Funk my Soul

Starfire are a self-contained group that released their first LP in 1976. This is their sophomore set, containing two tracks from the debut, and continuing to buck the gimmicky trend of disco with a very fine mixture of funk and ballads. They brought out another LP in the mid-eighties - comprising of tracks of their first two albums suggesting they became Red Dwarfs way before their time. An obscure outfit on an even more obscure label, we are pleased to put this very capable band in the spotlight.

This is a @320 vinyl rip of the original Dynamic Artists LP (supplied by Nikos) including covers.

Tracks
A1 Dancing and Singing 5:51
A2 Super Sensuous Woman 4:34
A3 Get Up Everybody 4:27
A4 If You Can’t Stand The Heat 3:15
B1 I Want To Sing This Song For You 4:11
B2 Loneliness Has Got Me Down 2:25
B3 Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me 3:56
B4 Love You One More Time 4:00
B4 Make The Most Of It 5:04

Review by Trakbuv

Starfire - ‘the baddest 5 stars in the galaxy’ - complete with star signs. So boasts the back cover of this rather splendid LP - and you know you are in the starfighter/zodiac obsessed seventies. This self-contained band of celestial beings comprise of Rudy Leeper (lead vox, percussion), Antwan Garrison (lead, bass), Jay Pryor (guitar, background vox), Willie McWhite (keyboards, background) and Ronnie Cokes (drums, background) all originating from Richmond in the Virginia Constellation. Also, special mention to the Trussel horns - are these the same crew who gave us ‘Love injection’ ? This is actually their second LP, bursting in the galaxy with a solid ten tracker in the shape of “Get off with us”, two earth years earlier. “Dancing and Singing For You” continues to deliver an endearing spectrum of tempos all performed with confidence and style. Just to confuse our fellow stargazers, the LP was repackaged as “Starfire” in 1980 - with a silver cover and fresh tracklisting. The uptempo tracks were also recut/remixed to give a more contemporary disco feel. On the original interplanetary platter we have on display here, the nuggets have been carefully distributed on the two sides of the moon - the light side entitled “Dancing For You” composed of baadaas funk for shaking starbooty - the dark side entitled “Singing For You” composed of luscious delights for when the lights are low.

Appropriately, “Dancing and singing” leads the squadron of goodies, introducing the band as more concerned with having a good time than star system domination. And what could be better than a brickhouse AND a sensuous woman - why its “Super sensuous woman” of course - and with this insightful knowledge, the throttle is turned up a touch while steering an assured course of party action. It’s back to the meaningful lyrics with “Get up everybody” reminding us that our brains are but a mechanism for ensuring we don’t fall over on the dancefloor, and here we have the addition of some laser technology in the shape of synthesizer tricks from the 61st Century. “If you can’t stand the heat” gets a slight nudge on retroblasters with a down-dirty funkgrinder to close side A.

As we enter the twilight sky, side B gently introduces a floating stage of a carefully lit quintet, the lead beaming a strong performance ably assisted by gorgeous harmonies on “I Want To Sing”. Next up is one of the flagships, the big ballad “Loneliness has got me down” - big enough to fit a meteorite cluster and crush it with its tender melancholy. Lovely. “Love you one more time” is a wonderful swayer with both leads working off one another as a team to rival Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. Another of the flagships for me is the rare groover “Make the most it”, a track repeated from their debut - and it’s easy to see why. Wonderfully produced, ultraspacey and quite hypnotic - gorgeous. Joe Carter was responsible for producing the entire album and the tracks were written between him and the band members. And although operating from the small, obscure Dynamic Artists label, the cabin crew operate a very tight ship and deliver a thoroughly commendable job by all. I for one will be recommending they are duly rewarded with the highest honours by Starfleet command.

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You can buy this rare vinyl from Groove Collector for 54 Euro and from BackAtCha for £60. Try their CD with their best songs (1976-1980) from Amazon.

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