Exile (1978) Sing a Song - LOST70sGEMS

A very hard album to track from 1978 is the band Exile' third foray into discofied rock n roll. While the style was losing favour with them and their audiences I had to find this album. It only recently appeared online so here's my choice track from a very very hard to find gem. The infectious bubblegum pop harmonies of Sing a Song combined with a bright disco guitar and descending bass line and exuberant jacked up delivery are almost rip offs of the Jackson Five' debut single, I Want You Back. Rock n Roll Women carries the same holy sunny harmonies but more an organ rocker along the lines of Corporate rock but with some atmospheric chicken scratch. Whatever Mood You're In combines Hendrix purple haze intro wah wah scratch with a Caribbean flavoured organ cowbell tune. Leave Me Standing is a bouncy old school funky honey tonker. The band has a Grand Funk Mitch Ryder vibe on some tracks don't it feel good is a sleazy drawn out clanky funk and muddy waters blues wailing track to end it.

Clancy (1976) Jeka Jose - LOST70sGEMS

Clancy a British funk soul outfit's second album produced much better songs, the best of which is Jeka Jose, the squelching wah wah guitar and bleusy stabs along with a reggae organ makes this the most concise cut from the album with it's mix of Santana Latin flavour in its vocals and the jazz playing. The watery organ solo, the Hendrix influenced guitar work and Sly Stone styled ensemble group package made them a fierce contender for the Average White Band another Scottish blue eyed soul/funk act who of course succeeded  by aping Black American artists with greater flair.

Sly Stone (1975) Mother is a Hippie - LOST70SGEMS

Sly Stone was always an original artist, his group practically would define the funk sound of the whole 70s from heavy groups of the Commodores, Kool and the Gang and smoother soul like EWF; and they all ripped off his deep milquetoasted 'jive' vocal style. But it was his melodies and musical arrangements that continue to sound so fresh, an old school soul style with quirky circus freak vibes, funkified syncopation and gravelly yet smooth contrasts.
Well into the 70s despite his personal demons, Sly Stone kept up the quality even if the groups who nicked his sound began to soar, Sly still had the edgiest sound but remaining melodic.
From a tight horn into to waves of wah wahed out, squeaky duck funkadelic synths wiggling away, the tight drumming rustles under the spacey chorus and then the rock steady turnarounds bring you back to the moment. But the incredible ascending 'staircase 'verses are phenomenal in terms of arrangement with Sly and backing singers singing in bright toned unison following the beat and so in the pocket it is irresistible. Their group vocals were also direct, fierce and so galvanised it was unreal even when the lyrics prettified here such as the second verse about 'Mother Beauty', the melody is direct yet rolls down the scale so effortlessly.

The Ruffin Brothers (1970) The Things We Have to Do - LOST70sGEMS

The Ruffin Brothers, David of the Temptations and Jimmy of the big solo hit 'What becomes of the Broken Hearted?' released a solo album together or a duo for the brilliantly titled I am My Brother's Keeper. It features highlights such as the roving bass line of their spirited cover of Turn Back the Hands of Time or the throbbing groove of When My Love Hand Comes Down, the plaintive slide of Lo and Behold and the gung ho crash bang gospel call of Got to See If I Can Get Your Mother to Come Back Home.

The Things We Have to Do is a crusading soul number with a very powerful Sam and Dave interplay as the two brothers trade lines in their respective stark vocal styles; David full of raspy deep soul wisdom and Jimmys' stirring scream like an celestial angel song. Hearing the Ruffin howl is a one of those wonders. The hallelujah like chants of 'Yes We Do' are the real hook as the two brothers joyously rejoice in perfect harmony to the tune of how life is hard and full of obligation.

Van McCoy (1976) (To Each His Own)That's My Philosophy - LOST70sGEMS

A pinging disco inflected groover from the man responsible for the hustle. The funky lick is a bright bubblegum pop analogue synthesizer pumping high and low in tandem with a vibraphone twinkling away. Then in between this sparkling riff breaks are joint group calls to mind your business if it ain't your business..useful lesson if not a little random. Actually the little happy-go-lucky dance riff soughta fits the subject matter; the blissful perkiness of the keyboard and vibes brightly stroll up a octave and then back down. Its a simple roller disco boogie of a tune but good enough followup to the bewitching hit single The Hustle where McCoy alternates a sprightly piccolo flute line with a bawdy saxophone jam to the rustling strings of disco.

Wishbone Ash (1972) Sometime World - LOST70sGEMS

Starting with dreamy slide guitar over smooth arpeggios and a very subtle restrained lead vocal. While the flamenco styled lead guitar is very lyrical it is the depth of the lyrics as 'life kept him waiting' with a mournful beauty about getting too old for your dreams..supposedly. The six minute plus track has groovy mid section that spins the song into cheerier upbeat tempo like a spiritual circle chant. It pretty much climaxes with a splintering solo but the hidden beauty is in the vocals

Bloodstone (1973) Let Me Ride - LOST70sGEMS

After listening to some Bloodstone albums I discovered this glorious gems one of the best I've discovered with it's fast talkin verses and funky Sly Stone calls to 'Ride' alongside a groovy beat and jangly James Brown guitars. This could easily be played today with its fresh rap sounding melody and it's drug promotion lyrics but its another sign of how modern and yet timeless the artists from the 70s really were. Listen to this one on loop next time youre at the gym!