The Bar-Kays<div hidden>The Barkays</div>
As One
A2 Say It Through Love 3:54
A3 Work It Out 4:30
A4 Body Fever 4:10
B1 As One 4:26
B2 Take The Time To Love Somebody 4:09
B3 Open Your Heart 4:12
B4 Deliver Us 4:53
Label: Mercury – SRM-1-3844
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk
Released in November 1980 on Mercury Records, As One is widely regarded by critics and fans as one of the finest albums from the Bar-Kays' prolific funk era. The album successfully blends the band's Southern soul roots with the synth-powered "boogie funk" and "sophistifunk" styles popular in the early 1980s.
The album covers diverse musical ground, from high-energy synth-funk to smooth R&B ballads. Reviewers frequently note heavy stylistic nods to Parliament-Funkadelic, Cameo, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Despite its focus on danceable grooves, the album maintains the band's tradition of socially conscious lyrics in tracks like "Deliver Us".
Standout Tracks
"Boogie Body Land": Described as a sleek, stomping synth-powered track and a definitive example of early '80s funk.
"Body Fever": Highlighted by fans as some of the "hardest funk" in the band's discography.
"As One" (Title Track): A bright, uptempo song heavily inspired by the melodic style of Earth, Wind & Fire.
"Take The Time Out To Love Somebody": A highly regarded Southern soul ballad that showcases the band's vocal versatility.
"Open Your Heart": A medium-tempo smooth groove that remains a favorite for its polished production.
The album reached number six on the Billboard Soul Albums chart. Reviewers often rank it as a peak for the band, noting that while they were "imitative" of other acts to stay commercially viable, they utilized those influences with high-level musicianship and originality. Modern user reviews on platforms like Discogs consistently award the album high marks, with average ratings often exceeding 4.4/5 stars.
The BarKays
Gotta Groove
A2 If This World Were Mine 3:10
A3 In The Hole 2:54
A4 Funky Thang 3:09
A5 Jiving Around 3:15
A6 Grab This Thing 2:14
B1 Don't Stop Dancing (To The Music) Part 2 2:21
B2 Street Walker 3:20
B3 Yesterday 3:19
B4 Humpin' 2:44
B5 Hey Jude 6:04
Label: Volt – VOS-6004
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul
The Bar-Kays' 1969 album Gotta Groove is a pivotal, hard-driving funk/soul masterpiece, marking the band's strong comeback after the tragic plane crash with Otis Redding, blending deep Stax grooves with Sly Stone-inspired psychedelia and fiery horn arrangements, featuring standout tracks like the two-part "Don't Stop Dancing (To the Music)" and instrumental jams like "In the Hole," solidifying their place as funk pioneers despite modest chart success initially.
The album serves as a powerful testament to the surviving members, Ben Cauley and James Alexander, rebuilding the band and returning to the studio with new talent, including working with Isaac Hayes.
It's known for its incredibly funky, instrumental focus, deep grooves, and psychedelic twists, influenced by Sly & the Family Stone, especially on "Don't Stop Dancing (To the Music)".
Tracks like "In the Hole" showcase heavy guitar riffs, lurching horns, and a vicious funk feel, while "Funky Thang" adds psych-blues rock.
The album highlights the band's musicianship, with great drumming (Willie Hall), sassy sax, and solid basslines, even covering Beatles tunes like "Yesterday" and "Hey Jude" instrumentally.
While not a massive pop crossover at the time, Gotta Groove became a seminal funk record and paved the way for the later, more commercially successful disco-funk era of the Bar-Kays in the mid-70s.
Often called one of the funkiest, hardest-driving LPs from Stax. Reissues are popular, though quality of pressings can vary.
Considered a must-have for funk enthusiasts, even with its initial limited chart run. In essence, Gotta Groove is a gritty, soulful, and revolutionary record that defined a new era for the Bar-Kays, cementing their place in funk history with infectious grooves and undeniable resilience.