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Amnesty :
Free Your Mind
PBS 106.7FM - Real Radio - Amnesty - Free Your Mind - The 700 West Sessions (Now Again/ 700 West)
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Long relegated to various rarity compilations, Indianapolis eight-piece Amnesty (meaning
second chance) have finally been recognised in a collection of recordings kept by long-time
band archivist, bassist, and keeper-of-the-faith James Red Massie. The result is a melting pot
of early 70s psychedelic funk, jazz, rock and vocal harmonies. A strange combination, it
attempts to catalogue the groups evolution as they seek satisfaction in their second stab at
fame.
Although they originally released only one 7-inch for the Lamp label (home of other
psychedelic funk acts such as the Ebony Rhythm Band and The Diplomatics), Amnesty found a home
at Moe Whittemores 700 West Studio in 1973. Here, along with that fateful 7-inch, they taped
five hard funk numbers and a string of ballads and demos. From these sessions, they released
Three Cheers for Baby and Lord Help Me as the B-side. The former song
showcases their vocal abilities and their love for Temptations-inspired harmonies. Similar to
other tracks on this compilation such as Weve Come A Long Way, the backing of these
vocal tracks is incredibly gritty and real. Amnestys sophisticated sweep and flow of horns,
wah-wah, and percussion produces an amazing intensity; one which transcends the boundaries of
pop.
On the released B-side, Lord Help Me dishes out a hot serving of
supergroovalistic-parliament-thang. While the brass arrangement doesnt sit with the likes of
Fred Wesley, the call/response idiom familiar to gospel and the scathing
proto-political/economic musings (the price of meat/almost higher than dope in the streets)
are a fine slice of funk. This particular track sheds real light on the groups potential.
Elsewhere, the opener Can I Help You? and Mister President seem to
combine the rhythms of Cymande with the psychedelic contemplations of Indianapolis
brothers-in-arms Ebony Rhythm Band - a combination which seems to flavour many of the featured
recordings. Love Fades is also steeped in funkadelic flavours that wouldnt be out of
place on Cosmic Slop.
Not only does Free Your Mind showcase the talent of a greatly overlooked funk act,
it is also a damn fine record for your average funk listener.
Tom Noonan
swiped from:
http://www.pbsfm.org.au/.....)
