For the first time, the official release of the Black Shaheen album. It was recorded shortly after the Dedicate album, but unfortunately it was shelved by EMI. Only a handful releases was uncovered. Recorded in the late 70's in the legendary Muscle Shoals studio, this album represents some of the finest smoothest, funkiest blye eyed soul'n AOR ever committed to wax.
by Thomas Splett, Oct 24, 2020
The things were going well for the Rhead Brothers in the late 70s: Their debut album “Dedicate” had reached number 30 in the US-charts in 1977 and a few months later the brothers Steve and John Rhead were on their way to the Wishbone Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record their second album. The result was a sublime mix of blue-eyd soul, jazzy Steely Dan inflected arrangements and latin flavored West Coast vibes – all refined with southern funkiness. Back in England the tide turned: EMI had printed 10,000 copies at the wrong speed. And after EMI was taken over, the Rhead Brothers were one of the bands, which had to go. So “Black Shaheen” was never officially released – till 2016, when Preservation Records rescued this lost masterpiece for music enthusiasts. 
Tracks
1. Black Shaheen - 3:54
2. Strange Mercy - 3:55
3. Sweet Sweet Heartaches - 5:14
4. No Surprise - 4:02
5. Loves's A Crazy Game - 4:46
6. Dark And Quiet Walls - 3:29
7. Oh Darling - 3:18
8. Son Of A Sadder Side Of Town - 3:57
9. When The Seagull Flies - 4:39
All composditions by John Rhead, Steve Rhead
Musicians
*John Rhead, Steve Rhead - Lead, Harmony Vocals, Guitar
*Barbara Wyrick, Marie Tomlinson, Suzy Storm • Backing Vocals
*Bob Wray, Butch Ledsord • Bass
*Roger Clark - Drums
*Mel Collins - Solo Flute, Solo Saxophone
*Bill Hinds, Cracle Awhaii, Larry Byrom, Mac Macnally, Steve Read - Guitar
*Charles Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Muscle Shoals Horns, Ronald Eades - Horns
*Wayne Jackson - Horns, Solo Flugelhorn
*Clayton Ivey - Keyboards
*Gongar Ivey - Marimba, Vibraphone
*Toes Woodford - Mouth Sounds
*Mickey Buckins - Percussion
*Max Middleton - Strings Arrangement
Many thanks for this request, Marios.
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