On the evidence of this welcome reissue of their third album, Pleasure should have been up there with Kool and the Gang and E.W.&F., boasting eight members of formidable talent, strong song-writing talent and sleek, dynamic production from the Crusaders’ Wayne Henderson. Oh, and a lethal case of funk and chops born out of years playing together since they got together from high school bands in their native Portland, Oregon. Having managed to catch Henderson’ s ear after passing a tape to a visiting Grover Washington, they became session band for his At Home Productions in Los Angeles, backing artists like Ronnie Laws while starting their own career with 1974’s Dust Yourself Off and 1976’s Accept No Substitute. These had already made a dent in the New York clubs but the following year’s ‘Joyous’, which leads this album, was a massive anthem at clubs like the Paradise Garage, riding in on James Brown-meets-‘Hollywood Swinging’ groove power topped with heavenly vocal interplay and Dennis Springer’s gritty tenor leading the skin tight brass. They go on to straddle cool jazz-funk, spacey ballads and further butt-shaking monsters on a glitteringly tight and criminally underrated statement which defines a time when black music really came of age as a major commercial force. Joyous now has to be content with being revived as one of the era’s lost gems, but comes highly recommended.
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
