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Mtume
6
albums with Mtume saw the light but only the last 5 are mentioned
here. They included a great amount of smooth soul and funk
music with a touch of jazz. The founder and master behind
it was James Mtume, the son of a famous jazz saxophonist Jimmy
Heath. Together with the outstanding, excellent and classy
vocalist Tawatha Agee, jazz guitarist Reggie Lucas, drummer
Howard King, keyboardist Hubert Eaves and bassplayer Basil
Fearington James Mtume formed Mtume in 1977 and released their
first album titled "Rebirth cycle" followed by their
second album "Kiss this world goodbye". And it's
here this story starts.

The
drop gorgeous Tawatha with a voice and face worth giving up
everything for! Her full name is Tawataha Agee and was called
Mighty T on the second and third album.
The
second album was a good release with a mix of rock, funk and
jazz, all presented in a pleasant way. Although some tracks
included deep rock and funk influences it never became hard
and aggressive, it always kept its smoothness that became a
sign of all Mtume's productions. The album opened up with a
short and sensitive prelude followed up by the funky "Just
funnin'" The first side also included the average funky
title track "Kiss this world goodbye" but the two
most excellent tracks came at the end of side one. First, the
perfectly singed "The closer I get to you" appeared,
a masterfully gentle and soft track made to perfection by Tawatha's
God blessed voice. The final track, maybe the strongest one,
was the jazzy, soft and dreamy "Love lock" that let
you experience maybe a ride in a car a sunny day going to the
beach, a fantastic production. Side two is maybe not as good,
but do still present some competent music. Especially the ballad
"Closer to the end" has all the stuff you'll ever
need for a perfect song experience. Once again, Tawatha's unmistakably
sensual voice brings the gods to the top-notch level. Also,
the rockish "Day of reggin" is an instrumental masterpiece
of highest excellency.
On
a whole, Mtume delivers a good debut that, despite being a
70's production is surprisingly modern in its music language
on most tracks and keeps the momentum going all across, from
the first to the last track. The lyrics, almost entirely written
by Mtume and Lucas also presents some great material with
a criticism against the high life of the time, good! The album
cover did also bring some smile on your face with its futuristic,
hilarious
and self-ironic front.
James
Mtume and Reggie Lucas that wrote almost all the tracks were
also they creators of the production company Mtume / Lucas
productions that produced the great Stephanie Mills album
"What cha gonna do with my lovin'" in 79 as well
as the two following ones among others.
All
the members had an impressive musical background. James himself
had participated as conga player and percussionist on different
jazz or jazzfunk recordings during the 70s like Lonnie Liston
Smith in 73, Miles Davis in 72 and 74 and on his father Jimmy
Heats album in 72. Tawatha had worked as background singer
on David Sanborns album in 75. Reggie Lucas, an excellent
jazz guitarist had performed on several Miles Davis albums
in the 70's, Lonnie Liston Smith album in 75 and many others.
In
1980 their second release, called "In search of the rainbow
seekers" hit the market including the same line up. It's a
good album, characterized more by disco then the earlier album
and that got much in common with the mentioned Stephanie Mills
79 album. Best track is maybe the ironic "So you wanna be
a star", a decent disco track that easily would have fit on
that Stephanie Mills album the year before, which was produced
by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas. Also melodic and relaxing
"She's a rainbow dancer" is worth a closer look.
On a whole the album can be described as a smooth, clean and
professional mix of jazz, funk and disco.
After
this album the fans had to wait until 83 for their third release,
"Juicy fruit" on Epic records. In the mean time, Mtume had
produced two average albums with Marc Sadane. Tawatha was
well used as background singer on Luther Vandross album in
81 to 83, Diana Ross' two albums in 82 and on Aretha Franklin's
album in 82. Phil Field, on his hand had played keyboards
on Aurra's classic dancefunk album "Send your love"
in 81. Raymond
Jackson had played bass on the rare, most-have-album "Official
business" by Dunn & Bruce Street in 82 including
the hit "Shout for joy".
When
Mtume finally released their third album almost all the old
members had left. Among them was the highly experienced musicians
of Howard King that left for several other projects as well
as the highly regarded producer and songwriter with a massive
amount of fantastic hits with acts like Stephanie Mills and
Madonna. The new Mtume included James Mtume, Tawatha Agee,
Philip Fields, Raymond Jackson and Ed Moore. The new members
musical background was interesting. Raymond Jackson had produced
The Emotions album in 77 and played trombone on Sonny Criss'
album in 76 and played
bass on the two brothers Dunn & Bruce Street's funky "Official
business" debut album in 1982.
Interestingly he also joined the rare band of Network in 84
as their bass player but they only released the much sought
after album "I need you" before the disappeared
(see Network's full biography here).
Ed Moore had played lead and rhythmic guitar on Gary Bartz
album in 80, BB & Q band album in 82 and both the 82 and
83 albums with D Train. Phil Field's musical background is
unfortunately not known. This is definitely one of the best
albums that year, with a very high level all over. Their number
one hit on the R&B chart was still today wellknown "Juicy
fruit". Also "Green light" and "Your love is to good to spread
around" was very smooth, tasty and good candypieces for the
dancefloor. If the fast tracks were good the midtempo and
ballads were as good with, "Ready for your love" as perfect
extatic love song. Tawatha really showing her off here, wow!
Now
the fans did not had to wait so long, because in 84 Mtume
dropped their fourth masterwork, "You, me and he" ones again
on Epic, with its high quality press. This record got a more
mellow flavor than the last one, but still as solid as the
one before. It was more thoughtfull, laid back and reflecting,
like a nice and refreshing brize in the morning when you sitting
close to the water. But it could also be very intense and
powefull but without getting agressive and hard at all. The
album showed not a single bad track as far as your eye could
reach. The album included the incredible song "Prime time"
showing Mtumes great talent to use a minimum of instruments
in a very classy smooth soundmix. And as usual Tawatha, with
her sensitive efforts makes the songs in to a dream. Also
"C.O.D. (I´ll deliver)" is a knocker. A more funky track represented
by "Tie me up" are also included to show that the group has
no limitations and still know its legacy. The more mellow
tracks are also very strong and intense, who can say no to
"You are my sunshine", or "you, me and he" for example, nobody!
;)
Two
years later it was time again for their fifth and final album
"Theater of the mind". This is a good album, not as good as
the two earlier but still worth listening to. The albums is
interesting on several levels, first musically, secondly an
equally important the more social aspects and lyrics on this
one compared to earlier records, featuring a sometimes direct
criticism against society and the decline and fast changes
in the musicworld.
The biggest hit was "Breathless", that reach top ten on the
R&B list, but it was not particularly new in its style. It
didn't have the earlier glow, and exclusive feeling, it's
more a "common" song. Much more interesting song is "New face
Deli", a really funky, tight and crazy track that makes you
move, together with the important social and ironic lyrics.
The faster tracks however, doesn't convince on this record,
ones again though, Mtume succeed to make great ballads like
"I'd rather be with you" and "Body & soul (take me)". Despite
that many well know artist and producers occurred on the album,
like Bootsy Collins, Kurt Jones (Aurra), Tyrone Brunson, Vince
Henry (Change) and Dr. Jeckyll & Mr Hyde the result didn't
last as the earlier two achievements in 83 and 84 did. It
is the lyrics and the great ballads that the album is to be
remembered for most of all. This was Mtume last album and
the empty place the left behind them was and still is impossible
to fill.
After
math
The
centre piece in everything Mtume had done was James Mtume
that decided to end the project, not for musical reasons,
but more because he was disappointed on the changes in the
musical business. He left Mtume, but not the music. Just one
year later he produced Tawathas solo album. Mtume worked after
that as musical director on a New York theatre. During the
90's he came back as a producer of Mary. J. Blidge's album
"Share my world" in 97 and many others. Recently
he have produced and played percussion on different soundtracks
like "Finding Forrester" in 2000 where he played
percussion. Tawatha releases her debut album in 87 (read full
review beneath) and worked during the 1990's as a background
singer for several different artists including Tashan in 92
and Celine Dion best album in 96. The
old iron horse Howard King worked after his departure from
Mtume in 80 with D-train 82-84, became a member of Network
in 1984 (see
Network's full biography here)
and
went thereafter on producing Cheryl Lynn's album "It's
gonna be right" in 1985, Melba Moore's album "It's
been so long" in 87 and soul singer Eric Gable's album
"Love has got to wait" in 89 any much more. The
excellent jazz guitarist Reggie Lucas that before Mtume played
on several Miles Davis albums developed his writing and producing
skills even further and created together with James Mtume
a production team. This great combo produced several very
successful albums with Stephanie Mills and Phyllis Hyman and
Lucas on his own produced several of Madonna's albums including
hits. Raymond
Jackson played bass on Network's rare album "I need you"
(see Network's full biography here)
in
84 but he didn't play bass on Tawatha's debut album and his
further achievements after 86 is not know. Phil Fields played
piano on Freddie Jackson album "Just like the first time"
in 86, keyboards on Tawatha's album in 87, and keyboards,
background vocals and producer and much other stuff on Freeze
factor's album in 89.
(Patriks
soul funk special)
Discography
of Mtume
Please
click on the images below to see a complete list of the songs.
Album
cover
(if available)
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Title,
year & format
(if
available)
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Rebirth
Cycle
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1977
(LP)
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Kiss
this world goodbye
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1978
(LP)
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In
search of the rainbow seekers
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1980
(LP & CD)
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Juicy
fruit
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1983
(LP & CD)
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You
, me and he
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1984
(LP & CD)
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Theater
of the mind
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1986
(LP & CD)
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All original release years
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*)
Thanks to Richard and Peter for their appreciated help.
Copyright © 1999-2025.
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