This record Store Day release is one for the funk and soul deep crate diggers, it comprises rare lost recordings and demos by Westbound Records recording artistes Eramus Hall, whose two albums are much sought after. This album was put together by Joel Martin who produced them originally for Westbound records. Eramus Hall were given their band name by George Clinton after a hall in Chicago. The band were Bernard Provost, James Wilkerson, William Tillery, Grady Smith, Michael Gatheright, Marvin Williams and Joe Anderson.
The A-side eases in with Determination a soft soulful smoocher with a slight jazz fusion edge, they explain how Determination is the key to love, both in winning the heart of that special person and even more so if you want to build a lasting relationship, solid advice.
Dance To Our Music get on down to those funky handclaps, if you can't shake your thang to this tune, you have no soul, they encourage everyone onto the dance floor, the brass section welcomes you to follow that guitar figure all across the floor, they make clear this music should put you in the mood.
Life Has Meaning so long as you go searching for that brighter light, your day will come, this has a driving keyboard for the horns to decorate, they try to make sure your Life Has Meaning and you know how to get into the groove with them, those strings build against the almost steel pan drumming.
Nice Smooth Easy is full of laidback soulful intent, they seductively harmonise and let us know exactly what makes her so special. This tune sounds like it could have been the B-side to The Blow Monkeys Digging Your Scene.
The B-side opens with Do The Rock funky as you can get, not sure they are encouraging you to do rocks, or just to rock your baby so to speak, this has a massive groove to get down with.
Whose Making Love is a classic deep funk cover of the Johnnie Taylor classic, asking the question about Whose Making Love to your old lady while you are out making love, a fair question, you may not like the answer.
Mr Softy isn't the Kid Creole monument but is nominally about the bands love of ice cream, over super smooth soul funk, they make clear it's time for Mr Softy to make a mess all over your school uniform.
Better Days there had to be Better Days this has a very Bootsy Collins feel to it, keep on hoping and working toward better times, this is a song of hope that we can all do with in our current times.
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