{"product_id":"wendell-harrison-phillip-ranelin-message-from-the-tribe-180g-vinyl-lp","title":"Wendell Harrison \u0026 Phillip Ranelin: Message From The Tribe (180g) Vinyl LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e“Evil has done harm to our people \/ evil has been wrong to black people”\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cem\u003eA Message From The Tribe\u003c\/em\u003e was the maiden voyage for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.turntablelab.mom\/search?type=product\u0026amp;q=Wendell+Harrison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWendell Harrison\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.turntablelab.mom\/search?type=product\u0026amp;q=phil+ranelin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhil Ranelin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e’s Detroit jazz outpost Tribe Records, which aimed to give a platform to black musicians in the Detroit area with a democratic and communal spirit as an extension of the tribes in the villages of Africa. \u003cstrong\u003eHarrison\u003c\/strong\u003e plays flute and tenor on all tracks, and \u003cstrong\u003eRanelin\u003c\/strong\u003e plays trombone and sings, and the pair each get a full side for their respective compositions. The record comes out hard on a pro-black tip with the opening track sporting lyrics like “for 400 years we sweated and screamed \/ to be like the white man we thought was our aim \/ but now a new generation has taken its place in this nation,“ delivered coolly by singer \u003cstrong\u003eJeamel Lee\u003c\/strong\u003e over a tranquil soul jazz arrangement. \u003cstrong\u003eJeamel\u003c\/strong\u003e returns on the equally laidback \u0026amp; smokey “Angela’s Dilemma” with even more sobering lyrics than before. “How Do We End All Of This Madness” ramps things up with a high rolling bassline, uptempo funk groove and \u003cstrong\u003eRanelin\u003c\/strong\u003e handling vocal duties in a style reminiscent of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.turntablelab.mom\/search?type=product\u0026amp;q=Gil+Scott-Heron\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGil Scott-Heron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e’s works from the same period. Side 2 (“Wife,” “Merciful,” “Beneficient”) is all-instrumental, presumably to allow the gravity of the situation described on side 1 to sink in, with \u003cstrong\u003eHarrison\u003c\/strong\u003e’s lively sax and divine flute blowing to help the medicine go down. The composition and musicianship is outstanding, on par with any of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.turntablelab.mom\/search?type=product\u0026amp;q=Strata+East\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eStrata East\u003c\/a\u003e’s best pieces, and the tunes shine bright despite the slightly lo-fi quality of the original recordings. 2018 analog remaster on 180g vinyl released by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.turntablelab.mom\/search?\u0026amp;q=Pure%20Pleasure\u0026amp;filter=Category_fq:%22Vinyl%20Records%20%2F%20Music%22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ePure Pleasure\u003c\/a\u003e with the blessings of \u003cstrong\u003eHarrison\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eRanelin\u003c\/strong\u003e; original pressings have long been designated “no way José” status (quick Discogs check: $1300), so jump on this while you can. Recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eofficial 2018 repress approved by Wendell Harrison \u0026amp; Phillip Ranelin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e180g black vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eanalog remaster\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003elimited edition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003emusic label: Pure Pleasure Records 2018\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ereviewed by nick nightingale 10\/2018\u003c\/h6\u003e","brand":"Wendell Harrison \u0026 Phillip Ranelin","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":14033985208432,"sku":"fr-3984","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/4542\/products\/wendellharrisonphilranelin-messagefromtribe.jpg?v=1762275775","url":"https:\/\/www.turntablelab.mom\/products\/wendell-harrison-phillip-ranelin-message-from-the-tribe-180g-vinyl-lp","provider":"turntablelab.mom","version":"1.0","type":"link"}