Ingram - Mi Sabrina Tequana

My review of 'Mi Sabrina Tequana' by Ingram

Not only is the bongo solo intro very good and technically impressive but the stereo panning on the production is really sweet and I love the way the drums build until the track comes in. The bass line is nice and funky. The vocals "ahhhhahhhaaa.....Mi Sabrina..... Tequana' are fairly dream like and although minimal have a expression lot especially in the word 'Tequana'. There's a great organ solo (maybe a clavinet?) which gets quite erratic in parts but has a nice melodic flow to it, as does the most of the track. The Guitar solo is much the same, and starts crisp and becomes slightly more energetic as it goes on. I love the crescendo of the congas / bongo solo which again has good stereo panning between the two instruments. The track flows nicely and is both pleasant, danceable and technically well produced.

The lyrics mean "my sister's daughter", but the message of them is a bit of a mystery, perhaps she was a bit of a mystery herself!?

Mini Biography for 'Ingram'

'Ingram' or 'Ingram Family' or 'Ingram Family Kingdom', as they are also known, are a musical family from Camden, New Jersey, who play a soulful blend of funk music. Originally called 'The Ecstasies' they became 'Ingram Kingdom' after one of the brothers Norman 'Butch' Ingram, a basketball player, had to retire due to injury. He learned the bass and formed the group and in 1976 and they produced their first album 'The Funk Is in Our Music' and it was released on 'Excello Records' along with the single 'The Funk Lies In Our Music / She's All Alone (I Need A Man)'. Barbara Ingram (may she rest in peace) had been a part of a vocal trio when she was younger and later became a backing vocalist for artists including 'The Stylistics', 'Stevie Wonder', 'Sister Sledge', 'The Trammps', 'Marvin Gaye', 'Luther Vandross', 'The Spinners', 'Linda Creed', and was also part of the group 'Ecstasy, Passion & Pain'. She is also a Grammy award nominee.

'Ingram Family's second album 'That's All' was released the following year in 1977 on the 'H & L Records' label which contained the instrumental track 'Mi Sabrina Tequana' which became a popular dance floor track in the UK.

The band then had a break from recording as a family unit and teamed up with Larry James and Dorris James and some of the musicians from 'Fat Larry's band' to create the studio band 'Slick' (see my post Slick - Space Bass)

'Slick' were produced by Norman 'Butch' Ingram and Larry James on the Fantasy / WMOT label and had considerable success with the two singles 'Space Bass' and 'Sexy cream' although the latter had limited airplay due to the controversial lyrics. Butch Ingram also produced a number of other acts including 'Philly Cream'.

'Ingram' recorded two further albums in the 1980's. 'Would You Like To Fly' (1983) and 'Night Stalkers' (1984), both on the 'Mirage' record label.

'Ingram Kingdom' Band members / Musicians

• Norman 'Butch' Ingram - Bass, Trumpet
• James Ingram - vocals, keyboards, sax, flute
• Barbara Ingram - vocals
• Billy Ingram - guitar, bass, trombone
• John Ingram - lead vocals, drums, tuba
• Timmy Ingram - drums, percussion, trumpet
• Virginia Ingram - vocals
• Francis Ingram- vocals
• Edith Ingram - vocals

'Ingram' Discography

Albums

• The Funk is in Our Music - Excello Records - 1976
• The Ingram Kingdom - Excello - 1976
• That's All - H & L Records - 1977
• Would You Like To Fly - Streetwave / Mirage - 1983
• Night Stalkers - Mirage / Other end records - 1984

Singles

• The Funk Lies In Our Music / She's All Alone (I Need A Man) - Excello - 1976
• That's All / I Don't Want To Be Alone - H & L Records - 1977
• D.J.'s Delight - Streetwave / Mirage - 1983
• Groovin On A Groove / No One - Mirage / Atlantic - 1983
• We Like To Do It - Streetwave - 1983
• When You're Hot You're Hot - Mirage / Other end records - 1984
• With You - Other End Records - 1984
• Girl What's Going On - Streetwave - 1985

My other favorite tracks by 'Ingram Family'

• Music has the Power
• The Funk is in Our Music
• Groovin' on a Groove
• Ingram Kingdom
• Everybody get up and get down

To listen to these plus many other esentail disco and funk tracks go here

Youtube video