Follow The Rainbow
(1979)
This record was released in 1979 while I was having tremendous success as an artist and beginning my alternate career as a record producer. This record is influenced by Earth Wind & Fire. I had seen many of their shows, knew them personally, and just loved the way they were able to combine great music with visual concepts. They found a way to be commercial and make good music at the same time.
So, there are a lot of vocals on this record. The current group stayed together for a long time. The addition of Lynn Davis made a huge difference in what I was able to write. I composed with the band in mind, utilizing each of their personal musical strengths. The single largest change in the band was the loss of Ndugu on drums. He went on to work with Santana. I hired a young drummer from Detroit named Ricky Lawson. He was, and still is, a real solid drummer. He has gone on to become one of the most requested drummers in the world: Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Babyface to name a few.
This was the first time I thought the vocals took on a special quality as a group. The record featured everyone in the band.
Disco had become popular, so I realized I needed to alter my grooves a little to get play on the radio and sell records. The Latin side of my nature is still evident here with tunes like "Festival." This record didn't have a big break out single, but still did very well. Songs such as "Say That You Will" and "Party Down," garnered much radio play here in the States.
However, these jazz/funk records were having a toll on me Internationally. My sales in Europe had dropped, and CBS Japan had threatened to stop releasing my records there. I guess there is a price to be paid for whatever you do. I was selling great in the States but miserable in Europe and Japan. They were not ready for this kind of music at that time. In fact, on a trip to Germany, after our first number at The Berlin Jazz Festival, the audience threw whatever they could find at the band, forcing us off the stage.
The real funk was represented by "I Am For Real" which kept us in the good graces of the funk community. Overall, a nice record and nicely produced I might add.
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George Duke