The first half of
Way Out (80-84) consists of highlights from funk great
Steve Arrington's two albums with his
Hall of Fame, released on
Atlantic in 1983 and 1984, after he left
Slave. Perhaps due to licensing or budget restrictions, the set doesn't cover the drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer's two
Atlantic albums made without
the Hall of Fame, which were released in 1985 and 1986; the Top 20 "Feel So Real" and the Top 10 "Dancin' in the Key of Life," at the very least, should be sought by anyone with the slightest interest in obtaining
Arrington's best output. This portion does include all the gems from
Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame I and
Positive Power -- frisky, rousing jams like "Way Out," "Weak at the Knees," and "Nobody Can Be You." Some of the songs were sampled for popular rap recordings, but the connections needn't be noted for
Arrington's sake. Eternal funk classics don't need legitimization. The second half of
Way Out features both sides of "Summertime Lovin',"
Arrington's 1980 12" single for
Salsoul. Released the same year as
Slave's excellent
Stone Jam, these inclusions involve support from
Arrington's bandmates, from
Mark Adams' unmistakable bass to
Starleana Young's sparkling backing vocals. The remaining eight cuts, all previously unreleased, are a mix of songs "deemed too progressive" by
Atlantic and other
Hall of Fame-era cuts that were completed by
Arrington and a later lineup for this set. The stand-out is "Without Your Love," presumably an all-new recording, that resembles a synthesis of "Weak at the Knees" and early-'80s
Slave. "Funk and Roll Junky," "Crazy About You," "Why," and "Mysterious Woman" all have the hard, driving rhythms and invigorating spirit of
Arrington's decades-old hits. Unfortunately, the accompanying booklet offers only a basic list of credits. Those who want to learn more about
Arrington should look for an archived lecture facilitated by Red Bull Music Academy in 2013. ~ Andy Kellman
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