Southroad Connection - 'You like it, we love it' (everybody's gettin down)

My review of Southroad Connection - 'You like it, we love it' (12" version)

Unfortunately the fantastic minimal cowbell / chant intro on the 12" just vanishes on the 7" and the track just dives straight in, simply robbing you of the build up as the bass line kicks and finally the strings. Serious consideration is due to the bass line as it drives the whole track jumping octaves giving some nice filling licks, and then when the strings raise to a crescendo the bass line descends in a scale complimenting the strings, before the main riff kicks back in. Thankfully the theme and riffs are good enough to support the track throughout without becoming repetitive, and the different variations on the theme and emphasis on different parts at different times give it depth.

The whole tune is superbly written, produced and obviously well rehearsed.

Mini Biography

Just laying it down / You like it we love it was released in 1977 on Mahogany records, followed shortly after by their first LP Sweet Ride. They were then signed to United Artists for a two album deal, namely 'Ain't No Time To Sit Down' and 'Positive Energy'. Unfortunately no forth album was recorded.

'Southroad Connection' also released the very upbeat funk number 'We came to funk you out' from the album 'Positive Energy' in 1980. The album 'Ain't No Time To Sit Down' was reissued on CD in 2004 and it's a real shame their other album 'Sweet ride' isn't available on cd .... anywhere? Such brilliance should be reissued surely! It includes the awesome tracks 'Just a little bit of funk', 'Sweet ride', 'Just Laying it down' and 'You like it we love it'.

Both 'Sweet ride' and 'just a little bit of funk' featured in the 1979 horror film 'Prophecy'.

Band members / Musicians / Credits

• Delwin Gillman - Bass, Trombone, Keyboards, Vocals
• Jeff Medina -Guitar, Vocals
• Maretha Stewart - Vocals
• Steven Fields - Drums
• Albert Jones -Trumpet
• Linda Watson - Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
• Ellsworth Forrester - Keyboards
• Louis Barbarin - Trombone
• Ray Blue - Saxophone
• Krystal Davis - Vocals
• Yvonne Lewis - Vocals
• Michael Jones - Vocals
• Lionel Job - String Orchestration

'Southroad Connection' Discography

Albums

• Sweet Ride LP - Mahogany Records - 1978
• Ain't No Time To Sit Down LP - United Artists - 1979
• Positive Energy LP - United Artists - 1980
• Ain't No Time To Sit Down (CD) - EMI Records - 2004

Singles

• Just Laying It Down / You like it we love it - Mahogany Records - 1977
• We Came to Funk you out - United Artists - 1980
• Take Me Back For More - United Artists Records 1979

"Everybody's getting down!"

My other favourite 'Southroad Connection' tracks

• Sweet Ride
• Gotta keep on Dancin'
• Just a little bit of funk
• Just Laying it down
• We came to Funk you out