The Rance Allen Group
Say My Friend
Bass, Written-By – Fonce Mizell
Drums, Written-By – Rodney Mizell
Guitar – Rance Allen
Keyboards, Written-By – Larry Mizell 3:56
A2 Reason To Survive
Bass – Rodney Mizell
Drums – Tom Allen
Guitar, Keyboards – Rance Allen
Written-By – Fonce Mizell 7:11
A3 Peace Of Mind
Drums, Bass – Rodney Mizell
Guitar – Rance Allen
Keyboards – Rance Allen
Keyboards, Written-By – Larry Mizell 5:11
B1 I'm Gonna Make It After All
Bass – Rodney Mizell
Drums – Tom Allen
Guitar, Keyboards – Rance Allen
Written-By – Rance Allen 5:33
B2 Got To Be Ready
Bass – Steve Allen
Drums – Tom Allen
Guitar, Keyboards, Written-By – Rance Allen 4:31
B3 You're My Everything
Piano – Rance Allen
Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Written-By – Rance Allen 5:10
B4 Truth Is Marching On (Outro)
Bass, Written-By – Fonce Mizell
Drums, Written-By – Rodney Mizell
Guitar – Rance Allen
Keyboards, Written-By – Larry Mizell 1:14
Label: Capitol Records – ST-11613
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: R&B Soul, Gospel
Style: Gospel-Soul, Funk
Say My Friend is a classic 1977 album by The Rance Allen Group, notable for being a soulful crossover gospel-funk collaboration produced by the highly regarded Mizell Brothers. It is widely considered one of the group's best and most soul-oriented recordings.
The album masterfully blends Rance Allen's powerful, "spacey" vocals and the brothers' musicianship with the Mizell Brothers' signature "jazz-funk" production style, characterized by "lilting arrangements and ethereal background vocals floating above spacey funk grooves".
While rooted in the group's gospel message, the music has a distinct 1970s soul and funk sound, making it a highly sought-after "rare groove" classic that bridges secular R&B and traditional black gospel music.
The song "Truth Is Marching On" was the only single from the album to make the R&B charts, peaking at number 100 in 1977.
Considered one of Rance Allen's finest moments, bridging his gospel background with contemporary soul music, it's a classic for fans of soul, gospel, and rare groove for its deep grooves and uplifting messages. It's celebrated for bringing high-quality, soulful production to gospel music.
In essence, Say My Friend is an essential listen for its incredible musicianship, spiritual depth, and influential fusion of gospel with 70s soul and funk. The album was reissued on CD for the first time by Soul Brother Records in 2007.