{"product_id":"carey-harris-michael-orr-spread-love-50th-anniversary-remastered-edition","title":"Carey Harris \u0026 Michael Orr - Spread Love (50th Anniversary Remastered Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e0 years since Michael Orr and Carey Harris self- released Spread Love, this iconic\u003cbr\u003eunderground cult masterpiece is finally getting the attention it deserved all along. A\u003cbr\u003etimeless release, with a sound, production and level of songwriting that could go toeto-\u003cbr\u003etoe with the best, it was passed over by a number of labels back in '75, leading to\u003cbr\u003eMichael and Carey putting it out themselves. Spread Love radiates with a message\u003cbr\u003ethat is as pertinent as ever - heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum\u003cbr\u003eof genres including modern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz-funk. Raised\u003cbr\u003ein Detroit before moving to rural West Virginia, Michael learned to play piano at a\u003cbr\u003eyoung age. Those early influences of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and\u003cbr\u003emany more, led him to form a band who played local 'sock hops' as well as getting\u003cbr\u003epaid $5 a week at aged 14 to play piano for the church choir. Fast forward 10 years,\u003cbr\u003eand whilst working for the local county, Michael would travel back home every lunch\u003cbr\u003eto write songs on his baby grand in his basement. His dream was to be a songwriter,\u003cbr\u003eand his intention was never the limelight. He penned 'Feelings' with Gladys Knight in\u003cbr\u003emind and sent it to his childhood friend Carey Harris, who was the bassist in her band.\u003cbr\u003eGladys liked it but didn't think it fit with where she was going at the time. That initial\u003cbr\u003erejection sparked the idea of Carey and Michael recording it themselves. With the help\u003cbr\u003eof Michael's wife who sold some of her possessions to fund the studio time, they\u003cbr\u003erecorded the album at Agency Recording Studio in Cleveland alongside one of the\u003cbr\u003eO'Jays drummers Ricardo \"Ricky Speed\" Nixon, Adolph Burton and Bernardine\u003cbr\u003eMitchell.\u003cbr\u003eThat DIY drive paved the way for the now- iconic cover, with Michael's sister- in- law\u003cbr\u003epainting the genie and rainbow and his brother drawing the sun \/ star logo for what\u003cbr\u003ebecame their record label. Spread Love's time though hadn't come. No matter how\u003cbr\u003emany Michael could sell to shops out of the boot of his car, the message couldn't\u003cbr\u003ereach far enough to break it out to the wider world - ultimately putting him in a 50-year\u003cbr\u003ehiatus.\u003cbr\u003eSpread Love is most known for its sublime anthemic title track. A celestial, soulrousing\u003cbr\u003ecut with a message which feels more apt than ever. The album though is\u003cbr\u003estacked start to finish with gems. There's a balance between beauty and sadness in\u003cbr\u003ethe modern- soul dancer 'Here I Go (Through These Changes Again)', a song that\u003cbr\u003eJohnnie Taylor would later cover. It features a superb vocal performance by Michael\u003cbr\u003ereminiscent of Gil Scott- Heron. Elsewhere, Bernardine Mitchell takes the place of\u003cbr\u003eGladys Knight for 'Feelings' with her vocals resonating deep down inside.\u003cbr\u003eOther highlights include the opening song, 'Ecstasy, Fantasy \u0026amp; Dreamland' - it is sheer\u003cbr\u003ebrilliance with an awesome flute solo by Michael Neal. Then there's 'A Piece Of Mine'\u003cbr\u003ean early disco\/jazz-funk instrumental with vibraphone by Bernard James, whilst 'You\u003cbr\u003eOpened My Eyes To The World' has a Strata East jazz meets soul quality that is\u003cbr\u003espacey, uplifting, and spiritual. It's been a joy working with Michael and his son Jamal,\u003cbr\u003ewho restored and remastered the original tapes, to reissue this forgotten gem and\u003cbr\u003espread that love all over the world\u003cbr\u003e50th year anniversary of an iconic underground cult masterpiece, with a sound,\u003cbr\u003eproduction and level of songwriting that could go toe-to-toe with the best.\u003cbr\u003eHeartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum of genres including\u003cbr\u003emodern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz- funk. Includes the\u003cbr\u003eanthemic title track 'Spread Love'.\u003cbr\u003eVinyl LP in tip sleeve available black or gold with obi strip.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"Indie Only Gold LP","offer_id":54791553515843,"sku":"RPT-31518","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":54794637934915,"sku":"RPT-31519","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":54794637967683,"sku":"RPT-31520","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0821\/1601\/8499\/files\/7a0a2d34-a664-4440-ae9c-6ee3d1c92667.png?v=1788589461","url":"https:\/\/www.recordplant.co.uk\/products\/carey-harris-michael-orr-spread-love-50th-anniversary-remastered-edition","provider":"Record Plant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}