Track listing
- A1 Entrow 7:09
- A2 Love (Covers a Multitude of Sin) 3:49
- A3 Mirror 3:50
- A4 Do Yah 3:55
- B1 Save Me 5:17
- B2 I Got a Reason 3:48
- B3 Priscilla 3:15
- B4 Forever 6:54
- Total length: 37:57
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3 Reviews
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A1
Entrow
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A2
Love (Covers a Multitude of Sin)
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A3
Mirror
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A4
Do Yah
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B1
Save Me
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B2
I Got a Reason
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B3
Priscilla
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B4
Forever
This is without a doubt the most religious album Graham Central Station put out; Larry had converted to the Witnesses in 1974 and while some of his newfound spiritual beliefs had infiltrated the successful 'Ain't No Bout-a-Doubt It' (1975) - most notably on "Water" and "Luckiest People" - he really went for broke on 'Mirror'.
According to Patryce 'Choc'let' Banks, this is also what eventually led to the demise of the original band. Both she and guitarist David 'Dynamite' Vega were no Witnesses, and both would ultimately leave the group. Drummer Gaylord 'Flash' Birch, Manny Kellough's replacement, was more pragmatic, telling Jet Magazine that the goal was "money", and Larry Graham "the leader".
Graham's newfound religious fundamentalism shines through on the mid-tempo ballad "Love (Covers a Multitude of Sin"), a Top 20 R&B hit, and even more so on the ruthlessly funky "Save Me", urging listeners to buy a Bible from the people 'who come knocking on your door'. The tune is propelled by Graham's meaty bass chops and peppered with flourishing strings, giving it a slightly surreal, apocalyptic feel.
It's the apocalypse that's refered to on "Forever", a brooding, minor-keyed, lurching jam featuring more of Larry's fire and brimstone sermonizing, with Hershall 'Happiness' Kennedy letting loose on his synthesizer on the closing part, creating an eerie, doom-laden atmosphere which is nonetheless set to a vicious groove.
The ugliest bit of testifyin' is reserved for the title-track, where Patryce sings Larry's lyrics of there being a 'jacked up world' filled with 'freaky boys and girls', resulting in 'men going with men and women going with girls', before pleading with them to 'change their ways' if they 'want to survive'. Homophobic hatespeech set to a disco rhythm... It's bad. Really bad... and not just musically.
Fortunately, there are plenty of diamond hard funk treasures here that steer clear of hitting one over the head with religious messages. The LP's opener, "Entrow", is a tremendous groove that, per tradition, has each member of the band introduce him/herself and give a few licks on their respective instruments. It also highlights the qualities of new drummer Gaylord Birch: he opens the tune playing a marching band style rhythm, and later on shows his chops as a funkster, all the while keeping everything firmly in the pocket for everyone else.
"Do Yah" is a delicious, gutbucket funkathon featuring an anthemic horn line (courtesy of labelmates Tower of Power), more booming bass riffs and some of Patryce's fiercest singing. Somehow it was relegated to the flipside of "I Got a Reason", another religious ballad that has Larry in a Bee Gees/Chi-Lites bag.
Finally, and my personal favorite, there's "Priscilla". Think of folksy funk, with a catchy 'come on, come on, come on' chorus, liquid bass lines and an orgasmic horn-heavy finale.
In all, 'Mirror' is a must for funk fans. Although a bit heavy on the religious side - and plain unlistenable where the title-track is concerned - it'd be shame to pass this one by.
Buy it, put it on and skip number three.
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Filling in the years between Sly and Prince are these records which aren't quite as good as Earth, Wind and Fire nor even, really, the Ohio Players. But the bass is certainly thumpy and the bloodline uncontestable.
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Catalog
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1 Dec 2022
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30 Jun 2022
18 May 2022
1 May 2022
22 Mar 2022
10 Jan 2022
22 Nov 2021
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A1
Entrow
-
A2
Love (Covers a Multitude of Sin)
-
A3
Mirror
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A4
Do Yah
-
B1
Save Me
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B2
I Got a Reason
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B3
Priscilla
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B4
Forever
18 Aug 2021