Review: Black Ivory – Baby, Won't You Change Your Mind (BBE Music)

After less than 30 seconds of hearing the title track you'll be asking yourselves, "why have we not heard of these guys?"

Hot on the heals of their 'Don't Turn Around' earlier album (more of which below), here's the second installment of the Patrick Adams and Leroy Burgess (that would go on to be The Universal Robot Band whose monster hit 'Barely Breaking Even' that BBE take their name) why aren't they as well know as The Detroit Spinners, The Temptations, The Dramatics or any other 70s male vocal group called 'The' something.

We'll it's still a question that we'll never know the answer to as these must thave been the tracks that didn't make the first album but there's no let up in quality on this 8 track album [Ed. not 8-track!] with the one bonus track. 

Again, it's all about the vocal harmonies, the soul, the big string productions along with featuring future mega stars as Vince Montana on vibes and drummer Larry Blackmon (later of Cameo).

The tracks fit the 'formula' of the time (perhaps that why they got 'overlooked') but this was when soul, disco, big ballards ('Baby Won't You Change Your Mind' and 'It's Time To Say Goodbye') so that whatever they did is pure gold like, 'Just Leave Me Some', the Northern Soul of 'Push Comes To Shove' (great work by Vince) and even the 'sugary' 'Time Is Love' and 'Spinning Around' seem to have some balls; very nice last song slowee material. 

'One Way Ticket To Loveland', 'No If's And's, Or But's' and 'Wishful Thinkin' could all have been 'hits' as Adams and Burgess were briming full of ideas and talent which they more show here and indeed, went onto prove in their subsequent careers. 

Perception released two albums by the group under their sub label project run by Adams, Today Records (the other being 'Don't Turn Around' also from in 1972 that's being re-issue by BBE on the same day, see review 'HERE') and fifty years on they sound as beaautiful now as they did them.

Artist: Black Ivory

Title: Don't Turn Around 

Release date: 17 January, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE704 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Black Ivory - Don't Turn Around (BBE Music)

After less than 30 seconds of hearing the title track of this album, you'll be asking yourselves, "why have we not heard of these guys?"

We'll that is unless you've been hanging onto your BBE 7" from 2012 thinking, 'I Keep Asking You Questions', when are we going to get a Black Ivory album orignally released on Perception Records in 1972 (Ed. can you stop keep asking us questions now?)

What's even more baffling is that as the initial incarnation of Patrick Adams and Leroy Burgess (that would go on to be The Universal Robot Band whose monster hit 'Barely Breaking Even' that BBE take their name) why aren't they as well know as The Detroit Spinners, The Temptations, The Dramatics or any other 70s male vocal group called 'The' something?

We'll it's beyond me as this is all about the vocal harmonies, the soul, the big string productions along with featuring future mega stars as Vince Montana on vibes and drummer Larry Blackmon (later of Cameo).

The tracks fit the 'formula' of the time (perhaps that why they got 'overlooked') but this was when soul, disco, big ballards were what you did and every track is pure gold from the longing of 'You & I' to 'I Keep Asking You Questions' and the then future funky, 'Our Future'.

There's some tracks that are a bit sugary (but not 'I'll Find A Way' or 'She Said That She's Leaving') and at the other extreme, 'Surrender' sounds like their tribute to the Jackson 5!

That said, Adams and Burgess were briming full of talent which they more show here and, indeed, proved in their subsequent careers. 

Perception released two albums by the group under their sub label project run by Adams, Today Records (the other being 'Baby, Won't You Change Your Mind' also from 1972 that's being re-issue by BBE on the same day, see review 'HERE') and fifty years on they sound as beaautiful now as they did them.

Artist: Black Ivory

Title: Don't Turn Around 

Release date: 17 January, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE704 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp