Mother's Finest - One Mother To Another (1983)
This rare entry is from Atlanta's hard soul pioneers, Mother's Finest. After enjoying moderate success in the 70's as the most powerful multicultural hard rock act on the concert circuit, the band found themselves at a crossroads as musical climates changed in the early 80's. With the failure of 1981's "Iron Age" release and their subsequent ousting from Atlantic Records, the band reconstructed its sound with a decidedly more R&B slant. Soon Epic Records came calling & before the end of 1983, "One Mother To Another" was released. The album was met with indifference almost from the onset, while also suffering from distribution glitches that would essentially derail the band by the middle of 1984. Members went on to work with Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws as well as enjoying some success as solo artists. 1989 would see the band regrouping and over the next two decades, they've enjoying moderate success despite an inability to establish a solid musical identity.
For lovers of classic Mother's Finest, this album will surely be a real disappointment. This collection of songs rarely deviates from being straight up MOR commercial soul. No rock hard guitar fireworks, no dual vocals, no intense rhythms...nothing. For all intents and purposes, this is a Joyce Kennedy solo album. There are some moments of inspiration here, like "Take Me to the Middle of Your Luv", but for the most part what you find here is flat and devoid of the groove for which this band has always been known.
Due to its rarity, this album deserves to be shared, especially for completists who have never had a chance to hear the band during this transitional phase of their career. Thanks to Nuxx for sharing this ultra-clean vinyl transfer. Dig in and give "One Mother To Another" a spin.
320kbps @ http://lix.in/-404a94
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9 comments:
Thanks so much for posting this rare MF LP. Aside from a few tracks there were included on some of their European Best of imported Cd releases, I've yet to hear this LP in it's entirety. It's shame they never reached the popularity they and recognition they deserved. Such a talented group who could play kick-a-- rock, funk or play it sweet & soulful as well.
take away track 'Victory' out of the context & its not so bad... so with Love Me Too (gimmickly muted vocal does work), Big Shot Romeo & the final one. the rest is a sleepy uninspired hollow though. -- thank you again anyway for posting 'not-just-masterpiece' ones, I support this approach
Never heard this one, thank you. We all agree, not the best of MF, but interesting to understand their "career".
thanks for this rare gem !!!!!!!
Mother's Finest was really at full power with the original band.
On the excellent "Iron Age", keyboard player Mike Keck was saddly missed cause he was part of the magic of the group, but on this one, it's the absence of the great Glenn Murdock on vocals & BB Queen Borden on drums who are crucial!
anyway, thanx for this missing link
in the disco of M.F.
I'm listening to this album right now as I converted my three MF vinyl to CD the other day. Can't argrue with your comment on the album, the 70's releases were the best of their times.
Hell yeah!!!!!!!! Thank you so much, been searching, willing to buy for a long time.
I like this record. It's different to the previous ones, but it's still handmade with groovy 80's soul pop tunes, and great vocals by Baby Jean. And much better than the awful following "Looks Could Kill". It has not the quality of the classic albums, but as a pop-oriented record it has its moments. Great songs are: "Secret Service", "What Kind Of Fool", "Big Shot Romeo" & "In My Babys Arms"
Hope this isn't too late. Do you know what happened to Mike Keck? What did he do once he left the band?
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