Reviewed by Theo Bowyer

Imagine sitting on a front porch in Detroit, sipping a glass of Dr Pepper ("The most original soft drink ever," according to '70s America) with the soothing tones of Calvin Fair's vocal and the backbeat of the ghetto sound, yet still knowing there is unrest and hardship around the corner. This backdrop sets the perfect foundation for a gritty gem of an album plucked from the archives by those clever folk at Ace Records. Nothing of the LP's character, which must have dazed ghetto church-goers so mightily when originally released in 1972 by the legendary Stax outfit, is lost today. The raw, gospel street funk sound is best captured on "The Ghetto". The song really explains that our gospel mission starts on our doorstep. The strong lyric imagery continues throughout with the soulful "Call On Him" underpinned by a similar distinctive, distorted guitar sound that Ernie Isley was to make his signature. Former member Gary Grier says in the sleevenote, "It warms my heart to know that The Sons Of Truth are still being listened to. God has a way of not letting a good thing die." The album culminates with the effortless slow groove of, "God Bless The Children", sung by Jimmy Holiday, backed up by the sensitive piano motifs of Danny Henderson. It makes the perfect ending to a classic album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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