With
the latest two additions to its growing Complete Albums Collections
roster, Legacy Recordings and Epic Records are looking to two musical
pioneers for which the description “jazz artist” seems largely
inadequate. George Duke, keyboard virtuoso, and Stanley Clarke,
electric and acoustic bass pro, have extensively toured and recorded
together, but these forthcoming box sets turn the clock back to their
solo periods on the Epic label.George Duke has proven himself equally adept at jazz, funk, R&B and pop, but over a lengthy career, he’s refused to be boxed in by any single genre. Duke’s name might have first resonated with rock fans when he collaborated with Mothers of Invention leader Frank Zappa on a number of the singular artist’s best-remembered albums (Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, Apostrophe) between 1969 and 1975. Duke’s early joint effort with another friend of Zappa, the violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, made for a well-received entry in the world of early jazz-rock fusion. After a long stint on the European MPS label as leader, Duke signed with Epic in 1977 where he scored crossover hits with the funk-infused “Reach for It” and “Dukey Stick.” The 6-CD Complete 1970s Epic Albums Collection of The George Duke Band presents Duke’s first six albums for the label, including From Me To You (1977), Reach For It (1977), Don’t Let Go (1978), Follow The Rainbow (1979), Master Of The Game (1979) and Brazilian Love Affair (1980). As is customary for these sets, all albums are presented in mini-LP replica sleeves, and Duke himself has written a 4,000-word note exploring each album in detail. These are the albums from the fertile time in which Duke allowed all of his influences to flower, for a true fusion of jazz, blues, soul, funk and disco.
Hit the jump for the scoop on Stanley Clarke: The Complete 1970s Epic Albums Collection, plus track listings with discographical information for both sets!
Following Brazilian Love Affair, George Duke teamed up with Stanley Clarke for the first of three Clarke/Duke Project
albums recorded between 1981 and 1990. Clearly Duke had found a
kindred spirit in Stanley Clarke. The Philadelphia-born bassist made
his name supporting such legendary figures as Stan Getz, Art Blakey,
Dexter Gordon and Gil Evans, but his breakthrough came as a member of
Chick Corea’s influential fusion unit Return to Forever. Clarke and
Corea founded the group alongside Flora Purim, Joe Farrell and Airto
Moreira. (Purim and Moreira, incidentally, were featured players on
Duke’s Brazilian Love Affair. Small world, isn’t it?) In
addition to his groundbreaking work on all of Return to Forever’s
albums, Clarke began recording for Epic Records (on Nat Weiss’ Nemperor
imprint) in 1974 after his solo debut the previous year on Polydor. The
following albums are included in the 7-CD Complete 1970s Epic Albums Collection, all in replica mini-LP sleeves: Stanley Clarke (1974), Journey To Love (1975), School Days (1976), Modern Man (1978), I Wanna Play For You (1979, two CDs) and Live 1976-1977 (1991).
A host of guest stars dots these albums, including guitar gods John
McLaughlin and Jeff Beck. Like Duke, Clarke continued to record at Epic
after the period chronicled in this box set, and in later years, Clarke
became a successful composer of both film and television scores (Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Boyz in the Hood, What’s Love Got to Do with It).These truly epic collections for The George Duke Band and Stanley Clarke will be available exclusively through Sony’s online PopMarket site beginning January 24.
Stanley Clarke, The Complete 1970s Epic Albums Collection (Epic/Legacy, 2012)
CD 1: Stanley Clarke (Nemperor/Epic NE 431, 1974)
- Vulcan Princess
- Yesterday Princess
- Lopsy Lu
- Power
- Spanish Phases for Strings and Bass
- Life Suite
- Silly Putty
- Journey to Love
- Hello Jeff
- Song to John (Part One)
- Song to John (Part Two)
- Concerto for Jazz/Rock Orchestra
- School Days
- Quiet Afternoon
- The Dancer
- Desert Song
- Hot Fun
- Life is Just a Game
- Opening (Statement)
- He Lives On (Story About the Last Journey of a Warrior)
- More Hot Fun
- Slow Dance
- Interlude: A Serious Occasion
- Got to Find My Own Place
- Dayride
- Interlude: It’s What She Didn’t Say
- Modern Man
- Interlude: A Relaxed Occasion
- Rock ‘N Roll Jelly
- Closing (Statement)
- Rock ‘N Roll Jelly
- All About
- Jamaican Boy
- Christopher Ivanhoe
- My Greatest Hits
- Strange Weather
- I Wanna Play For You
- Just a Feeling
- The Streets of Philadelphia
- School Days
- Quiet Afternoon
- Together Again
- Blues for Mingus
- Off the Planet
- Hot Fun/Closing
- School Days
- Lopsy Lu
- Quiet Afternoon
- Silly Putty
- Day Ride
- Bass Folk Song No. 3
- The Magician
- Desert Song
- Vulcan Princess
The George Duke Band, The Complete Epic 1970s Albums Collection (Epic/Legacy, 2012)
CD 1: From Me to You (Epic PE 34469, 1977)
- From Me to You
- Carry On
- What Do They Really Fear
- ‘Scuse Me Miss
- You and Me
- Broken Dreams
- Up on It
- Seasons
- Down in It
- Sing It
- The Beginning
- Lemme at It
- Hot Fire
- Reach For It
- Just For You
- Omi (Fresh Water)
- Searchin’ My Mind
- Watch Out Baby
- Diamonds
- The End
- We Give Our Love
- Morning Sun
- Percussion Interlude
- Dukey Stick
- Starting Again
- Yeah We Going
- The Way I Feel
- Movin’ On
- Don’t Let Go
- Preface
- The Future
- Party Down
- Say That You Will
- Funkin’ for the Thrill
- Sunrise
- Festival
- I Am For Real (May the Funk Be with You)
- Straight from the Heart
- Corine
- Pluck
- Follow the Rainbow
- Look What You Find
- Every Little Step I Take
- Games
- I Want You For Myself
- In the Distance
- I Love You More
- Dog Man
- Everybody’s Talkin’
- Part 1 – The Alien Challenges The Stick / Part 2 – The Alien Succumbs To The Macho Intergalactic Funkativity Of The Funkblasters
- Brazilian Love Affair
- Summer Breezin’
- Cravo e Canila
- Alone 6 A.M.
- Brazilian Sugar
- Sugar Loaf Mountain
- Love Reborn
- Up From The Sea It Arose And Ate Rio In One Swift Bite
- I Need You Now
- Ao Que Vai Nascer
