Slave, Steve Arrington & Aurra: Definitive Collection, 3CD [8/12/2022-Robinsongs UK]

[Motown Eddie]

• A unique compilation of repertoire by the Funk band Slave and its off shoots Aurra and Steve Arrington.
• Fantastic triple CD release features all of Slaves hit RnB singles that were released on the Cotillion label.
• With sleeve notes by MOJO and Record Collector journalist Charles Waring.
CD One kicks off with Slave’s #1 US RnB hit ‘Slide’, a tough, brassy dance floor anthem built on Mark Adams’ relentless bass line. The iconic track spent 20 weeks in the US RnB charts and even made its presence felt in America’s pop chart, Billboard’s Hot 100.
Other key tracks on CD One are ‘Stellar Fungk’ and ‘Just A Touch Of Love’.
CD Two features two Top 10 RnB hits ‘Watching You’ and ‘Snap Shot’ and the introduction of cuts by Aurra including their RnB Top 10 smash ‘Make Up Your Mind’ and the rocking ‘Are You Single?’.
CD Three continues with the hits and includes Aurra’s UK Top 20 hit ‘You And Me Tonight’ along with Steve Arrington’s UK Top Five classic ‘Feel So Reel’ and RnB Hit ‘Dancin’ In The Key Of Life’, plus other brilliant Slave tracks like ‘Party Lites’ and ‘Checking You Out’.
The American Midwest has undoubtedly played a major role in the evolution of popular music; via fabled big cities like Chicago, where both electric blues and house music were born three decades apart, and Detroit where the world-conquering Motown sound was born.
But we can’t mention the music of the American Midwest without bringing Dayton into the equation. It’s probably more famous in the eyes of fans of RnB music due to the number of great bands that originated there in the 1970s and 80s and gave the world The Ohio Players, Lakeside and Roger Troutman and Zapp, to name but a few, and all available on Robinsongs releases.
Slave, whose music is the focus of this 3CD compilation, which selects key musical moments from the group’s back catalogue as well as crucial tracks from two of the group’s offshoots; drummer-turned-vocalist Steve Arrington and the band, later to become a duo, Aurra.

DISC ONE
1 Slide
2 Screw Your Wig On Tite
3 Party Hardy
4 You And Me
5 Separated
6 Son Of Slide
7 Life Can Be Happy
8 The Great American Funk Song
9 Baby Sinister
10 The Party Song
11 Stellar Fungk
12 Thank You Lord
13 Drac Is Back
14 Just A Touch Of Love
15 Are You Ready For Love? [2006 Remaster]
All songs by Slave
DISC TWO
1 Slave – Funky Lady [Foxy Lady]
2 Slave – Shine
3 Slave – Feel My Love
4 Slave – Sizzlin’ Hot
5 Slave – Watching You
6 Slave – Never Get Away
7 Slave – Stone Jam
8 Slave – Snap Shot [Single Version]
9 Slave – Wait For Me
10 Slave – Steal Your Heart [2006 Remaster]
11 Aurra – In The Mood To Groove
12 Aurra – Make Up Your Mind
13 Aurra – Are You Single
14 Slave – Intro [Come To Blow Ya Mind]
15 Slave – I’ll Be Gone
DISC THREE
1 Aurra – Checking You Out
2 Aurra – Such A Feeling
3 Slave – Steppin’ Out
4 Slave – Turn You Out [In & Out]
5 Slave – Shake It Up
6 Steve Arrington – You Meet My Approval [2006 Remaster]
7 Steve Arrington – Weak At The Knees
8 Slave – Jungle Dance
9 Slave – OOOHH
10 Steve Arrington – Feel So Real
11 Steve Arrington – Dancin’ In The Key Of Life
12 Aurra – You And Me Tonight
13 Slave – Party Lites
14 Slave – Everybody Slide [2006 Remaster]

Slave, Steve Arrington and Aurra: The Definitive Collection, 3CD - Cherry Red Records

[Danno]

I'd have rather had more Slave in place of Aurra but only because I have most of their stuff. Maybe some of Steve Washington as well? I reckon I'm in and thanks again for posting. You certainly have a knack of spotting them early

[kenneth]

Like Kool and the Gang, I am not that familiar with this band‘s output. This looks like a very interesting release with a lot of potential. it’s great there’s still music to discover from the era I love so much. After the posting of the recent Kool and the Gang releases, I purchased a compilation which I have come to enjoy very much. I wonder if Slave might be considered a group similar to Tower Of Power, more of a jazz-Funk band than some others. This release looks like a great place to explore this group.

Thanks for the information!

[TomatoTom123]

Hey Kenneth, I'd say Slave are more of a straight funk band… less jazz-influenced than Tower Of Power… although not dissimilar.

One I like by Slave is "Party Hardy"

[lockhartgary]

I was expecting this absolutely funky gem to be included but alas:

[kenneth]

@TomatoTom @Lockhartgary

Hey both great tracks guys. I hear a little of the [[poppier? popper?) side of P-Funk in both of them. I wonder though, if that was the album cover for that Slave track, why I didn't buy it for the cover alone!