Artist: The Undisputed Truth
Title: Method To The Madness / Smokin'
Year Of Release: 2015-11-20 (1976/1979)
Label: Robinsongs / Cherry Red Records (UK)
Genre: R&B, Soul/Funk, Disco
Two gems from The Undisputed Truth – back to back in a single package. First up is Method To The Madness – a killer classic from the second chapter of the Undisputed Truth – that time when the group stepped away from their Motown home, and followed producer/creator Norman Whitfield to his own label in California. The shift of record companies also marks a cool shift in styles too – an approach that still has all the bold, bassy elements you'd know from the earlier hits – but one that also has some fuller, more cosmic elements too – which are hinted at by the image on the cover. The set begins with a weird electronic spoken number that's almost experimental – then brings up the bass for a bit of heavy funk, while also using electric elements in a way that really points the way to sounds that other big funk groups would cop at the start of the 80s – but which really sound fresh here in the hands of Undisputed Truth. Titles include "Sunshine", "Take A Vacation From Life (And Visit Your Dreams)", "Life Ain't So Easy", "You + Me = Love", "Cosmic Contact", "Hole In The Wall", and "Let's Go Down To The Disco". Smokin has The Undisputed Truth still going very strong at the end of the 70s – working with original producer Norman Whitfield, in a groove that's every bit as wonderful as their early years. There's a killer mix of funk and deeper soul here that few other acts could handle this well – a way of hitting the flashy funk of Sly & The Family Stone or Graham Central Station – but also not falling into any showbiz traps, either – in a mode that really his the group not only respecting the role of each member, but also working together in a very cohesive way on the album. The result is a great little set that balances funky grooves with some excellent cosmic soul cuts – supported by great session work from giants like Wah Wah Watson, Walt Downing, and Jack Ashford. A few cool keyboard lines further cement the sound of the record – and titles include "Show Time", "Space Machine", "I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love", "Misunderstood", "Sandman", "Atomic Funk", and "Talkin To The Wind".
~Review by Dusty Groove, Inc.~

Release of these albums: "Method To The Madness" (1976) [LP Whitfield Records, Cat.# WH 2967, USA] / "Smokin'" (1979) [LP Whitfield Records, Cat.# WHK 3202, USA]
Release of this CD: 2015, November, 20 [CD Robinsongs/Cherry Red Records (UK), Cat.# WROBIN2CDD / UPC: 5013929950221]
(p) 1976 & 1979 WEA International Inc.
Issued under licence courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd.
(c) 2015 Robinsongs, a division of Cherry Red Records Ltd.
Marketed and Distributed by Cherry Red Records.
Made in EU/MCPS

Credits:

Liner Notes – Charles Waring
Mastered By – Alan Wilson

Method To The Madness (1976)

Arranged By – Norman Whitfield, Paul Riser
Bass – Lequeint "Duke" Jobe
Bongos – Terral Santiel
Coordinator [Album Coordinator] – Clay McMurray
Engineer [Recording And Mixing Engineer] – Learnard "Colonel Disco" Jackson, Norman Whitfield, Steve Maslow, Steve Smith
Guitar – John McGhee, Kenji Brown, Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin
Keyboards – Michael Nash, Victor Nix
Other [Wardrobe & Makeup Technician] – Linda Thompson
Percussion – Henry Garner
Photography By – Gernot Plitz
Producer, Design, Illustration [Cover Illustration] – Norman Whitfield
Saxophone – Michael Moore
Trumpet – Freddie Dunn, Kenny Copeland
Written-By – John McGhee (tracks: 8), Norman Whitfield, Rochelle Runnells (tracks: 5, 6)

Smokin' (1979)

Art Direction, Design – Eleven Twenty-Four Design
Bass – Keni Burke, Mark Kenoly, Melvin Stewart, Ted Willingham
Clavinet, Piano – Walter Downing
Coordinator [Album Coordinator] – William D. Whitfield
Drums – James Gadson, Jimi Valdez
Electronic Drums [Syndrums] – Terral Santiel
Guitar – Brian Haner, Earnest Reed, Howard Rice, Melvin "Wah Wah" Watson, Trey Stone
Illustration – Shusei Nagaoka
Mastered By – J.G.
Mixed By [Mixing Engineers] – Leanard "Disco" Jackson, Norman Whitfield, Steve Smith
Percussion – Jack Ashford
Photography By – Bobby Holland
Photography By [Back Cover Photo], Typography [Back Cover Type Effect] – Daniel Catherine
Producer, Arranged By – Norman Whitfield
Recorded By [Recording Engineer] – Leanard "Disco" Jackson, Steve Smith
Synthesizer [Oberheim & Arp] – Michael Nash

Tracklist:

Disc 1: Method To The Madness (1976)

01. Cosmic Contact (03:50)
02. Method To The Madness (03:59)
03. Sunshine (05:16)
04. You + Me = Love (11:16)
05. Hole In The Wall (03:24)
06. Loose (03:19)
07. Life Ain't So Easy (04:02)
08. Take A Vacation From Life (And Visit Your Dreams) (04:32)
09. Let's Go Down To The Disco (09:13)

Disc 2: Smokin' (1979)

01. Show Time (08:58)
02. Talkin' To The Wind (04:10)
03. Atomic Funk (03:53)
04. I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love (04:10)
05. Space Machine (06:55)
06. Tazmainian Monster (03:49)
07. Sandman (04:15)
08. Misunderstood (04:37)