NS575 Mandrill [1973] - Never Die [Polydor PD 5059]

575 Mandrill [1973] - Never Die [Polydor PD 5059]

Format:  LP

Label:   Polydor

CatNo:  PD 5059

Year:     1973

Value:   £15-£20

This was Blackpool Mecca Highland Room spin on release in 1973.  Things were beginning to change on the scene and Ian Levine and Colin Curtis instead of hunting down obscure oldies from the 60s were seeking out up-front new releases and ultimately became responsible for breaking many well known 70s tracks which crossed over into the pop charts such as Tavares, Betty Wright, George Benson, Esther Phillips.  This diversion was the birth of what later became known as Modern Soul.

Mandrill is an American funk band formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1968. The band was formed by three brothers: Carlos Wilson (trombone, vocals), Lou Wilson (trumpet, vocals) and Ric Wilson (sax, vocals). The brothers were born in Panama and grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. Other members of the band included Bundy Cenas (bass), Neftali Santiago (drums, percussion, vocals), Juaquin Jessup (lead guitar, percussion, vocals), Charles Padro (drums), Claude 'Coffee' Cave II (keyboards, percussion, vocals) and Fudgie Kae Solomon (bass) and Omar Mesa (Guitar).

I believe that Never Die is an album only track not released on 45.  It was released on side 1 track 2 of the 'Just Outside of Town' album on Polydor in 1973.

Their music is much sampled by many of today's hip-hop acts.  The Just Outside of Town album has been reissued on CD available here.

NOTE: The YouTube clip chose shows a few images of the, now legendary, Blackpool Mecca Highland Room.

In later years another Mandrill track was played - Too Late

Mandrill [1977] - Too Late [Arista #AS 0375]