Agee. ‘So You Wanna Be A Star’ was taken from their second album ‘In Search Of The Rainbow Seekers’ recorded in 1980. This track has that feel good  sound that was evident in the Mtume and Lucas productions of the time (Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman etc) and was revived in the rare groove era by UK DJ  Norman Jay MBE. The track was only issued on a promo 12” in America but gained a full release in the UK.  Mtume went on to record a massive No 1 R&B hit with ‘Juicy Fruit’ a couple of years later.

CANDY BOWMAN – SINCE I FOUND YOU
Originally released as RCA 12305

‘Since I Found You’ is a great soulful ‘slow boogie’ track recorded in 1981 produced by Howard King and Edward Moore with Mtume and Lucas. Whilst slightly slower than the other tracks on Groove On Down 3 it merits its inclusion as a popular club track with a great melody. Grey and Hanks recorded it a year earlier on their ‘Prime Time’ album.  This track was originally the B side to the faster boogie track ‘I Wanna Feel Your Love’.

HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES – DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY
(tom moulton mix)
Originally released as Philadelphia International 4ZH 07551

Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes have earned their place in soul music history as one of the greatest harmony groups. Their output for Philadelphia International in the 70’s is legendary. ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ is one of their best ever songs and originally appeared on the ‘Wake Up Everybody album in 1975.,Harold enjoyed a  UKTop 5 pop hit  a couple of years later and covers of the song provided hits for Thelma Houston also in 1977 and The Communards in 1986.
Tom Moulton remixed the track as part of the ‘Philadelphia Classic’s Double LP.
This extended 11 minute really brings the magic of the track to life, the rhythm just keeps on building as the track speeds up, the punchy horns  are fantastic and Teddy Pendergrass vocal’s are amongst his best ever. Tom Moulton was one of the originators of the ‘disco remix and whilst this is not one of his most heralded mixes (partially due to the fact that he wasn’t credited on the original release) it is one of his best. ’ The track was released on a 12” in 1979 as an edited 8 minute version on the silver and black Philly label  , appearing again with the full version in the 80’s. This is classic soul to Groove on down .

Laurence Prangell
December 2009.