I Choose You (Originally Released As "Blind Over You")

Something of an underground classic among funk and soul aficionados, Chicago Gangsters’ nine-track debut LP didn’t boast any earth-shattering hits, but it's remained so steadily popular that it's been repeatedly reissued over the years under a variety of names (first Blind Over You and then I Choose You and Gangster Boogie). A remarkable album no matter what its name, Chicago Gangsters’ debut benefits immeasurably from the contributions of some of the most accomplished musicians and arrangers on the Chicago studio scene. The four McCant brothers—Leroy, James, Sam, and Chris—make up the core of Chicago Gangsters’ lineup, and their singing, playing, and production work shine through throughout this album. But it's the sophisticated arrangement of former Cadet Records musical mastermind Richard Evans that puts these songs over the top. Evans comes to the fore on the group’s lush, largely instrumental take of Willie Hutch’s “I Choose You,” which boasts an epic, multilayered arrangement that's among the album’s best.