Graham Central Station - Graham Central Station flac album

Graham Central Station is the self-titled debut album by former Sly and the Family Stone bass player Larry Graham's new band, "Graham Central Station". In late 1972, Larry Graham quit Sly and the Family Stone because of tension between Larry and group leader Sly Stone. After agreeing to produce a band named Hot Chocolate (not to be confused with British pop band Hot Chocolate), he decided to join the band and renamed them Graham Central Station in 1973.

Graham Central Station’ starts off less than spectacularly, however, with Larry and co. plagiarizing soulman Frederick Knight’s I’ve Been Lonely for So Long for the goofy intro We’ve Been Waiting. But things soon get much better. They take on smooth soul balladeer Al Green’s Ain’t No Fun to Me and completely transform it, turning the obscure Hi Records B-side into a tarantual funk-rock monster.

Graham Central Station followed up its debut album rather swiftly with ‘Release Yourself’. But in contrast to the looseness and somewhat ‘laissez-faire’ attitude of that self-titled first LP, this sophomore effort is much more polished and ecclectic. Patryce ‘Choc’let’ Banks remembered that where ‘Graham Central Station’ was cut ‘live’ in the studio, ‘Release Yourself’ was the premier GCS waxing that went through considerable overdubbing. It’s also the first GCS album that has labelmates Tower of Power providing the horns.

However, Graham Central Station gives Graham's bass work a more upfront role in the sound and adds further layers of rhythms with drum machines and rhythmic-sounding keyboards like the clavinet. The result is a disc that is equal parts pop-soul ("Ain't No Fun to Me") and funk ("We Be Gettin' Down"). The blend isn't as seamless as one might hope, which means some songs are stronger on groove then they are on melody: "Tell Me What It Is" has a great groove built on a seamless mix of thumping bass and throbbing drum machine, but lacks the melodic. In short, casual listeners may want to pick up this album's highlights on a compilation, but funk lovers will find plenty to enjoy on Graham Central Station.

All songs written by Larry Graham except where indicated. 11 months ago. I laughed at this album cover when I first saw it back in 2001 or 2002 but it is great album. Thank you for posting this it brings back such fond, fun memories.