Description
1979年、ニューヨーク・ブルックリン発の10人編成バンドが放った至高のディスコ／ソウル・ファンク・チューン。リーダーのトランペット奏者 Greg Henderson が率いた Master Force は、クラブ・シーンでの実績を重ね、彼らのリリース “Hey Girl” c/w “Don’t Fight The Feeling” は世代を超えて支持される定番クラシックとなった。
このヴァイナルは、当時7インチ／12インチでそれぞれ異なるミックスが存在した両曲を、正式ライセンスの元に公式12インチとして復刻。録音・リマスター・45 rpmカッティングという仕様でその魅力を現代に伝えている。
主軸となる “Hey Girl” は、流麗なピアノ・リフと滑らかなヴォーカル、ファンク色濃いベースラインが重なり、自然に身体を揺らすグルーヴ感を持つ。一方 “Don’t Fight The Feeling” ではリズムセクションの躍動とホーン・アレンジの華やかさが際立ち、70年代末のディスコ／ソウル・クラブで実践された「踊るための音」がそのまま刻まれている。
さらに、ピアノ奏者 Bernie Felton や女性ヴォーカル Angela Blake など、長年の演奏経験を持つメンバー達によって紡がれた本作は、アンサンブルの精度と演奏の熱気が両立。彼らはカーネギー・ホールでの公演経験もあるなど、ステージ経験に裏打ちされたサウンドを持っていた。
この1枚は、ディスコ／ファンク／ソウルを愛するコレクターや、クラブ・フロアでテンションを高めたいDJにとって必携のディスコ・ヴァイナル。ハウス/テクノ以前のダンス・サウンドの原点を探るなら、間違いなく押さえておきたい一枚だ。
A1. Don't Fight The Feeling
B1. Hey Girl
A standout choice on any playlist, Master Force’s 1979 release ‘Hey Girl’ c/w ‘Don’t Fight The Feeling’ has become a staple classic across generations tuned into the soul-funk-disco sounds of late 70’s New York and all its makings. Originally released on both 12” and 7”, both singles had different mixes and are equally sought-after.
Excerpt from an ‘Annual Dance’ flyer of 1979:
“Masterforce creates its own unique sound and has a groove all on its own. The group is guided by the dedication, love and faith in themselves and the sound of the soul-filled feeling of MASTERFORCE”
Led by composer and trumpet player Greg Henderson, Master Force were a 10-piece band based in Brooklyn, performing in the late 70s onwards throughout the city. They adhered to a strict rehearsal regime and headlined the club circuit including an evening at Carnegie Hall. “I’d played the trumpet for so many bands and I loved writing music. I was used to leading bands and organising musicians to get results. I always had a lot of original material I wanted to play so the concept for Master Force came naturally” says Greg.
Residing in Bedford-Stuyvesant, lead singer Bernie Felton had already been cutting 45’s with his vocals on Doo Wop singles since the late 50s and had a few generations worth of craftsmanship to share with his bandmates. “His vocals were so smooth and silky, he was an incredible singer,” says fellow Tenor-Saxophone player and music teacher Don Echoles. “Sid Bratton our keyboard player had the keys to the mailroom at his job and we had an arrangement to rehearse there after hours. Everyone really put a lot into it.”
The female lead was Angela Blake whose formative years in the church navigated her professional career as a seasoned vocalist. After Master Force, fellow singer and friend Yvonne Lewis (Rainbow Brown) recommended her to audition for Roberta Flack and the rest is history. She started touring with Flack in the early part of 1982 and has since recorded and sang backup behind many; Ronnie Dyson, Tito Puente, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Kills, Bette Midler, Roxanne Shante, Jessica Simpson, and Amy Winehouse to name a few.
There was a lot of experienced players and talent in the band and Greg knew the club scene and how to get the shows. Their music was sophisticated and the dress code reflected that. “Greg had us dressing real smart, he knew how to get gigs and really present a strong image. He always dressed sharp” says Doc.
“You gotta believe in what you’re doing,” says Greg.
“He’d write all the music and bring it for us to work on. A lot of bands just did covers but Greg was about original material ... we’d go through the parts and maybe add something that worked with the flavour. We were all about the rhythm section. Like ‘Hey Girl’, you hear that baseline? That’s me man doing that ‘Lovely Day’ bassline over” explains Doc about his Bill Wither’s inspired groove.
Produced by Greg Henderson and self-released on his Rain Forest Records imprint, the record was to be Master Force’s first and only release for the label before the group disbanded going their separate ways in the early 80’s.
