Poison
Poison (not to be confused with the 1980s glam metal band) was an American soul-funk and disco group from Richmond, Virginia, active in the mid-1970s.
The group is best known for their sole studio album, On Our Way to Number 1, released in 1976. This album is noted for its blend of heavy funk, disco, and soulful ballads, often compared to the sounds of Mandrill or B.T. Express.
The band debuted on Roulette in 1975 with the single "Bring It All Back Home" b/w "Let Me Lay My Funk on You". They released four other singles on Roulette during 1975/76.
Group members were: Allen "Debo" Dabney, Charles "Pride" Morris, Janet "Cookie" Cook, Marshall "Frazell" Smith, Melvin "Watlo" Watson, Peyton "PJ" Johnson, Reggie "Black" Smith, Richard "Gino" Gillyard, Tony Joyner.
On Our Way To Number 1
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith
3:42
A2 Do What You Wanna Do
Written-By – Joseph J. Carter, Jr.
4:44
A3 How I Wish For Yesterday
Written-By – Marshall Smith
3:44
A4 Magic Words
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith, Richard E. Gillyard
3:31
A5 Cosmic Dancing
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith
3:07
B1 Let Me Lay My Funk On You
Written-By – Poison
2:58
B2 Unity Man
Written-By – A. Dabney, C. Morris, F. McCray, M. Smith
4:10
B3 You Can't Run Away From Yourself
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith
3:12
B4 Let Your Fingers Do The Walking
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith
4:37
B5 Music Is Our Destiny
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith
3:09
B6 Get Up And Move Your Body
Written-By – Charles Morris, Marshall Smith
4:40
Label: Roulette – SR 3017
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk, Disco
Poison's 1976 album, On Our Way To Number 1 is a Funk/Soul/Disco LP known for its vibrant, layered sound, featuring soulful vocals, tight rhythm sections, catchy dance grooves like "Cosmic Dancing," soulful ballads like "How I Wish for Yesterday," and incorporating instruments like the Kalimba, reminiscent of early Earth, Wind & Fire, offering a classic late-70s funk-disco experience with socially-themed tracks.
The album is a blend of ensemble funk, disco, and mid-tempo vocal soul. It features prominent horn charts, percussion breaks (including the use of the Kalimba), and group vocals. It features layered vocals from members like Janet "Cookie" Cook and Marshall "Frazell" Smith. Expect rhythmic intensity, tight grooves, and danceable tracks.
Instrumentation is rich with Fender Rhodes, Moog synths, guitar, bass, diverse percussion (congas, shekere), and prominent Kalimba.
Key Tracks: "Cosmic Dancing," "Get Up and Move Your Body," "Our Place in Time," "Let Me Lay My Funk on You".
This album offers a true taste of late-70s funk and disco, blending soulful melodies with hard-hitting rhythms, making it a sought-after piece for fans of vintage Black music.