Wednesday 9 September 2009

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band ”Express Yourself”

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band

Express Yourself
( LP Warner Bros. Records, 1970 )
Catalog # WS 1864


Tracklisting:
A1 Road Without An End (7:48)
Arranged By – Ray Jackson
A2 I Got Love (3:37)
A3 High As Apple Pie – Slice I (6:03)
A4 Express Yourself (3:45)
Arranged By – Gabe Flemings , Ray Jackson
B1 I’m Aware (3:45)
Arranged By – James Gadson
B2 Tell Me What You Want Me To Do (5:51)
B3 High As Apple Pie – Slice II (9:30)

Personnel & Credits:
Bernard Blackman Guitar, Group Member
Ray Brown Bass
Sonny Burke Keyboards
Bill Cannon Arranger, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor), Group Member
James Anthony Carmichael Arranger
Oma Drake Vocals (bckgr)
John Dukes Bass (Upright)
Melvin Dunlap Guitar (Bass), Group Member
Gabriel Flemings Piano, Trumpet, Arranger, Group Member
James Gadson Drums, Vocals, Group Member
Gregg Geller Compilation Producer
Jeri Heiden Artwork
Tommy Henderson Percussion
Lee Herschberg Digital Mastering
Raymond Jackson Piano, Trombone, Arranger, Group Member
Raymond Jackson Trombone, Arranger
James Jamerson, SR. Bass
Al McKay Guitar, Arranger
Maurice Miller Drums
John Morthland Liner Notes
Earl Palmer Drums
Sandra Peeler Vocals (bckgr)
Yusuf Rahman Piano, Trombone, Arranger, Group Member
John Rayford Vocals, Tenor (Vocal), Group Member
Stan Ross Engineer
Werner Schuchner Guitar
Doc Siegel Engineer
Ed Thrasher Art Direction
Oren Waters Vocals (bckgr)
Carolyn Willis Vocals (bckgr)
Sentell Willis, Jr. Vocals (bckgr)
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band Performer
Charles Wright Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Producer, Compilation Producer, Group Member
Arranged By – Yusuf Rahman (tracks: A2, A3, B1, B2)
Engineer – Doc Siegel , Stan Ross
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – Charles Wright

Notes:
Recorded at Gold Star Recording Studios, Inc.
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1970

Review:
The quintessential Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band record, Express Yourself displays the purposefully sloppy rhythms and shout vocals that would make this band a legend in soul circles. Every track on this album is a classic, from the oft-sampled and high-charting pop single "Express Yourself" to the first of many readings of "I Got Love" that would appear on the band's records -- and even Wright's solo works for years to come. The aching balladry of "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do" and the complex compositions "High as Apple Pie -- Slice 1" and "High as Apple Pie -- Slice 2" showcase a versatility found in other West Coast collectives such as War. Perhaps the treasure of this album is the opener, "Road Without an End," a charming, stepping groover punctuated by choppy horns and snapping drums that blend beautifully with one of Wright's best vocals of his career, all accented by sweeping strings. Express Yourself is '70s soul at its most creative and satisfying.
By Douglas Siwek (AMG)

Courtesy of The Big 1

1 comment:

fogger tysel said...

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