The Lost Generation – The Sly, Slick And The Wicked (1970)

Artist: The Lost Generation
Title: The Sly, Slick And The Wicked
Year: 1970
Format: LP
Label: Brunswick

Spearheaded by brilliant songwriter and vocalist Lowrell Simon, The Lost Generation was one of Chicago’s finest smooth soul groups. While never attaining the commercial heights of their label- and city brethren the Chi-Lites, the two albums they cut for Brunswick are definitely worth seeking out. And, if you’re like me and like some ‘rough edges’ ’round smoother soul, the Lost Generation is your bet.

‘The Sly, Slick and the Wicked’, released in 1970, naturally contained the group’s epyomously titled biggest selling single. A fine, slow burning soul ballad featuring heavy echoes on the chorus and heavenly harmonies throughout. The interplay between the delicate strings and, probably Quinton Joseph’s, more funky, hard drumming make “The Sly, Slick and the Wicked” a Chicago Soul classic.

In a similar vein is the late night soul groove “Love on a Two Way Street”. Really tight brass here, and that inimitable, classy, sophisticated orchestration that never gets too intrusive. The group’s spin on The Chairmen of the Board’s “Give Me Just a Little More Time”, on the other hand, is almost a carbon copy of the original.

The first uptempo tune here is “You’re So Young But You’re So True”, bumping along a frantic bass line, featuring more brilliant, busy arrangements by Tom Tom Washington.

The following two songs, “Sorry I Can’t Help You” and “Someday”, both are exquisite, dreamy, sweetly orchestrated ballads. The latter charted in 1971 and is embellished with some spot-on rainstorm effects.

More upbeat is a rousing rendition of Charles Wright & The Watts 103d Street Band’s “Love Land” – again staying fairly true to the original -, after which the group heads home one more for the sweet, smooth soul vibe of “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind”, a nice interpretation of the big Delfonics hit.

Probably the most surprising cut here is the stupidly rocking “Wasting Time”; a stuttering groove monster with Lowrell waiting on his date in a steamin’ club, with the rest of the group bantering behind him: “She should’a been here by now!”…

Closing this set is “Wait a Minute”, a track inspired by their first hit, “The Sly, Slick and the Wicked”. More heavy use of echo here, as well as shimmering, tastefully arranged strings, as the group glides through this lullaby-like ballad.

A fine Chi-Soul album by a very underrated group. (soulmakossa RYM)

Track Listing

1. Sly, Slick And The Wicked
2. Love On A Two Way Street
3. Give Me Just A Little More Time
4. You’re So Young But You’re So True
5. Sorry I Can’t Help You
6. Someday
7. Love Land
8. Didn’t I Blow Your Mind
9. Wasting Time
10. Wait A Minute
    

Steve Colt – Paradox (1970)

Artist: Steve Colt
Title: Paradox
Year: 1970
Format: LP
Label: Vanguard

Judging by the cover and the label that this was released on, i always thought this to be a Folk Psych album, but to my surprise it’s a funky, soulful, gospel affair that includes covers of the Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renee” and Bob Dylan’s “Memphis Blues Again”. Prior to this album, Colt recorded for the Philadelphia Big Beat label, recording several 45s for them in the late 60s. (Max Collodie)

Track Listing

1. Please Please Please (Tell My Mind To Stop Teasing My Heart)
2. He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands
3. Untangle My Mind
4. In That Great Gettin’ Up Morning
5. I’m Not Here To Hurt You
6. Walk Away Renee
7. Sometimes I Don’t Like Myself
8. Memphis Blues Again
   

The Jaedes – The Jaedes (1969)

Artist: The Jaedes
Title: The Jaedes
Year: 1969
Format: LP
Label: Athena

This one’s a complete mystery to us. We’ve searched in various reference books and checked the internet without success. What little we know about the quintet comes from the barebones liner notes on what’s apparently their sole album.

The group line up apparently consisted of vocalists Frederick Blackmon, Ernest Baskerville, Fred Jennings, Naaman Johnson and Curtis Jones. Originally from Alabama, they attracted attention in Memphis, becoming one of the first groups signed to Dee Kilpatrick and Rick Powell’s newly formed Athena Records. (Guess who the first signing was … Memphis’ The Feminine Complex.)

Released in 1968, the cleverly-titled “The Jaedes” teamed the quintet with producer Rick Powell. Offering up a mixture of Blackmon penned originals and popular covers, anyone into ’60s soul harmony groups will find this set charming. Strong melodies and great group harmonies make every one of these 11 songs worth hearing.

Highlights include the gorgeous “Uh, Uh What Did I Do”, the pseudo-psychedelic “True, True, True” and their weird cover of BS&T’s “Spinning Wheel”. Sure, the results are anywhere near as sophisticated as material by such contemporaries as The Delfonics, or The Stylistics, but that certain rawness stands as a big part of the album’s charm. Instantly obscure, this is the only copy of the album we’ve ever come across. (Bad Cat)

Track Listing

1. Uh, Uh, What Did I Do
2. What’ll It Take To Make You Happy
3. Teach Me A Lesson In Love
4. We’re Gonna Build A Love Together
5. Put A Little Love In Your Heart
6. I’ll Be Back On My Feet Again
7. Lay, Lady, Lay
8. True, True, True
9. Big Surprise
10. Spinning Wheel
11. Color Him Father
    

The Jaggerz – Introducing The Jaggerz (1969)

Artist: The Jaggerz
Title: Introducing The Jaggerz
Year: 1969
Format: LP
Label: Gamble

Here’s a special treat, the first album by the Jaggerz, released on Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s label in January of 1969. Nothing like the “Rapper” album, this is a beautiful soul album, you’ll certainly enjoy this one!!! (Max Collodie)

Track Listing

1. Gotta Find My Way Back Home
2. (That’s Why) Baby I Love You
3. Give A Little Love
4. What Now My Love
5. Higher And Higher
6. Forever Together-Together Forever
7. Let Me Be Your Man
8. Bring It Back
9. Here’s A Heart
10. Ain’t No Sun
11. Need Your Love
12. Together
    

Albino Gorilla – Detroit-1984 (1970)

Artist: Albino Gorilla
Title: Detroit-1984
Year: 1970
Format: LP
Label: Kama Sutra

The songs on Albino Gorilla’s bizarre album Detroit-1984 are early Motown covers like “Going To A Go Go”, “Shake Me, Wake Me“, ”Ain’t No Mountain High Enough“, etc. All of the songs are connected by two interludes which were written by Chuck Rainey so there are no breaks between them. On the first side, the interlude is called ”Jamaican Lady“, and on the flip side it’s called ”Swamp Fox“, the better of the two, featuring a high pitch keyboard line that sounds like it came from a ghost movie (i believe this is actually a theremin).

Most of the songs’ arrangements are changed considerably to fit in with the interludes so you wouldn’t recognize many of them upon first listening. Really though, no one song is distinguishable on here, a cover of ”Psychedelic Shack“, (which has been sampled over the years) but other than that, this isn’t that special. The album title is kind of ironic for they really missed the boat on the disco era of a few years later for this album, it would have fit well in that period.

Certainly not a psychedelic album by any stretch of the imagination, though an interesting release for it’s time. Aside from the involvement by Rainey, there’s no info on vocalists or musicians though it’s safe to say it was a studio project. The album was produced by the legendary Tom Wilson. (Motown67/Soul Strut/Internet Sources)

Track Listing

1. Jamaican Lady Interlude I
2. Going To A Go Go
3. Jamaican Lady Interlude II
4. Shake Me, Wake Me
5. Jamaican Lady Interlude III
6. Cloud Nine
7. Jamaican Lady Interlude IV
8. Grapevine (I Heard It Through The)
9. Jamaican Lady Interlude V
10. Swamp Fox Interlude I
11. Bernadette
12. Swamp Fox Interlude II
13. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
14. Swamp Fox Interlude III
15. Love Child
16. Swamp Fox Interlude iV
17. Psychedelic Shack