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The first half of Way Out: 80-84 consists of highlights from funk great Steve Arrington's two albums with his Hall of Fame, released on Atlantic in 1983 and 1984, after he left Slave. Perhaps due to licensing or budget restrictions, the set doesn't cover the drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer's two Atlantic albums made without the Hall of Fame, which were released in 1985 and 1986; the Top 20 "Feel So Real" and the Top 10 "Dancin' in the Key of Life," at the very least, should be sought by anyone with the slightest interest in obtaining Arrington's best output. This portion does include all the gems from Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame I and Positive Power -- frisky, rousing jams like "Way Out," "Weak at the Knees," and "Nobody Can Be You." Some of the songs were sampled for popular rap recordings, but the connections needn't be noted for Arrington's sake. Eternal funk classics don't need legitimization. The second half of Way Out features both sides of "Summertime Lovin'," Arrington's 1980 12" single for Salsoul. Released the same year as Slave's excellent Stone Jam, these inclusions involve support from Arrington's bandmates, from Mark Adams' unmistakable bass to Starleana Young's sparkling backing vocals. The remaining eight cuts, all previously unreleased, are a mix of songs "deemed too progressive" by Atlantic and other Hall of Fame-era cuts that were completed by Arrington and a later lineup for this set. The stand-out is "Without Your Love," presumably an all-new recording, that resembles a synthesis of "Weak at the Knees" and early-'80s Slave. "Funk and Roll Junky," "Crazy About You," "Why," and "Mysterious Woman" all have the hard, driving rhythms and invigorating spirit of Arrington's decades-old hits. Unfortunately, the accompanying booklet offers only a basic list of credits. Those who want to learn more about Arrington should look for an archived lecture facilitated by Red Bull Music Academy in 2013.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
TRACK LISTINGS
Disc 1
1 Way Out - Steve Arrington (4:27)
2 Weak At the Knees - Steve Arrington (5:25)
3 Speak With Your Body - Steve Arrington (5:27)
4 Sugar Mama Baby - Steve Arrington (4:52)
5 Beddie-Biey - Steve Arrington (4:09)
6 Nobody Can Be You - Steve Arrington (5:20)
7 Mellow As a Cello - Steve Arrington (5:34)
8 Hump To the Bump - Steve Arrington (4:00)
9 What Do You Want From Me - Steve Arrington (4:44)
10 Last Nite Nite Before - Steve Arrington (4:48)
11 Positive Power - Steve Arrington (4:54)
12 You Meet My Approval - Steve Arrington (5:33)
Disc 2
1 Without Your Love - Steve Arrington (4:41)
2 Funk and Roll Junky - Steve Arrington (4:48)
3 Summertime Lovin' - Steve Arrington (8:44)
4 Tribute To John Coltrane - Steve Arrington (0:48)
5 Special FX From Mars - Steve Arrington (4:29)
6 Hyperspace - Steve Arrington (0:41)
7 Crazy About You - Steve Arrington (4:04)
8 Why - Steve Arrington (4:06)
9 Mysterious Woman - Steve Arrington (4:39)
10 The Message - Steve Arrington (1:22)
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