DETROIT EMERALDS – Let’s Get Together (1978) (Expanded edition CD, 2014)

Soul, Funk, R&B, Disco, 1978-as album.
Remaszterizált Expanded edition CD újra kiadás, 2014.
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Digitally remastered edition of this 1978 album from the R&B vocal group. Towards the end of their career, musical tastes were moving away from the sweet Soul harmonies of their heyday and heading towards the sound of Disco. To that end they employed the production skills of Mike Theodore and the cream of Detroit’s session men, including Dennis Coffey. The LP was mixed by Tom Moulton.

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There was a time, in the early-mid 1970s, when US soul vocal groups were frequent and welcome visitors to both the UK charts and the UK touring circuit. The faces of the Chi-Lites, Stylistics, Drifters, Chairmen Of The Board and others of that calibre were as familiar here as any of out home grown acts. The same can be said for the Detroit Emeralds, whose local profile was created in 1973 with UK chart hits such as ‘Feel The Need In Me’ and ‘I Think Of You’ plus “Abe, James And Ivory” – a UK-only compilation album of their best Westbound recordings, assembled to capitalise on their immense popularity.

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“Let’s Get Together” offers plenty for all lovers of harmony-filled group soul. The trio’s chief songwriter and original member Abe Tilmon was back on board, in a non performing capacity after a leave of absence, bringing with him a pile of great new songs and productions that were very much on a par with the Emeralds’ best early 1970s sides. The album was recorded in Detroit and Memphis with some of the best musicians of the time, and Johnny Allen’s arrangements are every bit as fine as those of the group’s hit making days and James Mitchell’s lead vocals are first rate as always. It’s a fine offering remastered from new transfers of the original Westbound tapes.

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