Masterpiece Vol.4 - The Ultimate Disco Funk Collection

Resembling Evelyn King's "I'm in Love" and Melba Moore's "Love's Comin' at Ya," what with its zipping synth vamps and bouncy vocal melody, an excellent facsimile of a Kashif production begins the fourth volume of PTG's Masterpiece series. It's close to plagiarism. A number 30 club hit in the U.S., "I Must Be Dreamin'" was produced and co-written by Narada Michael Walden's right-hand man, Randy Jackson (the future Journey member and American Idol judge), and voiced by Walden's sister Wanda. King herself contributes "Out of Control," one of her bigger and more aggressive mid-'80s singles, produced by Jimmy Douglass (Slave, Odyssey) and mixed by Jonathan Fearing (Newcleus). Following the second volume's inclusion of Shirley Lites' "Heat You Up (Melt You Down)," this volume includes two more West End singles -- Mahogany's "Ride on the Rhythm," Brenda Taylor's "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too" -- mixed by Nick Martinelli and David Todd, adding to the correct notion that West End had a lot more going for it than Peech Boys, Taana Gardner, and Loose Joints. Some well-crafted obscurities from microscopic independents buoy the disc. A singer named Serena, who appears to have released nothing else, is here with the TNT Unlimited release "Get Your Body Up," which carries some wicked synthesizer bass and a terrifically clamping breakdown. Simon & McQueen, another apparent one-off (on the Landmark label), deliver the breathy, teasing "Let's Get into It," full of tickling keyboard work. ~ Andy Kellman|

Resembling Evelyn King's "I'm in Love" and Melba Moore's "Love's Comin' at Ya," what with its zipping synth vamps and bouncy vocal melody, an excellent facsimile of a Kashif production begins the fourth volume of PTG's Masterpiece series. It's close to plagiarism. A number 30 club hit in the U.S., "I Must Be Dreamin'" was produced and co-written by Narada Michael Walden's right-hand man, Randy Jackson (the future Journey member and American Idol judge), and voiced by Walden's sister Wanda. King herself contributes "Out of Control," one of her bigger and more aggressive mid-'80s singles, produced by Jimmy Douglass (Slave, Odyssey) and mixed by Jonathan Fearing (Newcleus). Following the second volume's inclusion of Shirley Lites' "Heat You Up (Melt You Down)," this volume includes two more West End singles -- Mahogany's "Ride on the Rhythm," Brenda Taylor's "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too" -- mixed by Nick Martinelli and David Todd, adding to the correct notion that West End had a lot more going for it than Peech Boys, Taana Gardner, and Loose Joints. Some well-crafted obscurities from microscopic independents buoy the disc. A singer named Serena, who appears to have released nothing else, is here with the TNT Unlimited release "Get Your Body Up," which carries some wicked synthesizer bass and a terrifically clamping breakdown. Simon & McQueen, another apparent one-off (on the Landmark label), deliver the breathy, teasing "Let's Get into It," full of tickling keyboard work. ~ Andy Kellman