For those not in the know, the American Midwest has undoubtedly played a major role in the evolution of popular music; via fabled big cities like Chicago, where both electric blues and house music were born three decades apart, and Detroit where the world-conquering Motown sound was born.

But we can’t mention the music of the American Midwest without bringing Dayton into the equation. It’s probably more famous in the eyes of fans of RnB music due to the number of great bands that originated there in the 1970s and 80s and gave the world The Ohio Players, Lakeside and Roger Troutman and Zapp, to name but a few, and all available on Robinsongs releases.

Slave, whose music is the focus of this 3CD compilation, which selects key musical moments from the group’s back catalogue as well as crucial tracks from two of the group’s offshoots; drummer-turned-vocalist Steve Arrington and the band, later to become a duo, Aurra.

Thus, Slave, Steve Arrington and Aurra: The Definitive Collection 3-CD (releasing August 12th, 2022 via Robinsongs/Cherry Red Records) is a unique compilation of repertoire by the Funk band Slave and its aforementioned off shoots Aurra and Steve Arrington.

So yeah, this is a fantastic triple CD release that features all of Slaves hit RnB singles that were released on the Cotillion label.

CD 1:
1. Slide
2. Screw Your Wig On Tite
3. Party Hardy
4. You And Me
5. Separated
6. Son Of Slide
7. Life Can Be Happy
8. The Great American Funk Song
9. Baby Sinister
10. The Party Song
11. Stellar Fungk
12. Thank You Lord
13. Drac Is Back
14. Just A Touch Of Love
15. Are You Ready For Love? (2006 Remaster)
All songs by Slave

The most remarkable thing about Slave’s music through its career was its commitment to simplicity. Sparse, yet dense arrangements in which everything wrapped itself around a potent bass melody and simple songwriting formula.

No ostentatious production or over-the-top divas in acrobatic vocal hysterics. These were tight, jam-packed songs designed to make you move. This first CD perfectly captures the best moments of Slave’s career and some of the most hypnotic funk ever to come out of Ohio, or indeed the ’70s for that matter.

Opening with Slave’s #1 US RnB hit ‘Slide’, a tough, brassy dance floor anthem built on Mark Adams’ relentless bass line. The iconic track spent 20 weeks in the US RnB charts and even made its presence felt in America’s pop chart, Billboard’s Hot 100.

Other key tracks on this first CD are ‘Stellar Fungk’ and ‘Just A Touch Of Love,’ the exception to their vocalized rule being ‘Son Of Slide,’ which is identical to the album’s big hit, except that it’s an instrumental (save a brief chorus chant).

CD 2:
1. Slave – Funky Lady (Foxy Lady)
2. Slave – Shine
3. Slave – Feel My Love
4. Slave – Sizzlin’ Hot
5. Slave – Watching You
6. Slave – Never Get Away
7. Slave – Stone Jam
8. Slave – Snap Shot (Single Version)
9. Slave – Wait For Me
10. Slave – Steal Your Heart (2006 Remaster)
11. Aurra – In The Mood To Groove
12. Aurra – Make Up Your Mind
13. Aurra – Are You Single
14. Slave – Intro (Come To Blow Ya Mind)
15. Slave – I’ll Be Gone

The second disc features two Top 10 RnB hits ‘Watching You’ and ‘Snap Shot’ and the introduction of cuts by Aurra including their RnB Top 10 smash ‘Make Up Your Mind’ and the rocking ‘Are You Single?’.

Slave may be the most underrated of all, their brand of electronic, funk/soul, techno sound made for great albums. Chock full of stimulating head music, enhanced by brain probing lead guitarist Marc ‘Drac’ Hicks, powerful bass lines from Mark Adams, and some ear popping synthesizer work by Carter Bradley, these 15 Slave/Aurra tracks are as great a collection as any fan could ever hope to have come together.

CD 3:
1. Aurra – Checking You Out
2. Aurra – Such A Feeling
3. Slave – Steppin’ Out
4. Slave – Turn You Out (In & Out)
5. Slave – Shake It Up
6. Steve Arrington – You Meet My Approval (2006 Remaster)
7. Steve Arrington – Weak At The Knees
8. Slave – Jungle Dance
9. Slave – OOOHH
10. Steve Arrington – Feel So Real
11. Steve Arrington – Dancin’ In The Key Of Life
12. Aurra – You And Me Tonight
13. Slave – Party Lites
14. Slave – Everybody Slide (2006 Remaster)

The third CD, much like the second one, continues with the hits and includes Aurra’s UK Top 20 hit ‘You And Me Tonight’ along with Steve Arrington’s UK Top Five outstandingly brilliant classic ‘Feel So Reel’ and RnB Hit ‘Dancin’ In The Key Of Life’, plus other excellent Slave tracks like ‘Party Lites’ and ‘Checking You Out’.

In truth, as much as this is still an excellent album of songs, leaving no doubt Slave was still a funk band, to my mind this third set showcased that the band were not as in-your-face as the Slave that gave listeners ‘Slide’ and ‘Screw Your Wig on Tite’ back in 1977.

That said, Steve Arrington’s oh-so brief inclusion on this third disc (crap, the entire three disc collection!) with just two (2) solo tracks elevates the whole sound to another level all on their lonesome’s!

I mean, come on now, who didn’t hit the dancefloor, close their eyes, open their arms, hearts and ears to both ‘Feel So Real’ and the heavenly ‘Dancin’ In The Key Of Life’ (which, incidentally, reached number eight and hit number two on the club chart), and let themselves be carried away?!

With sleeve notes by MOJO and Record Collector journalist Charles Waring.

Official 3CD Purchase Link