THE MASQUERADERS : THE MASQUERADERS [BANG - USA 1980] LP

(Bang - CBS) 1980 made in USA

cat. num. 7464-36321-1

#funk #soul #disco

A1.Desire 3:39

A2.Starry Love 4:20

A3.Ups & Downs 3:50

A4.I Love You, I Want You, I Need You 3:42

A5.Into Your Soul 4:35

B1.For The Sake Of Pride 4:11

B2.I'll Be Your Shoulder To Cry On 3:17

B3.It's So Nice 4:36

B4.Rock Jam 3:50

The Masqueraders, all from different parts of Texas, are one of those acts that manage to give an above-average effort each and every time they visit a recording studio. The five merged from as many groups in high school and have been recording since the early '60s. This self-titled LP kicks off with a fast and frenzied "Desire"; lead singer Lee Hatim shows why he's considered one of the most underrated voices in soul music, exhorting and pumping the lyrics with genuine conviction. "Starry Love" is a dreamy ballad with an edge; the Masqueraders couldn't sound wimpy if they tried. Hatim did a double on this one by singing and playing piano on the sessions; make that a triple -- he wrote or co-wrote all the songs, too. The electrifying "Into Your Soul" has Hatim singing a very personal lyric to someone special while apparently tickling the ivories, the fire in his voice emerging at times like a raging bull. Members Harold Thomas, Sammy Hutchins, Robert Wrigthsel, and David Sanders were missing in action on "For the Sake of Pride" as Hatim goes solo. If you like a reggae beat, then "I'll Be Your Shoulder to Cry On" has elements of the world-renowned Jamaican groove complete with clacking calypsos, handclapping, and island-flavored backing vocals. The only disappointment is "Rock Jam," a poor attempt to cash in on disco. James Stroud produced this LP and played drums and percussion on the tracks. A good effort that went unnoticed, like many of their recordings.