Faze-O hailed from Dayton Ohio, although not as well-known as some of their Dayton funk brothers, Faze-O’s brightest moment came in 1978 when they scored a Top 5 US R&B hit in the shape of a hypnotic groove-ballad called ‘Riding High”.

The band honed their skills playing gigs in and around their hometown, initially under a different name, which is how they appeared on the radar of Clarence “Satch” Satchell, a horn player with the mighty Ohio Players. Satch’ liked what he saw and asked us if we were signed to anyone. He then told us all to be at his house the next morning and we signed with him there and then.”

Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube are a few big names that have sampled key elements from “Riding High” to make new music thereby putting Faze-O on the radar of a younger generation of listeners.

Other Key singles by Faze-O included in this package are “Breakin’ The Funk”, “Good Thang” & “Who Loves You” where we have also included the 7” versions as Bonus Tracks.

CD 1: Riding High (1977)
1. Riding High
2. Funky Reputation
3. You and I (Belong Together)
4. Toejam
5. True Love
6. Get Some Booty
7. Test – This Is Faze-O

With Robinsongs pleased to announce for the first time all three Faze-O albums available in the one 2CD package, the first disc opens on the debut album Riding High (1977).

For those not aware, Faze-O played good ol’ dirty funk like it was nobody’s business, hence their debut album boosts en mass of the lil’ beauties! The massive cut Ridin’ High, which was their only huge hit, and the album cuts Funky Reputation, Toe Jam, Get Some Booty and Test all showcase the band at their very finest.

In truth, the album needs no introduction to the funk world as it was produced by the biggest funk band of the time, the Ohio Players, but all these guys are great musicians in their own right and every one of them can throw down the funky beats like they were going out of fashion.

Good Thang (1978)
8. Good Thang
9. Who Loves You
10. Space People
11. Party Time
12. Love Me, Girl
13. Funky Lady

The funk continues onward with their 1978 album Good Thang, where their deeply-rooted, soulful vibes pound relentlessly through, showcasing the fact that Faze-O’s music is always MUST-HAVE for fans of funk.

Good Thang is a wonderfully competent, yet sadly unremarkable effort that was once again produced by Clarence Satch Satchell of the Ohio Players. Satchell, unfortunately, doesn’t do as much as one would hope with what he has got, although tunes like Who Loves You and Funky Lady are catchy enough.

Why? Well, if you are asking me, when Good Thang came out in 1978, the funk field was brutally competitive. Bands like Parliament/Funkadelic, Rick James, Cameo, Bootsy Collins, Slave, and the Bar-Kays were the sort of heavyweights you were up against. So that might be the reason why this album floundered.

CD 2: Breakin’ The Funk (1979)
1. Breakin’ the Funk
2. Ya Ba Da Ba Du Zie
3. I Still Love You
4. Let’s Rock
5. I’m Thankful
6. See You Through the Night
Bonus Tracks
7. Riding High (7” Single Version)
8. Good Thang (7” Single Version)
9. Who Loves You (7” Single Version)
10. Breakin’ the Funk (7” Single Version)

This definitive collection, which contains all of Faze-O’s recorded content, has the entire 1979 album Breakin’ The Funk along with a series of bonus tracks (all be they just 7” single cuts).

As always with Faze-O, they never strayed much from their funky path when it came to recording their music, and this third outing is yet another prime example of their wealth off music talent.

Their funky traditions continued with the title track and lead single, a smooth funk rock cut that may well not be one of their best, but doesn’t let the side down here, trust me.

I Still Love You is a rather delightful ballad with some solid vocals, but we are soon back on the funky trail with the blazing Let’s Rock, the mid-tempo I’m Thankful and the genuine humdinger Breakin’ The Funk.

This package contains fantastic sleeve notes by journalist Charles Waring contributor to MOJO, Record Collector and www.soulandjazzandfunk.com

So you are about to enter the land of Faze-O. You are about to funk like you’ve never funked before.

Official 2CD Purchase Link

www.soulandjazzandfunk.com