Money Talks

by Bar-Kays

Overview

Although the Bar-Kays stuck with the Stax Records until its demise in 1976, the label stopped releasing the group's recordings after 1973. However, when they re-emerged as a success on the Mercury label with hits like "Shake Your Rump to the Funk," some unreleased recordings they made between 1974 and 1976 were released as an album entitled Money Talks. Although this repackaging was obviously designed to cash in on the group's success, Money Talks stands up as a solid and consistent album in its own right. This material lays the groundwork for the Bar-Kays' post-Stax style by trading live-in-the-studio jams for a carefully produced sound and blending in standout pop hooks into the funky grooves. The best example is "Holy Ghost," a hard-grooving monster of a jam where elaborate horn arrangements dance around a thick synthesizer bassline as Larry Dodson lays down a salacious vocal about his lover's otherworldly romantic skills. It became a big R&B hit when released as a single in 1978 and was later sampled by M/A/R/R/S on their club classic "Pump Up the Volume." Other memorable tracks include the title track, a high-stepping tune that showcases the chops of the horn players, and "Mean Mistreater," an unlikely but effective Grand Funk Railroad cover that transforms the minimalist original tune into a spooky yet sexy mood piece built on some languid keyboard work. None of the other tracks are as strong as "Holy Ghost" (which is so good that it bookends the album in two versions), but they are all listenable and flow together surprisingly well as an album. All in all, Money Talks is a fine slab of vintage funk that will please anyone who loves old-school grooves. ~ Donald A. Guarisco

Product Details

Release Date:	05/05/2023
Label:	Music On Cd
UPC:	0600753976401
Rank:	93515

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bar-Kays   Primary Artist
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Bill Summers   Percussion,Congas
Dale Warren   Keyboards
Greg Crockett   Guitar,Bass
Paul Smith   Synthesizer
Winston Stewart   Synthesizer,Keyboards
Michael Beard   Drums
James Alexander   Bass
Larry "D" Dodson   Vocals
Charles "Scoop" Allen   Trumpet
Lloyd Smith   Guitar

Technical Credits

W.C. Brown III   Engineer
Mark Day   Composer
Phil Kaffel   Engineer,Producer,Remixing
Dave Mason   Composer
William Brown   Engineer
Robert Jackson   Engineer
Allen Jones   Producer
Dale Warren   Horn Arrangements
Brian Zick   Illustrations
Dennis Gassner   Design
William R. Eastabrook   Photography
Phil Carroll   Art Direction
Paul Ryder   Composer
Paul Davis   Composer
Shaun Ryder   Composer
Henderson Thigpen   Composer
Danny Kopelson   Assistant Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Bez   Composer
James Banks   Composer
Clovis Taylor   Composer
Eddie Marion   Composer
Gary Whelan   Composer
Joe Tarantino   Digital Remastering
Vernon Reid   Composer
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler   Vocal Arrangement