Waldo is an American soul/funk band assembled and produced by the Mainline Productions team of Willie Lester and Rodney Brown. This capable duo helmed recordings by Bobby Thurston, Esther Williams, Gayle Adams, and the late songtress, Ms. Sharon Redd. Waldo consisted of keyboardist Calvin "Koco" Brunson, bassist/lead vocalist James T. Brown, lead vocalist/co-producer Tyrone Lester, guitarist Melvin Harrod, and drummer Perk Jacobs. Additional musical support came courtesy of percussionist Carl Lacey, keyboardist Louie Oxley, and guitarist Rodney Brown.
Waldo only recorded one album for Columbia Records in 1982, the funky and groove ladended, "Love Don't Grow On Trees". This fantastic 8 song recording has something for everyone with discerning tastes. You'll hear up tempo funky tracks, party themed anthems, tasteful ballads, mid tempo'd groovers, and just all around feel good music. Let's explore some of the highlights of this overlooked record and get the funky people of the world up to speed of this exceptional band and sonic offering.
"Looks Can Be Deceiving", is an infectious slice of funk that will beckon you to get your body and feet straight to the dance floor. This jam comes "live-and-direct" with a throbbing electric bass, finger lickin' rhythm guitar licks, groovy Fender Rhodes performed chords, a cool acoustic piano solo in the bridge, and McFadden & Whitehead-esqe styled vocal patterns. The ultra tight horns keep this party in full throttle. A great opener to and equally greater album !
"You Bring Out The Freak In Me", is the funky fun side of Waldo, one of which Parliament/Funkadelic's George Clinton would be proud. The coolness of the cowbell, the group background vocal chanted hook, and the driving rhythm of the electric piano is the stuff great funk songs are made of, and this toe tapper exemplify this to a tee ! The funkiest elements that brings this track to life are the bass guitar thumps, as well as the playful and cosmic space vocal sound effects. The care free lead vocal exchange of both Tyrone and James adds that soulful 70's touch that will you back to funk infused vocals of The Ohio Players, and P Funk of course. It's a fun song to say the least !
Waldo slows down the pace a bit on the album's title track, "Love Don't Grow On Trees". This beautifully arranged and performed ballad points to everything "Heartache's Ville". The lyrical subject matter is that of a couple going through a painful split, and I'm quite sure we've all been down that road a time or two. The rhythm section of the bass, drums, guitar, and keyboards all blend well with the emotion felt lead vocal performance. An excellent synthesizer, presumably a Mini-Moog solo, courtesy of Koca Brunson, is the 'cherry on top of the sundae' of this gorgeous selection. The subtle horn arrangements and performance are nicely interwoven within the rhythm parts. If my ears are as sharp as I hope they are, I sense Koco used the ARP String Ensemble Synthesizer to give the song added color and depth.
"You Get What You Pay For", reminds me of a musical backdrop for a '70's blaxploitation flick. This up tempo groover feature some very nasty Hohner Clavinet licks and warm sounding Fender Rhodes chords, as do the 'Al McKay formerly of EWF' rhythm guitar styled licks. The bass guitar performance just wraps you around it's fingers with it's 'thump and strum' prowess. Those "Tower Of Power/EWF's Phenix Horns" like arrangements is nothing short of spectacular. The gruffiness of the lead vocal and strong background vocal support will sure 'nuff guarantee the listener a trip down to "Funk Land".
"When It Comes To You", is yet another, feel good toe tapper that'll have the heads bopping, fingers snapping, and those two hands put together. One sonic standout on this song is the well recorded and mixed horn parts, they just jump out at you, without engulfing you too much. The warm roundness of electric piano, the 'tried and true' rhythm guitar licks, the 'funklordness' play of the bass guitar, and, once again, the aggressive and roughness of the lead vocal reeks 'pure sonic delight'. The falsetto performed background vocal parts are in harmony, but most important, on pitch. Once again, Koco Brunson blesses this track with a cool and down right funky synthesizer solo ..... and speaking of the horns, it's a shame those horn players are not credited in the liner notes. They too deserve their props as they were just as relevant as the band members themselves.
"The Love I Feel", is .... Hands Down !! .... and by far ! THE BEST TRACK ON THIS ENTIRE ALBUM !!! .... though they're all great, but this particular track had HIT written all over it, and why Columbia Records at the time didn't pick up on that, is beyond all comprehension ! Please understand, ALL these talented musicians and singers contributed immensely to the greatness of this song, let me make that perfectly clear ! .... But to me, and this is just my opinion folks, Koco Brunson's keyboard/synthesizer performed parts, and quite possibly Louis Oxley's contribution, made this track shine the brightest. I love the way he ... or they, used the synthesizer to augment the rhythm section, with it's sonic paintings and textures. The synthesizer fills, which I'm assuming once again, are performed on either the Oberheim OB-Xa or Prophet 5 Polyphonic, gave this track it's "umph", and that my friends, made this song a joy for me to listen to over and over and over and over and over and over ..... phew ! ..... and over and over and over and over and over ......... one more, and over ..... again ! :-)
The 84 million dollar question I'd like to ask is why wasn't there a follow up album ? If given the chance to just record one more album, they had the potential to breakthrough like so many of the self contained R&B bands during that time period. Since there wasn't a follow up, let's cherish and appreciate this record as it will give you many years of enjoyment !
Musically Yours,
Ran Man
To preview all songs and to purchase, which I strongly recommend you do, please vist Funky Town Grooves U.S.A./UK Official Website for details :
www.funkytowngrooves.com/FULL-Reissue-Catalogue_NEW-RELEASES/56/Waldo-Love-Dont-Grow-On-Trees/3223
Waldo only recorded one album for Columbia Records in 1982, the funky and groove ladended, "Love Don't Grow On Trees". This fantastic 8 song recording has something for everyone with discerning tastes. You'll hear up tempo funky tracks, party themed anthems, tasteful ballads, mid tempo'd groovers, and just all around feel good music. Let's explore some of the highlights of this overlooked record and get the funky people of the world up to speed of this exceptional band and sonic offering.
"Looks Can Be Deceiving", is an infectious slice of funk that will beckon you to get your body and feet straight to the dance floor. This jam comes "live-and-direct" with a throbbing electric bass, finger lickin' rhythm guitar licks, groovy Fender Rhodes performed chords, a cool acoustic piano solo in the bridge, and McFadden & Whitehead-esqe styled vocal patterns. The ultra tight horns keep this party in full throttle. A great opener to and equally greater album !
"You Bring Out The Freak In Me", is the funky fun side of Waldo, one of which Parliament/Funkadelic's George Clinton would be proud. The coolness of the cowbell, the group background vocal chanted hook, and the driving rhythm of the electric piano is the stuff great funk songs are made of, and this toe tapper exemplify this to a tee ! The funkiest elements that brings this track to life are the bass guitar thumps, as well as the playful and cosmic space vocal sound effects. The care free lead vocal exchange of both Tyrone and James adds that soulful 70's touch that will you back to funk infused vocals of The Ohio Players, and P Funk of course. It's a fun song to say the least !
Waldo slows down the pace a bit on the album's title track, "Love Don't Grow On Trees". This beautifully arranged and performed ballad points to everything "Heartache's Ville". The lyrical subject matter is that of a couple going through a painful split, and I'm quite sure we've all been down that road a time or two. The rhythm section of the bass, drums, guitar, and keyboards all blend well with the emotion felt lead vocal performance. An excellent synthesizer, presumably a Mini-Moog solo, courtesy of Koca Brunson, is the 'cherry on top of the sundae' of this gorgeous selection. The subtle horn arrangements and performance are nicely interwoven within the rhythm parts. If my ears are as sharp as I hope they are, I sense Koco used the ARP String Ensemble Synthesizer to give the song added color and depth.
"You Get What You Pay For", reminds me of a musical backdrop for a '70's blaxploitation flick. This up tempo groover feature some very nasty Hohner Clavinet licks and warm sounding Fender Rhodes chords, as do the 'Al McKay formerly of EWF' rhythm guitar styled licks. The bass guitar performance just wraps you around it's fingers with it's 'thump and strum' prowess. Those "Tower Of Power/EWF's Phenix Horns" like arrangements is nothing short of spectacular. The gruffiness of the lead vocal and strong background vocal support will sure 'nuff guarantee the listener a trip down to "Funk Land".
"When It Comes To You", is yet another, feel good toe tapper that'll have the heads bopping, fingers snapping, and those two hands put together. One sonic standout on this song is the well recorded and mixed horn parts, they just jump out at you, without engulfing you too much. The warm roundness of electric piano, the 'tried and true' rhythm guitar licks, the 'funklordness' play of the bass guitar, and, once again, the aggressive and roughness of the lead vocal reeks 'pure sonic delight'. The falsetto performed background vocal parts are in harmony, but most important, on pitch. Once again, Koco Brunson blesses this track with a cool and down right funky synthesizer solo ..... and speaking of the horns, it's a shame those horn players are not credited in the liner notes. They too deserve their props as they were just as relevant as the band members themselves.
"The Love I Feel", is .... Hands Down !! .... and by far ! THE BEST TRACK ON THIS ENTIRE ALBUM !!! .... though they're all great, but this particular track had HIT written all over it, and why Columbia Records at the time didn't pick up on that, is beyond all comprehension ! Please understand, ALL these talented musicians and singers contributed immensely to the greatness of this song, let me make that perfectly clear ! .... But to me, and this is just my opinion folks, Koco Brunson's keyboard/synthesizer performed parts, and quite possibly Louis Oxley's contribution, made this track shine the brightest. I love the way he ... or they, used the synthesizer to augment the rhythm section, with it's sonic paintings and textures. The synthesizer fills, which I'm assuming once again, are performed on either the Oberheim OB-Xa or Prophet 5 Polyphonic, gave this track it's "umph", and that my friends, made this song a joy for me to listen to over and over and over and over and over and over ..... phew ! ..... and over and over and over and over and over ......... one more, and over ..... again ! :-)
The 84 million dollar question I'd like to ask is why wasn't there a follow up album ? If given the chance to just record one more album, they had the potential to breakthrough like so many of the self contained R&B bands during that time period. Since there wasn't a follow up, let's cherish and appreciate this record as it will give you many years of enjoyment !
Musically Yours,
Ran Man
To preview all songs and to purchase, which I strongly recommend you do, please vist Funky Town Grooves U.S.A./UK Official Website for details :
www.funkytowngrooves.com/FULL-Reissue-Catalogue_NEW-RELEASES/56/Waldo-Love-Dont-Grow-On-Trees/3223
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