The Rance Allen Group - Say My Friend (1977/2007)

Digitally remastered edition of this 1977 collaboration between the Mizell Brothers and Soul/Gospel vocalist Rance Allen. The album is quite different than Rance's earlier, rootsier work for Stax - and instead has the soaring, joyous quality of some of the other great Mizell productions from the time on albums by Gary Bartz, Bobbi Humphrey, and Johnny Hammond! The best cuts here soar along with a really jazzy feel - that trademark Mizell groove, supported with excellent production that somehow manages to fuse a wide range of keyboards, rhythms, and string together with a really lean sound. Rance's spiritual vocals are wonderful throughout - and the whole album's essential for both Mizell fans, and any lover of righteous '70s Soul.