Mo’Kelly’s Music Flashback #16 – Pleasure

(Just in case somebody out there still thinks that BS on the radio is “good” music.)

Formed in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.  Original group members were:

Dennis Springer (Tenor and Soprano Sax)

Dan Brewster (Trombone)

Marlon ‘The Magician’ McClain (Guitars and Background Vocals)

Bruce Carter (b. Bruce Edward Carter, 28th December 1956, d. 12th August 2006, Portland, Oregan, U.S.A., Drums)

Tony Collins (Trumpet / Flugelhorn)

Donald Hepburn (Keyboards and Background Vocals)

Michael Hepburn (Keyboards and Background Vocals)

Nathaniel Phillips (Bass and Background Vocals)

Bruce Smith (Percussion and Background Vocals)

Sherman Davis (Lead Vocals and Background Vocals)

Pleasure blended soul, funk and jazz with a tough street edge and became a cult group on the underground Black music scene of the late 70’s.  Bruce Edward Carter, as a teenager, formed a Portland R & B band called the Franchise with friends Marlon McClain on guitar and Nathaniel Phillips on bass.

In 1972, the band merged with a rival band, the Soul Masters, to form Pleasure.

Working closely with producer Wayne Henderson in Los Angeles, they signed to Fantasy Records for ‘Dust Yourself Off’ (1975), including ‘Midnight At The Oasis’, ‘Accept No Substitutes’ (1976), including ‘Ghettos Of The Mind’,

‘Joyous’ (1977), including ‘Sassafras Girl’, and ‘Get To The Feeling’ (1978), including ‘Ladies Night Out’, before themselves producing,

‘Future Now’ (1979), including ‘Glide’, and the album ‘Special Things’ in 1980.

They later recorded an album called ‘Give It Up’ for RCA in 1981.  In 1976, they recorded with label mates Side Effect on their version of ‘Always There’.

The band then went their seperate ways with Marlon McClain releasing a solo project entitled ‘Changes’.  Bruce Carter passed away in 2006.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q3PsoWbW9I]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ERTqVmKq8]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn5Nz1If1_0&feature=related]

OTHER MUSIC FLASHBACKS

#1 – Switch

#2 – Loose Ends

#3 – Shalamar

#4 – SOS Band

#5 – O’Bryan

#6 – Bernard Wright

#7 – Atlantic Starr

#8 – The System

#9 – Shirley Murdock

#10 – Al B. Sure!

#11 – Klymaxx

#12 – Cameo

#13 – The Jones Girls

#14 – Norman Connors

#15 – Brand New Heavies

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