The Undisputed Truth - Higher Than High

"This Grooves gonna drive you wild....everybody dance and sing!"

My Review of 'Higher Than High' by 'The Undisputed Truth'

Another of one of my favorite discofunk tracks of all time, with only one fault..... and that is... WHY ISN'T IT LONGER! Both the Album and 7 inch version just fade out in the second chorus and a 12' (as far as I can tell) was never released, which is a real pity because the energy of this track is amazing with a great vocal chorus that deserves a second playing.

Mini Biography for 'The Undisputed Truth'

The Undisputed Truth was a Psychedelic funk ensemble that Norman Whitfield (RIP) wrote and produced the songs for. Many of their songs were also released by other artists that Whitfield worked with, such as 'Your Papa was a rollin' stone' - later released by the Temptations and both 'Help Yourself' and 'Wishing on a star' were covered by Rose Royce who Whitfield (RIP) also produced. They also covered other previous hits that Whitfield had co-written including 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' and other favorites such as 'California Soul'.

Their first and most recognized Hit Single was 'Smiling faces sometimes', a cover of the Rare Earth song, which reached #3 in the US chart in 1971. The Band also covered 'Big John is my Name' by Rare Earth.
The more the band developed the more experimental they became adding more electronic and psychedelic sounds into the mix. Their costumes also became more and more elaborate with white face paint and Afros they really stood out from what had been before.

Known Samples of The Undisputed truth

'Higher Than High' used in PWEI's track 'Can U dig It'

Known Covers
'Showtime' was covered by Groove Corporation

Links

Artist Home page
myspace

Other favorite tracks

• Big John is my name
• Space machine
• Atomic funk
• Boogie Bump Boogie
• Smiling faces sometimes
• Law of the Land
• Showtime
• What it is
• Method to the Madness
• Boogie Bump Boogie
• You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth

to listen to these and many more tracks follow here

'The Undisputed Truth' Band Members

• Joe Harris - lead and background vocals
• Billie Rae Calvin (lead and backing vocals, 1970-74)
• Brenda Joyce Evans (lead and backing vocals, 1970-74)
• Calvin Stephenson (vocals, 1975)
• Virginia "Vee" McDonald (vocals, 1975-76)
• Tyrone Douglas (vocals, 1975)
• Tyrone Barkley (vocals, 1975)
• Taka Boom (lead vocals, 1976-78)
• Calvin Earl Hardy - bass
• Dan Homes - drums
• Jack Weber - guitar
• Isy Martin - guitar
• Carl Smalls - drums
• Mark Davis - Keyboards
• Victor Nix - Keyboards
• Michel Julius - Bass
• Lequeint "Duke" Jobe - Bass
• Keni Burke - Bass
• Mark Kenoly - Bass
• Melvin Stewart - Bass
• Ted Willingham - Bass
• Walter Downing - Clavinet / Piano
• Johnny Mcghee - Guitars
• Kenji Brown - Guitars
• Melvin "Wha Wha" Watson - Guitars
• Norman Zelle - Guitars
• Butch Azevedo - Drums
• Henry Garner - Drums
• James Gadson - Drums
• Jimi Valdez - Drums
• Terral Santiel - Electric Drums
• Terry Santel - congos
• Eddie "Bongo" Brown - congos
• Kenny Copeland - Trumpet
• Freddie Dunn - Trumpet
• Michael Moore - Sax
• Brian Haner - Guitar
• Earnest Reed, Jr. - Guitar
• Howard Rice - Guitar
• Trey Stone - Guitar
• Michael Nash - Synth
• Eddie Green - Drums
• Eddie Fisher - Drums
• Zachary Slatter - Drums
• Dennis Coffey - Guitar
• Eddie Willis - Guitar
• Paul Warren - Guitar
• Bob Zimitte - Timpani

'The Undisputed Truth' Discography

Albums

• The Undisputed Truth - Gordy - 1971
• Face To Face With The Truth - Gordy - 1971
• Law of the Land - Tamla Motown - 1973
• Down To Earth - Tamla Motown / Gordy - 1974
• Cosmic Truth - EMI Electrola / Gordy - 1975
• Higher Than High - EMI Electrola / Gordy - 1975
• Method To The Madness - 1976
• Smokin - Whitfield Records / Warner - 1979

Singles

• Save My Love For A Rainy Day - 1971
• Smiling Faces Sometimes - 1971
• You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth -1971
• What It Is - 1972
• Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - 1972
• Girl You're Alright - 1972
• Mama I Got A Brand New Thing (Don't Say No) - 1973
• Law of the Land - 1973
• Help Yourself - 1973
• I'm A Fool For You - 1974
• UFO's - 1975
• Higher Than High - 1975
• You + Me = Love - 1975
• Let's Go Down To The Disco - 1976
• Show Time - Part 1 - 1979