The Vibrations: "Taking A New Step"

This record is still blowing my mind.  It goes for serious money in the vinyl collectors’ market, but the matter of its rarity is dwarfed by its musical excellence.  What I know about the Vibrations is this—they started out as LA-based vocal group the Jayhawks, then changing their name to the Marathons and finally the Vibrations, charting their first big hit with “My Girl Sloopy,” which was re-titled and re-recorded by the McCoys as the massive ‘60’s pop tune “Hang On Sloopy.”  Member Ricky Owens joined the Temptations for a brief stint before quickly returning to the Vibrations, which is a key piece of biographical information in direct regards to this album.  The Temptations/Norman Whitfield sound makes a HUGE impact on this LP, which stands out as the most unique and singular entry in the Vibrations’ catalogue.  While vocal-group stylings are certainly present, the emphasis is firmly on ‘70’s funk, with spaced-out analog production and Whitfield-esque political musings making up the bulk of the material.  Highlights are “Ain’t No Greens In Harlem” and “The Man,” which go further than some of the more polished Whitfield discs of the time in pursuing psychedelic acid-funk.  “Kazoo” is part novelty tune and part Afro-roots, with the melody led by the instrument of the song’s title and the Vibrations themselves engaging in call-and-response.  Songs like “Wind-Up Toy” and “Man Overboard” feature exquisite harmonies and arrangements, and then there is a cover of “Midnight Rider,” which adds an extra amount of mood and menace to the Greg Allman original.  The album’s final statement is the anti-Vietnam “Bolder, Green and Jones,” a sound collage of different movements ranging from a capella to rock to early samples of warfare captured on audio.  I can’t say there are many records like this in the collection; that is, I can think of very little else like it, for even as it incorporates doo-wop, rock, funk, soul and folk, it is none of those things.  Innovative.