 Long out of print, the pioneering funk/R&B group MTUME's final 1986 Epic album
Fronted by James Mtume, the group bearing his name was formed in 1977 with fellow former Miles Davis band member Reggie Lucas. In 1982, the unit underwent several personnel changes, Lucas leaving to produce early recordings with Madonna. Female vocalist Tawatha remained as one of the original members of the group, long revered by funk and rare groove fans worldwide
MTUME's sixth album for Epic, Theater Of The Mind followed on the heels of the group s two previous best-selling LPs, Juicy Fruit and You, Me & He, reaching No. 23 on the R&B Album charts.
Much like its predecessors including Kiss This World Goodbye and In Search Of The Rainbow Seekers (both released on Soul Music.com Records as a 2-disc set this month) the nine-track set reflected the quirky lyricism and innovative approach that James Mtume brought to his work with the group via tracks such as New Face Deli, a riveting commentary on the mid-'80s beginning of societal obsession with cosmetic surgery.
Theater Of The Mind included three U.S. charted R&B singles, Breathless, P.O.P. Generation and Body and Soul (Take Me) The album has only been available on a limited basis as a Japanese-released CD.
Notes by Soul Music.com founder David Nathan include 2010 reflections by James Mtume.
About the Writer
David Nathan is the founder and CEO of SoulMusic.com and began his writing career in 1965; beginning in 1967, he was a regular contributor to Blues & Soul magazine in London before relocating to the U.S. in 1975 where he served as U.S. editor for the publication for several decades and began being known as 'The British Ambassador Of Soul.' From 1988 to 2004, he wrote prolifically for Billboard, has penned bios, produced and written liner notes for box sets and reissue CDs for over a thousand projects. He returned to London in 2009 where he has helped create SoulMusic.com Records as a leading reissue label.
|
|
|
