LUV N' HAIGHT / UBIQUITY / LHLP028 / US / 2023

レア・グルーヴ ディスク・ガイド『RARE GROOVE A to Z』にも掲載されたMIKE JAMES KIRKLANDの名盤がRSD BLACK FRIDAY 2023に復刻!!


オリジナルリリースは1972年。その後1996年にLuv N' HaightからリイシューされたMIKE JAMES KIRKLANDのレアグルーヴ名盤。
近年再評価著しいMIKE JAMES KIRKLANDだが、このアルバムはリリース当時あまり評価ず、マニアのみ知るというような1枚。
しかしJOHN LEGEND & THE ROOTSのアルバム『WAKE UP』でタイトルトラックがカヴァーされ一般の認知度が上がった。
人気曲”Hang On In There”はUgly Duckling”I Did It Like This”にてサンプル使用。

"陰のWHAT'S GOING ON"とも呼ばれる名作がこの度RSD BLACK FRIDAY 2023に歓喜の復刻!

A1. What Have We Done
A2. Where's The Soul of Man?
A3. Hang On In There
B1. Baby I need you loving
B2. Give It To Me
B3. Blota Blota
B4. Your're Gonna Share Your Love
B5. It's Alright with me



The cover of the title track "Hang On In There" by John Legend and The Roots on their album "Wake Up" won a Grammy in 2011 for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

www.grammy.com/news/and-the-grammy-went-to-john-legend-the-roots

"Well, here it is, dig it, then decide for yourself. This is truth to me, because it's what I feel is real. Hey, I'm by no means trying to shrink heads. I just want to let you know where my head's at. Check it out; for those of you that can get to the message, I say, LOVE, and to those of you who can't, I say, 'HANG ON IN THERE'."
- Mike James Kirkland (taken from original back cover to "Hang On In There")

As the 1960s were drawing to a close Mike James Kirkland was inspired to interject social commentary into his musical output along with a more funky- soul and experimental side to the production. First he released "Together" b/w "The prophet" on Bryan in 1971. And he followed this up with the amazing "Hang on in there" LP in 1972. The original album and all bonus 7" cuts are included on our re-issue.

"If we were on a bigger label we would have done amazing things," reminisces Kirkland. "But we did the best we could. I'm amazed that John Legend has decided to cover the title track of my first album, that's very cool."

After the release of Hang on In There and Doin It Right (another Luv N'Haight re-issue) Kirkland changed his name to Bo Kirkland, apparently to avoid confusion with the newly-turned-solo-artist Michael Jackson. The first single release under his new moniker, "Grandfather Clock reached #80 on theR&B charts in 1975. This was the prelude to him joining forces with Ruth Davis (formerly of the Ikettes) and the release of the classic "You're gonna get next to me" in 1976.

”Hang On In There”使いUgly Duckling”I Did It Like This”

https://youtu.be/kfmtIZKX44s