Sunday Soulschool: Black Ivory - You and I

As you should know by now, listening to anything the inimitable Otis Jackson Jr. aka Madlib has produced, feels like using a gateway drug: you immediately know you've stumbled onto something that will inevitably change your life - for the better. On his critically acclaimed 'Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes', Madlib flipped the most obscure, forgotten and weird stuff into fantastic beat-sketches and loops, but for me 'Understanding (Comprehension)' was the standout of the album. As it turned out, the track heavily sampled the stunning 'You and I' - a heartbreaking cut off of Black Ivory's 'Don't Turn Around'-LP - issued via Today in 1971. Black Ivory - initially called the 'Mellow Souls' - consisted of young vocalists Russell Patterson, Stuart Bascombe and Leroy Burgess (who would later become one of the key figures in disco, boogie and house music), assisted by producer, songwriter and arranger Patrick Adams. While disco stomper 'Mainline' is their main claim to fame, the Delfonics-inspired ballads on 'Don't Turn Around' are definitely worthy of your time. Start by giving the beautiful slow-jam 'You and I' a listen below, enjoy!

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