Bill King: Atlanta Underground (1979 Reissue)

In the late ‘70s, Atlanta was at a crossroads. Rumour was, with improvements to the interstate; Atlanta would emerge the progressive metropolis of the south—the next big business and commerce centre. A destination for all Americans and cultural hotbed. We were only months away from impresario Ted Turner's launch of ground-breaking CNN cable news. Atlanta the headquarters.

Alicia Bridges was still packing dancehalls with I Love the Nightlife—a creation of local hero Bill Lowery and producer Steve Buckingham. In 1978, Bridges was a Grammy nominee and performed. The fever of the disco moment also drove the crowds to the Atlanta Underground. A place of historical significance given over to trinket shops and glitzy dance rooms.

I was firmly at Axis Sound Studios, once the ownership of the Christian music dynasty - the Le Fevre family—early days of Christian rock. I’d catch a rare free hour or so and lay down a track with in-house players and others from the black community when possible. Yet remember, matters weren’t as fluid between the races.

Cultural entrepreneurs Alvin Few, Johnny Simone and Kenny Stover booked the occasional session on which I played Fender Rhodes, one the hit, Give Me the Sunshine with Leo’s Starship. I continued to peddle songs to Bill Lowery, aiming to get my take on dance music down on disc.

When I hooked up with arranger Skip Lane, principal Saxman for arranger Henry Mancini, my vision took shape. Neither of us had much coin yet found a way to raise a few dollars to embellish four tracks with strings (Summerheat, Magnolia Nights, After the Rain and Atlanta Underground).

Atlanta Underground was my attempt to catch that cross-talk between jazz and dance. A juncture where Isaac Hayes, a local, Barry White, and Curtis Mayfield shared familiar ground. Skip came through. We turned some heads with the genre-bending exploits. This is the second release from the Atlanta Sessions 1978-1979.

Underground features Bob Dylan’s/Miles Davis bassist Harvey Brooks, from Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove – David Myles guitar, drummer Kevin White from Wayne Cochran’s Florida soul unit, and Art Blakey’s sideman – Harvey Whitehead percussion. Skip Lane – alto sax and string arrangement.

Musicians: Bill King – Composer – Acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet D. / David Myles – Guitar / Harvey Brooks – bass / Kevin White – Drums / Harvey Whitehead – Percussion / Skip Lane – alto sax and string arranger (Atlanta Strings).