Creative Source - Creative Source (1973) Sussex - LP Version - Rare Soul/Funk (FLAC-HR)

One of my fave groups of all time who only recorded 4 studio albums this being their debut. The Los Angeles based quintet seemingly appeared out of nowhere in the early '70s to score with a funky  rendition of Bill Withers' "Who Is He (And What Is He to You) on this album and breathtakingly brilliant  IMHO   had the same effect on me like the temptations " Papa Was A Rolling Sotne"!..The group, comprised of Barbara Berryman, Barbara Lewis, Don Wyatt, Steve Flanagan (known to northern fans for his 3 superb dancers), and Celeste Rose, was managed by Fifth Dimensions' Ron Townsend and two of the members were seasoned vets. Lewis sang with the Los Angeles Elgins(not Motown) on their Lummtone recordings, while Wyatt performed with a pair of late-'50s groups (the Fortunes and the Colts) and also sang in Nat "King" Cole's background group for a spell. Mike Stokes produced this their first and most successful album, being label mates and fans of bill withers its no surprised they recorded a few of his songs over their albums. The Migration album followed later in 1974, but failed to spawn anything major despite Skip Scarborough's exquisite vocal arrangements. Creative Source's other significant singles were "You Can't Hide Love" (the Earth, Wind & Fire ditty), "You're Too Good to Be True," and "I Just Can't See Myself Without You." Wrongly labeled by many as strictly disco and funk, Creative Source could mellow out with the best of them, such as Withers' "Let Me in Your Life," a floating beauty, and "You're Too Good to Be True," where the male lead sounds like a cross between Tyrone Davis and Jerry Butler. Polydor issued their final two albums (Pass the Feelin' On and Consider the Source), which were as compelling as the Sussex productions, but a lack of promotion and public indifference caused them both to fizzle. With little backing and no label after Polydor, Creative Source drifted back into basic Southern California nine-to-five living and disappered from the industry. Many of their tracks were huge on the northern scene and soul/jazz/funk clubs such was their versatilty and talent. What a stunning album to make your debut with!

AMM

                                                                      The Tasters!

01 You Can't Hide Love
02 Let Me In Your Life
03 Lovesville
04 You're Too God To Be True
05 Wildflower
06 Magic Carpet Ride
07 Who Is He And What Is He To You
08 Oh Love