Search - Fatback Band :: Brite Lites, Big City

Brite Lights,Big City,Funky Fatback

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 11/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh how nervy bands like Fatback were to throw down the unescapable funk monsters of "Freak The Freak The Funk (Rock)","Let Me Do It To You" and "Big City" smack in the middle of the disco era when funk this close to the James Brown/Kool & The Gang tradition was fading fast.But they did and really made it work-the bass/guitar groove of that first track alone is enough to justify everything alone. As per any Fatback recording during the late 70's there's one more disco oriented cut and here "(Do The) Boogie Woogie" fits the bill as far as that goes.The last two songs on the album find Fatback taking on musical territory somewhat unfamiliar to them and pulling it off with flying colors."Hesitation" features a guitar groove that does in deed seem to hesitate and a very dramatic vocal arrangement,almost jazzy in execution."Wild Dreams",which is almost an instrumental on the other hand is EXTREMELY hefty jazz-funk with Gerry Thomas pulling out some nice fender rhodes solos on top of another great musical arrangement.'Brite Lights Big City' became one of the Fatback albums that became neglected mainly because they recorded so many albums in the career all too many such as this one get totally forgotton.But those who did and who've either already been captivated by the Fatback sound and want more,or just your everyday funk fan should pick this one up."