構成数 | 1枚

合計収録時間 | 00:37:58

MFSB: Carla Benson (vocals); James Herb Smith (guitar, background vocals); Marc Rubin, Dennis Harris (guitar); Don Renaldo (violin); John R. Faith (flute); Bob Malach, Larry McKenna (saxophone); Evan Solot (trumpet); Lenny Pakula (organ); John L. Usry, Jr. (keyboards, prophet synthesizer, flugelhorn); Dexter Wansel (keyboards, synthesizer); Joel Bryant, Caleton Kent, Leon Huff (keyboards); Larry Moore, Derrick Graves, Alphonso Carey, Steve Green (bass); Clifford Rudd, Jr., Quinton Joseph, Billy Johnson (drums); Miguel Fuentes, David Cruse (percussion); Evette Benton, Barbar Ingram, Winston Gay, Zahmu (background vocals). Producers include: John R. Faith, John L. Usry, Joel Bryant, James Herb Smith. Engineers: Dirk Devlin, Jeffrey Stewart, Art Stoppe. Personnel: Evette Benton, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Zahmu (vocals, background vocals); James Herb Smith (guitar, background vocals); Dennis Harris , Mark Rubin (guitar); Don Renaldo (violin); John R. Faith (flute); Larry McKenna, Bob Malach (saxophone); Evan Solot (trumpet); Johnny Usry (flugelhorn, keyboards, synthesizer); Lenny Pakula (organ, keyboards); Dexter Wansel (keyboards, synthesizer); Joel Bryant, Carlton "Cotton" Kent, Leon Huff , Steve Gold (keyboards); Quinton Joseph, Clifford Rudd, Billy Johnson (drums); David Cruse, Miguel Fuentes (percussion); Winston Gay (background vocals). Recording information: 1980. Illustrator: Bob Giusti. Unknown Contributor Role: Tom Cartwright. Arrangers: Dexter Wansel; Johnny Usry; John R. Faith. By 1980, the disco boom that had supported the rise of MFSB was on its way out the door. Their stylish sound was in need of a makeover to keep up with the times, and this was accomplished by allowing Dexter Wansel, the producer/writer behind a string of jazzy solo albums like Life on Mars, to take the reins. The result was the stylish and jazzy Mysteries of the World. While this album is as mellow as the rest of the latter-period MFSB recordings, it never forgets the group's soul music underpinnings. For example, "Manhattan Skyline" fortifies its easygoing melody with a percolating, hard thumping bassline and some well timed blasts of horns. "Mysteries of the World" also keeps the new, softer style of MFSB from drifting into easy listening blandness by playing up the jazz underpinnings of the group's sound. For proof, look no further than the title track, which wraps an array of exploratory keyboard riffs around a busy bassline. Elsewhere, the album adds surprising little twists to keep things fresh: "Old San Juan" builds its mellow soul groove around an atypical flamenco guitar hook, and "In the Shadow" works an otherworldly synthesizer line into its bossa nova groove. The end result is an album that manages to bring a new freshness to their sound without completely severing ties with its old style. Mysteries of the World may be a little too soft and jazzy for funk fans accustomed to the likes of "Love Is the Message" and "T.S.O.P.," but it remains a fine album of jazz-inflected instrumentals that is likely to please anyone who likes soul music at its most elegant. ~ Donald A. Guarisco

録音 | ステレオ (Studio)