Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Faith Band - Riding High

All traces of this 45 seem to have vanished from the face of the earth. I bought this years ago and now can't find anything about it. Funny how sometimes these things can just disappear. I know it was released on Village records, and is indeed the same Faith Band that also cut a few records on Mercury records. They are a rock band with soul and sometimes a touch of funkiness. Perhaps they were influenced and or traveled down 'china grove' just like the Doobies. They seem like a slice from the same cake at least. This possible first release by them pins them as more of a straight soul or funk bar band. It's a tale of attitude and bravado that's, as they put it, 'strickly on the level'. Thanks guys for keeping it on the up and up with us. But, seriously there's pleasant lyrics, nice changes, tasty bridges and its an all around nice first outing. They seem to know that 'smooth and slow' is gonna yield a funkier outcome but they've got just enough 'unk' to make it pop. I like the multiple smart uses of Rhodes electric piano throughout the song. Not bad guitar solos from either two or three of the players or just one player well mixed together. Ultimately a good little track on the disco funk tip.

WARNING! WARNING!!
BEWARE the image pictured above is NOT associated with this tune. This came out on a 45 only and was never released on an album. I used this pic because it was an actual picture of the whole band. Again, you will NOT find THIS tune on THIS LP. Every once in awhile, it pays to read the actual writing in my posts. Right?

The Faith Band - Riding High

4 comments:

  1. just a note...an update to this post..I did find this 45 in my collection recently so i set it aside and scanned it. Now, the 45 pictured above is correct.

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  2. I use to run Karma records in B-ripple and all 5 Obidiah's stores back in the the day. Are you sure this single wasn't a "Chosen Few" single or a Limousine single??

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  3. Yeah, I did record this directly from this 45, so it's gotta be the Faith Band unless it's got some crazy mispress story behind it. But, you're right its sounds right up there with Limousine's grooves. I was thinking about posting some Limousine at some point. That's cool you used to run those spots...do you have any rare records?? always looking for new goodies!

    thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Weren't Faith Band and Limousine the same group? I thought the first Faith Band album was the same as the last Limousine album... with just one or two track differences. Then again, my memory is no longer to be trusted. :)

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