Title - 'Inter-Fusion'
Artist - Shuggie Otis
For those not in the know, Shuggie Otis (actually born Johnny Alexander Veliotes, Jr.) is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Otis is the son of rhythm and blues pioneer, musician, bandleader, and impresario Johnny Otis who was of Greek descent and his wife Phyllis Walker who was of African American and Filipino descent.
Otis's composition "Strawberry Letter 23" (as recorded by The Brothers Johnson) topped the Billboard R&B chart and reached #5 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977.
He also achieved commercial success with his 1974 single "Inspiration Information" (from the album of the same name), reaching #56 on the R&B chart.
Here in 2018 and via Cleopatra Records we now get a wonderful brand new, and highly inventive fusion rock project album, entitled Inter-Fusion.
Joining Otis are commanding drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/Beck Bogert & Appice) and stellar bassist Tony Franklin (The Firm/Roy Harper), who when they all come together, have created some incredible new music in the shape, and sounds of these 8 tracks.
1. 'Aphelion'
2. 'Get A Grip'
3. 'Ice Cold Daydream'
4. 'Interlude'
5. 'Woman'
6. 'Sweet Surrender'
7. 'Clear Power'
8. 'V8'
Lead track 'Aphelion' is a simply wondrous creation and sets the tone perfectly for what's to follow. 'Get A Grip' steps the guitar pace up a notch, with the stunning 'Ice Cold Daydream' a real flashback gem of a raw sound if ever I heard one.
'Interlude' is a quite magnificent jam session, with the lush, well orchestrated, organ-backed 'Woman' yet another stand out cut. The frenetic, yet sculptured, drumtastic 'Sweet Surrender' is next, and then the album is brought to a close with the longest track on the album, 'Clear Power' (at just over 8 mins) being backed by the speedster guitar prowess of 'V8.'
Vinyl LP Purchase Link
www.CleopatraRecords.com