HANG ON IN THERE - MIKE JAMES KIRKLAND

Here's a rare, obscure, dynamite album dropped off to me recently by Pobre' Riche. This is a must have for every soul collector, composed by the talented Mr. Kirkland.

Singer Mike James Kirkland recorded an impressive pair of albums for MCA during the 1970s but lack of interest on the label's part led to their eventual obscurity. That is until fans of ultra-rare rare groove caught wind of the sounds of Doin' It Right and Hang on in There, both of which began to change hands for astronomical prices amongst collectors. The latter drew obvious comparisons to What's Going On, Marvin Gaye's classic 1971 meditation on an ailing society. The first side of Kirkland's Hang on in There reads like an alternate version, exploring many of the same themes. "What Have We Done?" he asks on the album opener over an excellent conga and flute-spiced funk groove, a track followed by the equally pained "Where is the Soul of Man?." Both are eclipsed however, by the eight-minutes-plus title track. The album's undeniable centerpiece, "Hang on in There" is a lyrical tour de force over a slow-burning groove. Though arrangement touches are as lush as a film score, the underlying rhythms are rooted in urban funk: bells, backing singers and syrupy strings meshing perfectly with guitar scratch and percolating bass. For the album's second half Kirkland turns his attention to the mysteries of love. This material is the product of an underrated artist at the peak of his compositional powers.

Label: Bryan

Format: Vinyl, LP

Released: 1972

Genre: Soul

Credits:
Arranged By - Ray Jackson Bass - Ron Brown Drums - James Gadson Engineer - Bill Joe Erwin Featuring - Maurice Sanders Guitar - Al McKay , Bernard Blackmon* , Garry Davis Keyboards - Clarence McDonald , Ron Bufford* Producer - Bob Kirkland Vocals - Charlotte Arrick , Elaine Sowell , Sandy Ziegler , Wil Townsel

1. What Have We Done (3:36)

2. Where's The Soul Of Man? (3:09)

3. Hang On In There (8:56)

4. Baby I Need Your Loving (3:32)

5. Give It To Me (2:48)

6. Blota Blota (2:57)

7. You're Gonna Share Your Love (2:30)

8. It's Alright With Me (2:35)

*

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