Fuzzed-Out Side of Soul from The Equals!

This track can be found on the “Singles Mixer Vol. 2” podcast.

Eddy Grant recently got a little shine on this blog for his role in excellent Tony Morgan production “Racial Segregation” from 1973 but for those who don’t know about his work you’re in for a treat.  The Equals were a multi-racial, multi-talented group from the UK best know for their 1966 hit “Baby Come Back” an excellent beat-stomper with though it’s today’s 45 that is my personal favorite.  Though recorded in the UK (where it was released on President) it was released here in the states on Bert Berns NYC based Shout label.  This 45 fires on all cylinders and it surprises me it hasn’t had more visibility.

Recorded at the end of The Equals career- it was their last charting record- the song is registering on a lot of radars at once.  Yelped introduction to his “children”  fuzzed out guitars, latin percussion buried under the lead riff, a stomping (though quiet) drum mix and Eddy’s disregard of almost all political and social institutions give the listener quite an earful.  Take that and add a slight West African vibe to the whole joint and you’ve got a keeper.  Eddy, after a fairly serious illness, returned to his home of Guyana where he remained active in writing an producing before emerging with his own label (ICE) and the mega hit “Electric Avenue.”

It’s kind of refreshing to have a group called “The Equals” sing about world peace, racial harmony and global peace and manage to make it not feel didactic and the bigger accomplishment, to make AN AWESOME SONG. 

MEGA BONUS: Check out this youtube clip of the ‘video’ for the song.  Why isn’t there more footage like this!?

Alright, hope everyone is doing well out there!

-George / Snack Attack