Evelyn King – Music Box (Expanded Edition)

Description

Few Copies coming back from a Previous Distributor – Will be arriving 28th Feb 2018

First Time Ever on CD for the Music Box album from Evelyn King

Expanded with 4 Bonus Tracks and fully Re-Mastered from the Orginal Master Tapes

“Music Box” emerged at a heady time within the current Disco trend. The label and the team regarded it closely and decided it would do it’s best to embrace the genre as best as they could. It could be argued with mixed results.

The singles did not ignite the record-buying public as it had done with “Shame”, and later with “I’m In Love”. However, we would all agree that commercial success does not make the artist if not commercially then on a true artistic, creative level.

The title track is about as Disco as we would find Evelyn King on this album and the musical backing from the likes of Salsoul’s robust Instant Funk outfit gave a sturdy, chunky feel, unlike some of the weaker material on the market at that time.

The echoes of Evelyn’s Philadelphia roots were also never too far out of earshot here too, and the killer John Fitch and Rueben Cross ballad “I Think My Heart Is Telling Me” could easily be a tune for then Philly newcomers The Jones Girls.

Put aside the disso efforts, if you wish and single out this song. Some 30 plus years later the Dexter Wansel-ish keys and direction make this a standout and to this day sounds as fresh as a dew-drenched daisy. The word we are looking for here is “Timeless”.

The single release “Out There” is another quality uptempo number with more kick than any modern number can muster and as such these songs stand in testament for a number of reasons.

Although the singles didn’t set the charts alight, “Music Box” allowed Evelyn to lay in stone her follow-up release, and further establish herself as a name that could be trusted.

The songs were enriched by the dearth of classy Philadelphia talent and set the songs apart from many others at that time. This set gave rise to Evelyn coming back again a few years later with the mighty “I’m In Love” set with a fresher, progressive synthy sound courtesy of Paul Lawrence and Kashif – an album that really and seriously set up Evelyn King as one of THE artists of the day.

Here we are in 2011 celebrating this album from 1979 and enjoying a recent album as well as forays into House music. Still, in 2011, Evelyn is giving us music to dance and fall in love to.

“Music Box” earns its place as a CD reissue and is a set that has something for everyone.

Tracklist
1. Music Box
2. Let’s Start All Over Again
3. Out There
4. No Time For Fooling Around
5. Steppin’ Out (part I)
6. Steppin’ Out (part Ii)
7. Make Up Your Mind
8. I Think My Heart Is Telling
9. It’s Ok

Bonus Tracks

10. Music Box – 12″ 7m-27s
11. Out there – 12″ 6m-15s
12. Make Up Your Mind – 12″ 6m-30s
13. Out there – 7″ 3m-30s