Black Merda - Forward from the Past - 2017
The titans of American rock known as Black Merda have released a new offering for fans new and old, “Forward from the Past.” The milestone LP includes 12 original Black Merda tracks for a listening time approaching a full hour. It has been proudly published on the Third Child Productions Inc. independent record label. It is the eighth offering from the group since their self-titled debut on Chess Records in 1970. Featuring razor-sharp instrumentation, socially conscientious songwriting, and that classic Detroit funk-rock sound the band helped innovate nearly fifty years ago, “Forward from the Past” stands as proof that Black Merda can slay with the best of them in the 21st century.
Black Merda cite as artistic influences Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Sly Stone, James Brown, and Freddie King. They also cite as a major influence simply, “being from Detroit, Motown.”
The Motor City funk-rock crew have influenced far more musicians than can feasibly have influenced Black Merda, themselves, however, and this influence may seem stronger today than ever before.
“There’s many young people who’s starting to really appreciate the heartfelt music of the past,” write Black Merda. “We want to lead the way in keeping it alive.”
Fans of the group will note that “Forward from the Past” maintains a steady course from 2009’s “Force of Nature” while incorporating more contemporary digital music methods at the same time. The result is a rock record with soul, groove, rhythm, and plenty to say to audiophiles of every age and creed.
“The title of the album is ‘Forward from the Past,’” note Black Merda. “We want to keep elements of the past in the now and future.” They describe the record’s aim as “trying not to lose the realness of live music while mixing in some of the sequenced sounds of today.”
Black Merda began in the mid-1960s and reunited in 2005. Today they are original members Charles Hawkins, Anthony Hawkins, and VC L. Veasey. They survive drummer Tyrone Hite who passed away in 2004. They have shared the stage with the likes of Edwin Starr (“War”), Gene Chandler (the Duke of Earl), Wilson Pickett, the Spinners, the Artistics, Billy Butler, the Chi-Lites, Joe Tex, Jackie Wilson, the Temptations, Eric Burdon (the Animals) and War. Their story is a legitimate part of music history.
More recently, Black Merda were sampled by Ja Rule in 2005 and by Kanye West in 2009. The Detroit Metro Times named the Merda’s 1970 track, “Cynthy-Ruth” as one of the 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever. The track was also featured in the HBO documentary, “The Nine Lives Of Marion Barry” (2009). Spinner.com featured Black Merda in their 2010 article, “In Living Color: 20 Important Black Rockers Past and Present.” Their 2009 reunion LP’s chief single, “Take A Little Time,” was re-released on Mojo Magazine’s 2010 compilation, “Heavy Soul.” The Detroit Metro Times also revisited Black Merda in 2010 by choosing their self-titled 1970 debut album as one of “Detroit’s Greatest Hits that Should Have Been”
01. Those Rainy Days
02. Woman
03. Over Again
04. Groopie
05. Worry
06. Get up and Do It for Yourself
07. Set You Free
08. Who's Your Father?
09. Smoothe Make Sense Music
10. Give Love to Get Love
11. 50 Shades of Funk
12. Set out Your Love
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