Brothers Unlimited - 1970 - Who’s For The Young
Posted by nikos1109
Here’s one of the most sought after funk/soul albums ever made, contributed by Mr.Moo, with two fantastic crossover soul tunes in “Got to get over” & “Take me back”, a great cover of the classic Sam Cooke’s “A change is gonna come” and my personal fav “Life, Dreams, Death” - a funk rock cut with killer organ, psych vocals and early 70’s war vibe.
Dusty Groove : An excellent album of southern funk - and darn rare, too! We know almost nothing about the Brothers, but they’re a 14 piece combo with a tight ensemble funk sound that clearly shows roots of both the Memphis and Muscle Shoals scenes where the album was recorded! There’s a lot of fuzzy guitar, almost in a Detroit Westbound mode - but the band’s also got a sweetly southern funk style, with lots of organ bubbling underneath the tracks, punctuated by some pretty tight drum work that really makes the best cuts groove nicely in a more righteous take on the Stax/Volt sound of the time. A really wild one - and the kind of record that makes your jaw drop when you realize that some lucky A&R guy was actually able to get an underground soul album released by a major label!
This is a @320 vinyl rip (supplied by Mr.Moo) of the reissue Capitol LP including covers.
Tracks
A1. Who’s For The Young? 3.03
A2. A Change Is Gonna Come 3.44
A3. Got To Get Over 2.54
A4. Hey Little Rich Boy 3.33
A5. Get Away 2.49
B1. Life, Dreams, Death 5.40
B2. Spoonful 3.33
B3. Take Me Back 2.10
B4. What We Need Is Harmony 2.48
This group of musicians and vocalist came to together in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968, with a unique live sound blending funk, soul, rock, funkadelic, and smooth vocals. The group was organized by John “Kousi” Harris from Pensacola, Fl., formerly of the group J Robinson and The Dynamics who recorded on the MALA label, and Jerry Jones a local Memphis Vocalist. Curtis Johnson, and brother Harold “Quake” Johnson had formerly been members of The Chips/ Astors, that recorded with Stax Records. The musicians had been playing locally with several groups, when John and Jerry had and idea to join these different talents to create a new sound. The group was self managed, with Curtis doing the booking and creating tours throughout Memphis night clubs, and on the Florida, and Alabama Gulf Coast. The group also travelled north to the Michigan area, but spent most of their time in the lower south east. In 1970, the group produced (with Fame Records) and recorded an album that was released on the Capitol Records label, “Who’s For the Young”. In 1972, the group disbanded, allowing some members of the group to join the “new” Bar-Kays, when the group was re-organized, following the death of Ottis Redding and all but 2 members of The “Original” Bar-Kays.
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Taken from the back cover:
This is the real real thing. Real fine, funky, hard-driving, up-tempo, contemporary, own-home, nitty-gritty solid soul from Muscle Shoals and Memphis. If you wanted to give this sound a label, it would have to be one of those hyphenated ones – something like soul-pop-contemporary folk-rock. The basis is definitely country – cotton-row-feet country. But it’s also incredibly complex, sophisticated, right-now, urban-international. Organic. And original. And yet it sounds a bit like everything good you’ve ever heard. The Brothers Unlimited are not ordinary musicians – vocal and instrumental. They are twelve very specific guys who have worked together for the past year, playing on sessions at Fame Recording Studios in Memphis. They are very tight – personally and professionally – and working this way with their producer, they’ve developed a thing of their own that’s unique. The music is alive. It breathes and sweats. These are the sounds and the cries of youth – of empathetic everyones – today.
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It’s been a legendary rarity for years and made its long-overdue CD debut in 2008 through Fallout Records. Buy a digital copy from Amazon or Ebay along with a lot of reissue LP’s. The only available original LP I came across is in Groove Collector.
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January 26th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Thanks a lot Mr Moo, Nikos - superb LP indeed
January 26th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Legendary! Was not aware that it had been reissued, will have to order a copy now that it’s available. Thanks Mr. Moo & Nikos!
January 26th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Thanks for continuing to broaden and deepen my soulful education. This is a “masterclass”. Loading it on my walkman for the trip to work tomorrow. Should have a smile on my face.
Regards,
Eene
January 26th, 2010 at 7:49 am
awww man! i just happened upon this site a few days ago. everything about it just rules. i wanted to leave a comment before but didn’t know where to start. now today i see theres a new post and so i’m doin it up. i LOVE this music and am always searchin to expand my soul funk collection. thanks to yous my wantlist has now doubled. keep on keepin on!
thanks soooo much,
-timT
January 26th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Great, man!!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
One of those records I’ve had for a long time but still come back to time and time again. The title track still has an indescribable effect on me.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Superb! Mr.Moo thank you for sharing.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
HELL YES!!!! CRAZY STUFF ON YOUR BLOG MAN! NICE
PEACE J RAMM
January 26th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Wow! Another Album I missed completely. I can only thank you for sharing. It’s your site, and a few others that inspired me to recently start my own. Many, Many Thanks.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
thank u mr. moo great collection u have
January 26th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
This is a great album. I had a good copy but yours is a higher bit rate. It is such a good album that I downloaded it again. Thank you!
January 27th, 2010 at 12:54 am
Wow!!! A very interesting disc indeed. I can not ever recall seeing this in the racks “back in the day”.I guess we can assume this one sank without a trace too… Which of course is a crime! I hear traces of Sly & The family Stone in here as well. Thank You Nikos and Mr. Moo for your love,devotion and all the hard work you have put into bringing this fantastic music to the people.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:35 am
The clip track is super funky. Can’t wait to hear the rest. many thanks.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
A funky gem - as always on your blog. I think i´ve never listened to a boring album on this side. Brilliant job. thanx Mr Moo and Nikos.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
THANKS A LOT!!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Killer organ and drums. Thank you all.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
This is great…I’m listening to it for the 5th time in less that 24 hours, and am really digging it. Thanks for sharing!
January 28th, 2010 at 3:42 am
Wow! Great vocals and well crafted songs. Thanks!
January 28th, 2010 at 6:52 am
awesome, love this blog!
January 28th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Love it. Much love from Cuba.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Wonderful LP - that raw energy is irresistable - sounding like they were having a real gas in the studio. Exceptional vocals and passion. Being a little boring, my faves are the more sweet ‘Who’s for the young’ and ‘Take me back’, but this really is a album experience. Thank you so much Mr Moo for introducing this rare beauty.
January 29th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
As always Much Thanks.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Thanks a lot for the last two LPs, very excited to listen to them tonight!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
thanks so much for this great record. gotta love those old soulful organs. much appreciated!
January 29th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Super funky with rock elements. A wonderful album. Thank you so much.
January 30th, 2010 at 6:32 am
Thanks
January 30th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
good stuff, thanks eva so much!
January 30th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Thank you ,nice album .This weekend seems to be nice with this music
January 30th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Amazing music. Such a great website. Thank u.
January 31st, 2010 at 12:28 am
Thanks so much!
January 31st, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Great stuff from the golden team. Thank you once more.
January 31st, 2010 at 11:20 pm
great post! thanks
February 1st, 2010 at 10:27 am
Thanks a lot for this ultra rare gem!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:03 am
Perfect! Thanks a lot!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:04 am
perfect! thanks a lot!
February 6th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Absolutely stunning and beautiful album. Sweet soul music doesn’t get much better than this. Thanks.
February 16th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Betty Davis - Anti Love Song
February 21st, 2010 at 12:33 am
Thanks so much!!!
March 25th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
not familiar with this but the blurbs make it sound very tasty, thankyou
May 8th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Who’s For The Young is like funk CPR for my dying soul - God bless ya guvnor
May 17th, 2010 at 6:44 am
Mr. Moo,
Thank you for featuring The Brothers on your site, and thanks to all of the Bloggers who made such wonderful comments about our music. I am Curtis Johnson, one of the originators of the group, and while Googling Brothers Unlimited, I came across your site. I e-mailed the link to that page, to my contacts that include some of the remaining members of the group.
Thanks & God Bless
May 17th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Mr. Moo,
I am the son of one of the original Brothers Unlimited (Harold Johnson). Like my uncle Curtis (another original Brothers Unlimited) said earlier in a blog, I too want to thank you guys for showcasing The Brothers. My father would be proud that the music that I listen to from an early childhood has continue to inspire others to this very day.
Thank You Again and God Bless You
TJ
The Funk is still alive and “A Change Is Gonna Come”
May 17th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Mr. Moo
I am the Sister of Curtis and the late Harold (Quake) Johnson. I would like to also thank you for keeping real music alive.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Mr. Moo,
I’m Jerry, the lead singer in the group Brothers Unlimited (except Take Me Back). Along with Curtis I want to thank you for keeping the music alive. The album was actually recorded in Memphis and mixed in Muscle Shoals. If you need any history on the group feel free to contact me at: muzicman24@bellsouth.net
Once angain thank you.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Mr. Moo,
Oh by the way that’s me in the tiger suit sitting on the stature.
Thanks,
Jerry (Lead Singer)
May 20th, 2010 at 6:35 am
oH MY GOD I AM 20 AND THIS SHIT HAS JUST BLOWN MY MIND I HIT REPEAT ON THAT VIDEO ABOUT 100 TIMES BEFORE I EVEN CLICKED THE DOWNLOAD ! WOWW LOVE THIS KIND OF FUSION SORTA LIKE BLACK MERDA KIND OF VIBE , CAN YOU RECCOMEND ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THIS I GUESS ITS A LONG SHOT ?
CAN’T THANKYOU ENOUGH FOR SHOWING ME WHAT REAL MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT PEACE.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 am
One word is sufficient for this one … awesome !
Thanks!!
July 9th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
First off, thanks for this one. I listened to it and the Black Magic records this morning. This is a bit more in the Mer-Da vein, maybe. But, hey, I don’t wanna be negative, but I must point out that you mention the Fallout label, who reissued the Brothers Unlimited record. You should be aware that Fallout has a VERY bad reputation amongst reputable music folks as a label who essentially bootlegs old records such as this one–they don’t license stuff and they don’t work from best sources (often from LPs) and in general, aren’t reputable. Feel free to look up the rather extensive info to this effect on the interwebs. (I have personal experience with Fallout via a friend of mine, whose rather well-known and now officially reissued record they put out in their shoddy fashion a few years back, so I hope you’ll take this into consideration when you tell folks to buy the Brothers Unlimited CD from such a label. Are the Brothers getting paid, and was their record actually licensed??)