The Undisputed Truth - Down by the River

This track was requested by a couple of You Tube users and is from Undisputed Truths fifth album and, believe it or not, is a cover of a Neil Young song.
This album is some seriously forward-minded stuff. Take Curtis Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix, Parliament, Rick James, Sun Ra and a tab of acid. Put it in a blender and you get this wicked trip from 1975. When you hear the Mellotron and synth outro to "Earthquake Shake" you'll know that you've entered Motown on Mars.
The Undisputed Truth was produced by Norman Whitfield. The band was originally a trio with singers Brenda Joyce, Billie Rae Calvin, and Joe Harris, a Preps singer and '60s Ohio Players member, in 1970. They called themselves the Undisputed Truth.
The Undisputed Truths discography included songs such as the original "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "Ball of Confusion," and "Friendship Train," there's no denying the Truth's status as forerunners.
In 1976, Whitfield moved them to his self-named label. After another personnel change, an updated Truth included Virginia McDonald, Tyrone Berkeley, Calvin Stephenson, Tyrone Douglas, Carl Smalls, Chaka Khan's sister Taka Boom, and the original member Joe Harris.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Funk
• soul

[Bassyswing1]

Whos the lead guitar player?

[VespaPX2001981]

@Bassyswing1 It's a guy called kenji brown

[ericdhopper]

I used to scour used record stores for stuff like this. Thanks for making the search so much easier. Please keep it up.

[VespaPX2001981]

I Still do :-)

[PrinceOfSoulMusic]

VespaPX2001981 in your description box you say this is from their first album. Cosmic Truth is the 5th album they recorded. The first was self-entitled.

[VespaPX2001981]

If you'd read all the comments you'd have seen me correct that little indiscretion.

[cheekymonkey1979]

@VespaPX2001981 This is a gem: thanks for posting

[virginiaharry1]

Leaving New Orleans, joining the u.s.a.f. left fortier hi 1972. fishing by the levee, catfish summers ~virginiaharry1~

[SlickFunker]

@samjabo

I'm no musician, but to the untrained ear I have to say The Undisputed Truth's music sounded better on Motown.

You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth, in particular, is an incredible piece of music, absolute perfection.

[samjabo]

@SlickFunker I beleive one of the reasons that Norman might have used Rose Royce is that by now he has a full team of dependable musicians that he can use as a backing band rather than depending on a group of individual musicians. And granted, in my opinion, the level of music on the The undisputed Truth's Rose Royce's albums (higher than high and method to the maddness) is in my opinion the best in their career.

[SlickFunker]

@samjabo

I have to confess, I have no idea either.

It's not like Motown didn't have amazing backing musicians.

[samjabo]

@SlickFunker Thanks for the correction slickfunker. I thought at Higher than high, Rose Royce were fully under Whitfield Records! I am not sure why Norman used Rose Royce as the backup band while he had the musicians that he used to use under Motown, like Cosmic truth and the previous albums!

[SlickFunker]

@samjabo

Higher Than High was their final album on Motown mate.

Their last two albums, which were on Whitfield Records, were Method To The Madness, and Smokin'.

[dannyman60001]

Weeny guitar tones----LSD may have been a factor. I think I may have been at the session---in spirit anyway.