Slave, Steve Arrington and Aurra — The Definitive Collection

Here’s a three-CD collection focusing on Slave -a 1970s to 1980’s Ohio-based band, whose groove-lined sound blended funk, R&B, Disco, and upbeat soul. The forty-four-track release focuses on not just the most impactful work from Slave, but also split-off projects from the band like Aurra, and solo work.

The release appears on Robin Songs, which is the funk/disco/soul reissue label of Cherry Red Records. The three CDs come presented in a white fold-out digipak. On its front cover, we get a selection of the covers from the album tracks featured, which tread the line between cheese and camp. Also featured with the set is a glossy sixteen-page inlay booklet- this features a six-page write-up about the project & collection. Also featured are groovy pictures of the band, vinyl labels, and full-track credits.

Slave were formed in late 1975/spring of 1976 in Dayton, Ohio- by trombonist Floyd Miller and trumpeter Steve Washington. The original line-up included Tom Lockett Jr. -tenor and alto sax, Carter Bradley- keyboards, Mark Adams-bass, Mark "Drac" Hicks -lead and rhythm guitar, background vocals, Danny Webster -rhythm and lead guitar, lead/ background vocals, Orion "Bimmy" Wilhoite -alto/ tenor sax, and Tim "Tiny" Dozier- drums. They scored their first hit in 1977, with the track "Slide", which got to 32 in the US chart and no 1 in the R&B chart. In 1978 the line-up shifted bringing in drummer/percussionist Steve Arrington, as well as vocalists Starleana Young, Curt Jones, and keyboardist Ray Turner. Fairly soon Arrington replaced both Miller and Webster as lead vocalist- with running between the mid 70’s and 1996 with Arrington at the helm. Over its career, the band released fifteen album- this collection focus on the bands 70 to 80’s output, as well as 1980’s tracks from spin-off band Aurra and Steve Arrington solo work.

The first two discs feature fifteen tracks, and the last fourteen tracks- and fittingly the first disc kicks off with the band's first hit “Slide”- the track features a spinning percussion motive, tight funk bass lines, moody double horn touches, soulful to falsetto male vocals. oh and later on scorching rock guitar tones- which became key to the band’s sound.

As we move through the first disc, we come to chugging guitar, vamping horn rolls, and jaunting weaving keys of “Separated”. There’s a stabbing ‘n’ rolling bass line instrumental of “Baby Sinister”, which as it goes on adds in grooving and stretching synth touches. We have vocoder-lined disco sci-fi of “Stellar Fungk”, or the tight funk bass meets jiving blues soul groove of “Just A Touch Of Love” which features female backing vocals, with the project’s normal male-focused lead vocals.

Moving onto the second disc in the set-this focuses on a mix of material from Slave and Aurra, which was an 80’s post-disco/ soul project featuring Steve Washington. The disc opens with the sleek ‘n’ sexy funk pound meets soul swoon of “Funky Lady (Foxy Lady. We have the tight scrubbing ‘n’ jiving groove of “Sizzlin’ Hot” with its tight mix of focused keyboard work, taut bass tones, and layered vocals.  There’s upfront slap bass ‘n’ jiving synths of “Stone Jam” which gives me an early Prince vibe. With the disc finished off with a selection of four Aurra tracks- going from funk soul snap ‘n’  pump of “Make Up Your Mind”. Onto hissing ‘n’ claping beats, taut funk groove, 80’s synth snazziness and almost boyband soul vocals of “I’ll Be Gone”.

The final disc in the set focuses on material from Aurra, and Steve Arrington. This disc is a little more mixed in quality than the proceeding discs, as we do get darts into rather bland 80’s soul-funk- but there are still worthy tracks here. We have the slap bass meets bright keyboard jive of “Turn You Out (In &Out)”. There’s electro ethic beat detail, tribal man chanted backing vocals, and cheesy 80’s synth horn/production of “Jungle Dance”. Or darting electro bass pulse, tight jaunting keys, low key funk guitar strut, and sleek 80’s male soul vocals of “Dancin’ In The Key Of Life”.

So, in finishing this is largely a fairly consistent three-CD collection- which will most certainly appeal to those who enjoy late 70’s/ early 80’s mixes of funk, soul, and disco/ post-disco. In a way, it’s a pity we didn’t get a Slave album boxset, similar to The Trammps box from early on this year also on Robin Songs…as Slave released eleven albums between the ’70s & ’80s, and it would have been great to hear deeper cuts too, but maybe this wasn’t possible due to rights/ and general practicality.