BRASS CONSTRUCTION BRASS CONSTRUCTION 2 LP Category / Style / Moods: R&B Funk, Disco 11.12 / 2007-02-19 A asocc 1976 UNITED ARTISTS LP TITLE: BRASS CONSTRUCTION 2 ARTIST: BRASS CONSTRUCTION CONDITION VINYL: VG+ COVER: VG Click here for info on grading and abbreviations ORIGINAL PRESS! Click the pix for a better view TRACKS: Disc: 1 1. Ha Cha Cha (Funktion) Muller 2. Get to the Point 3. Sambo 4. Screwed 5. The Message (Inspiration) Muller 6. Now Is Tomorrow 7. Blame It on Me 8. What's on Your Mind? (Expression) Muller, Williamston Review by Ed Hogan Brass Construction leader Randy Muller took the group in a wider direction on their sophomore effort, Brass Construction 2 issued in December 1976. Their second LP was still funky, horn-punctuated disco; it just wasn't non-stop funky disco as their gold self-titled debut. Adding more Latin/Afro Cuban rhythms,they had a Top 10 R&B hit with the first single "Ha Cha Cha." It also introduced the irving Spice strings, who give the urgent radio-aired "Screwed" a swirling, almost tipsy feel. The LP also had mellow tracks. "The Message" is almost inspirational in its theme. Both it and its flipside, the seriously funky "What's On Your Mind(Expression)" received airplay with "..Mind" becoming the source sampling material for several rap and hip-hop artists in the '80s and '90s. Brass Construction 2 the band's second gold album is also a testament to their influence on the acid jazz movement of the '90s. Some of the LP's cuts are on the 1993 Capitol CD, The Best of Brass Construction: Movin' & Changin', the 1991 CD Golden Classics and some are covered on Live -- both are from Collectables. Biography by Ron Wynn Vocalist/instrumentalist Randy Muller was at the helm of two pivotal East Coast funk and disco aggregations in the '70s and '80s. One was Brass Construction; the other was Skyy. Muller, a vocalist and instrumentalist who doubled on keyboards and flute, organized the band with drummer Larry Payton, trumpeters Wayne Parris and Morris Price, lead guitarist Joe Arthur, vocalist/conga player Sandy Billups, saxophonists Michael Grudge and Jesse Ward, and bassist Wade Williamston. Their 1975 debut, produced by Jeff Lane, went platinum and contained two dancefloor anthems in "Moving" and "Changin." Brass Construction II, III, IV, and V mined the same territory, though only the single "Ha Cha Cha (Funktion)" in 1977 and "L-O-V-E-U" in 1978 came close to attaining similar commercial heights. They recorded for United Artists until 1980, then moved to Liberty and recorded for them until 1983. Muller became their producer in the early '80s, and he shifted their emphasis into a heavily synthesized direction. They continued on Capitol from 1983 to 1985, but couldn't regain their past momentum. The group's vintage hits were remixed and reissued internationally by EMI's Syncopate label in the late '80s, and Brass Construction reappeared on England's charts in 1988. This exquisite piece of retro music history is a vinyl sound recording (not a CD). Please visit the A Sound Deal store for similar items and information on grading and shipping. Add me to your favorites for red hot sales bulletins and sneak previews of upcoming products. Combine Items to Save $$$! Click here to check the store for more! ©A Sound Deal
