L.T.G. Exchange: "Susie Heartbreaker"

An odd record, which on the cover describes itself as the score of a “black rock operetta,” although I’m not sure “Susie” and its pimped-out concept ever made it to any opera house.  The music is great, and comes through with a nice clean sound, which is at least partially due to the fact that the Exchange recorded this at Philadelphia’s storied Sigma Sound Studios.  The group’s vision is an interesting one, a blend of salsa, soul, funk and early disco that is quite intoxicating in its best moments.  Then there’s the aforementioned “operetta” aspect of the LP, which treads the usual “life is tough on the streets” theme familiar to many ‘70’s films and albums.  Key tracks are the title cut, the need-some-money strut “Stone Broke,” the Fania-meets-funk-fashioned “Dinero” and the highly acidic, sublimely tripped-out “Sky High.”  This is another wonderful, little-known musical treasure that floated just beneath the radar upon its initial distribution, now waiting for other generations to pick up on the stylized strangeness that is “Susie.”