This was the debut album from the band who formed in the '70s and originally had a sound inspired by the likes of early Earth, Wind & Fire, Santana, and War. They developed into one of Washington, D.C.'s original and longest lasting acts. They enjoyed their height of popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. Fronted by lead singer/bassist Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliot, the group has had a fluctuating membership over the years, but they have maintained a fairly loyal following. To date they have banged out 11 studio albums and 30 odd singles. This still fetches big bucks for collectors on the hunt. brilliant heavy raw funk!
AMM
The Tasters!
14 comments:
Wow - I've heard cuts from this, but never have been able to find the entire lp. Really looking forward to this one - great soul/funk. Many thanks, AMM!
Thanks for the review AMM
Enjoyed the taster People
Thanks AMM. Love the Jimi Hendrix shout out on the back cover.
Wonderful! Another Japanese treasure ... Thanks for review, P.
First time of hearing tracks from this group , taster sounds are brilliant thanks for reviewing AMM .
Oh yeah, love it... many thanks AMM For this review.
BigD
ive found already this at https://black-fire.bandcamp.com/album/free-yourself but P-Vines welcome always thanks much AMM
Always Appreciated As Always AMM,Thank You
thank you AMM for sharing this
Reb
Nice one AMM jazz funk but smooth different thanks for the review
Cheers Pedro
I have,Everything about this stamp is incredible, additional information that has disappeared from the web::
They developed into one of Washington, D.C.'s original and longest lasting go-go acts. Led by bassist and vocalist Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott, the band had a primarily local following through performances and albums like Free Yourself (1977) and Future Funk (1982), until they scored an unlikely Top 40 pop hit (and number one R&B hit) in 1988 with "Da'Butt," featured in Spike Lee's School Daze. Later in the year, Salt 'N' Pepa attained a number four R&B chart hit with help from E.U. on "Shake Your Thang," an update ofthe Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing." E.U. signed to Virgin and charted five singles with the label, including the go-go/new jack swing hybrid "Buck Wild" and the ballad "Taste of Your Love," both of which peaked in the Top Ten of the R&B chart. E.U. subsequently returned to independence and recorded only sporadically, but they continued to perform frequently as Sugar Bear & E.U. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi
http://soul51.com/?tag=experience-unlimited
Ballou Senior High School student Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott wanted to be a boxer. Recognizing that he wasn’t all that good he decided to pursue his back up dream of being a rock star instead. A huge Led Zeppelin fan, 15 year-old Elliot taught himself to play bass and formed the band Experience Unlimited with kids from his Southeast DC neighborhood. The young group struggled to get gigs but things finally started to move when they won “Best Rock Group” at a Duke Ellington School of the Arts talent show. As they played around town Elliott became a fan of many of the older bands he saw on stage, especially The Soul Searchers, The Young Senators, Aggression, Mixed Breed, 100 Years Time, and Father’s Children.
In 1976 Experience Unlimited—Elliott, Donald Fields, Andre Lucas, Phillip Harris, Clarence Smith, Anthony Easton, Michael Hughes, Greylin T. Hunter, and David Williams along with Melva Adams, Marvin Coward, Wayne Davis, and Bobby Owens recorded “Free Yourself,” an LP of original material on Black Fire Records at Bias Studios in Falls Church, Virginia. Elliott wrote the album’s title track.
Even with an album under their belt and Elliott in a new frontman role, Experience Unlimitedstruggled to find a fan base as black artists playing rock and roll. They were just too different. A turning point came when they played with Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers at the Panorama Room and the late “Godfather of Go-Go” convinced Elliott to switch to the emerging genre.
Throughout the 20th century until today Experience Unlimited (EU) has been one of DCs most successful go-go bands along with Brown, Trouble Funk, and Rare Essence. EU’s lineup changed over the years, but Elliott remained constant.
“I kept going because I love to play,” says Elliott. “That’s my high, I don’t care if it’s five people or 5,000, I love to play.” In 1988 EU brought go-go to national attention with the #35 Billboard Hot 100 single “Da Butt,” which was featured in Spike Lee’s 1988 film “School Daze.”
“My mother thought I was making noise and told me to shut that stuff up, but once she finally saw me on TV she was in awe,” says Elliott.
“Da Butt” attracted record companies from Motown to Warner Brothers to Virgin Records, which they eventually signed with, releasing their sixth LP “Livin’ Large” in 1989. EU has shared the stage with Earth Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan, James Brown, and New Kids on the Block. The band records and performs constantly but Gregory laments the status of go-go today.
“This is the go-go capital of the world but everything is still neutral. I have to do something to bring it back to national attention.”
@Guitarradeplastico
many thanks for additonal info..appreciated!
Thank you for the review and additional words provide by Guitarradeplastico. Thank you AMM.
First time hearing this band for me. Tasters sound good. Thanks for reviewing this one AMM
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