NEW RELEASES: THE 5TH DIMENSION - EARTHBOUND; MINNIE RIPERTON ANTHOLOGY- LES FLEURS; ARTHUR PRYSOCK - TOO LATE BABY

THE 5TH DIMENSION - EARTHBOUND 

The Soul City and Bell recordings of the original line-up of the 5th Dimension—Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Florence LaRue (Gordon), Lamonte McLemore and Ron Townson—have been amply reissued in the digital age, with reissues of all their albums and collections too numerous to name. But Earthbound, the final album they recorded together after moving to the ABC label in 1975, has, due to some contractual confusion, been lost in limbo for almost four decades. Now, after years of persistent efforts, the legal logjam has come unstuck and Earthbound has been “unearthed” for this CD debut! This album’s use of synthesizers marked a real departure for the band and moved them in a new, funky direction; it also marked a highly anticipated reunion and final collaboration with legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb (“Up, Up and Away”), as Webb produced and arranged the record and wrote half of its songs. Remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, with liner notes by Joe Marchese featuring extensive, exclusive quotes from Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., and added photos and memorabilia—this Real Gone reissue fills a major gap in the discography of one of the greatest pop-soul groups of all time! Songs: Earthbound/Prologue—Be Here Now; Don’t Stop for Nothing; I’ve Got a Feeling; Magic in My Life;Walk Your Feet in the Sunshine; When Did I Lose Your Love; Lean on Me Always; Speaking with My Heart; Moonlight Mile; and Earthbound/Epilogue. ~ Real Gone Music

MINNIE RIPERTON - LES FLEURS: THE MINNIE RIPERTON ANTHOLOGY

All the best Minnie Riperton tracks on one set – a beautiful double-length package of tunes, hand-picked because of their lasting importance to Minnie's fans in recent generations! The tracks on the set span the gamut of Minnie's recording career, and have a focus on the kinds of righteous and cosmically-grooving tracks that Minnie could do better than anyone else. We couldn't have picked a better track list ourselves – and titles include "Reasons", "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun", "You Take My Breath Away", "Strange Affair", "Take A Little Trip", "I'm A Woman", "Lovin You", "Les Fleur (remake from 1979)", "Light My Fire (with Jose Feliciano)", "Love Hurts", "Memory Lane", "Inside My Love", "Every Time He Comes Around", "Young Willing & Able", and "Here We Go (w/ Peabo Bryson)". ~ Dusty Groove

ARTHUR PRYSOCK - TOO LATE BABY: THE OLD TOWN SINGLES 1958-66

A great run of music from the mighty Arthur Prysock – an incredibly soulful singer who was at the top of the heap in the early 60s, but who's largely forgotten all these many years later! Prysock had a really unique approach – and one that really paved the way for some of the bigger male ballad soul singers in the late 60s and 70s – a bit of jazz, with a definite influence from Billy Eckstine – mixed with a deep range that's a lot bluesier than his classy look might make you think – often set to backings that open up a new sort of sophisticated territory. Without Prysock, it's hard to imagine Walter Jackson, Lou Rawls, Jerry Butler, and many others – and this sweet batch of singles really sums up the power of the man at his height. The CD features 24 tracks in all – many on CD for the first time – and titles include "Come & See This Old Fool", "Worry Bout You", "Again", "House By The Side Of The Road", "It's Too Late Baby Too Late", "Our Love Will Last", "One More Time", "If Ever I Should Fall In Love", and "Keep A Light In The Window For Me". ~ Dusty Groove