Anacostia
Anacostia was an American soul vocal group from Washington, D.C., primarily active during the 1970s and 1980s. The group originally formed as The Presidents, consisting of members Tony Boyd, Archie Powell, and Billy Shorter. Under this name, they achieved significant success with the 1970 hit "5-10-15-20 (25-30 Years of Love)," which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
After briefly performing as "Trilogy," the group renamed themselves Anacostia (named after the historic D.C. neighborhood and housing project) later in the 1970s.
They continued their professional relationship with legendary producer Van McCoy, who produced their signature work. One of their most recognized singles under the Anacostia name was "On and Off," a track later recorded by David Ruffin.
The group released two primary studio albums during the late 1970s: Anacostia (1977): Released on MCA Records, this self-titled debut features tracks such as "Heartache in Disguise," "Baby I'm Available," and "Words Spoken Softly at Midnight". Anacostia (1978): Also self-titled, this second album was released on Tabu Records. It includes songs like "Ain't Nothing to It," "Anything for You," and "Baby Don't Ever Leave Me".
While they were active under different names earlier in the 1970s, their official LP discography as Anacostia is centered on these two releases. They also released several notable singles throughout the decade, including "On and Off" (1972) and "Thick and Thin" (1973). Other tracks recorded by the group include "Baby I'm Available," "Words Spoken Softly at Midnight," and "Heartache in Disguise".
Anacostia
Written-By – R. Sinclair, T. Williams, T. Boyd 3:48
B2 What Kind Of Love
Written-By – Richard Harris, Van McCoy 3:42
B3 I Can't Stop Loving Her
Written-By – R. Sinclair, T. Williams, T. Boyd 4:37
B4 Words Spoken Softly At Midnight
Written-By – Charles H. Kipps Jr. 3:19
B5 Baby I'm Available
Written-By – Van McCoy 3:10
Label: MCA Records – MCA-2269
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
The 1977 self-titled album by Anacostia is a well-regarded record in the soul and funk genres, known for its smooth tunes and ballads reminiscent of other vocal groups from the era. The album has received a generally positive reception among fans of the genre, often praised for its "wonderful" sound and "groove".
Reviewers and music enthusiasts generally consider the album to be a quality release within the soul/disco era. The lyrics of the nine tracks on the album consistently focus on the "ups and downs of love".
The album is a collection of smooth soul funk tunes and ballads. Its sound is often compared to other influential groups like the Stylistics, the Chi-Lites, and the Spinners.
It sounds "wonderful from the remastered CD" version, suggesting a high-quality production that has held up over time. Leaves listeners wanting more, offering a delightful, swaying, soulful groove.
Reissued on CD with bonus tracks, it's considered a must-have for 70s soul fans, offering excellent production and smooth, danceable tunes.
On music database sites like Discogs, the album has an average user rating of 3.88 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings.