Smoke...Risen'

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Album Review by Trakbuv

“Move over O’J’s, Spinners and Temps. The fire may be comin’, but ‘Smoke’ is here” boasts the sleeve notes. This heralds the male quartet’s first and only album, ‘Risin’. The ensemble consisted of Ernest and Arthur Malone, Melvin Manning and Larry Brown, all hailing from Kansas City, and all very capable of taking centre stage. If only for this reason, the opening claim holds some water. Personally, the band come across as a blend of many premium soul groups of the day, with the Ebonys and Impressions coming to mind.

The material is a nice cross-section of mid-70’s soul, all composed (with the exception of the final track) by Elmer Overton, who also co-produced the sessions with Les Matthews. I am unfamiliar with either personnel, but the arranger, one Benjamin F Wright, Jr, is renowned for his sympathetic support of many top acts, including the Chi-Lites, Dells, and the Temps. Backed by prominent Chicago session musicians (Burgess Gardner, Don Myrick, John Bishop, Vince Willis, etc), the recording has a very competent, not overly-polished sheen. Very very nice indeed.
The strength for me in the recording is the diversity of sounds on offer. There is ‘I’m so glad’ with a captivating two-step arrangement and vocal reminiscent of Leroy Hutson, the lead also giving the more bouncy ‘You will always’ a commercial edge. Then we have a glorious falsetto with incredible clarity exhibited on ‘Now you’re gone’ and ‘Don’t take your love’. And we also have a tenor with a gruff edge that the Ebonys would have enjoyed. He drains every strand of his vocal chords with his expressive charge in the sombre, organ-lead ‘I’m so lonely’, an 8 minute opus, and the similarly toned ‘Make believe’, with some mighty fine harmonies. Also special mention to ‘Have I really lost you’ as possibly the best vocal showcase for the group.

Curiously, my favourite track, the lilting ‘Rainy Night’, boasting a warm, engaging falsetto, is apparently on a Smooth Jazz CD by Donald Harrison entitled ‘3D vol.1’. Completely misplaced, it has accredited the artist to Elmer Overton, its composer and producer.


SMOKE...RISEN'



SMOKE...I'M SO LONELY

[Edie Antoinette]

Bwahahahahahahahaaaa ...ooops! That's Arrow..not Larry Brown. Po meeeeee!!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Uh, 'scuse me Larry! LOL

[Edie Antoinette]

I gotta check this dude out! Is that the same Larry beetlejuice Brown??? Awww sookie. I am loving this! Now I see why he had a harem! Wonderful voice and 4 point harmony. Ahhhh.....*memories of back in the day*

Thanks for this Sole!

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

That's what i was wondering also, Gene

[KnightD12]

Thes guys have a nice sound. Wonder why they only made one album.

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

This Brother from Chattanooga has uploaded a lot of rare hard to find sweet soul singing groups on youtube, you know i'm enjoying this.