Right On Be Free (Remastered Bonus Track Version)

Though they sprang from the deeply traditional Harlem gospel scene The Voices of East Harlem were one of the most progressive bands of their era. While soul svengalis like Norman Whitfield and Charles Stepney went to great length to mix the psychedelic sounds of the late sixties with traditional soul and gospel arrangements, The Voices of East Harlem were, along with Funkadelic, one of the few outfits who were able to convincingly fuse raw soul with the more outré sounds favored by the most adventurous rock outfits of the time. At thirteen members strong, The Voices were more than capable of reproducing the full-throated roar of a gospel choir, but their musical arrangements were light years away from anything one might encounter on a Sunday morning in the pews. Their fiery interpretation of Richie Havens’ “Run Shaker Life” is a particular standout, but every track on the Voices debut Right On Be Free is a gem. This impeccably assembled reissue includes a generous helping of bonus tracks, including a jaw-dropping take on Bob Dylan’s “Oxford Town' that must be heard to be believed.