MY HIT LIST # 33 Archie Bell and the Drells-Strategy


Juicy horns, succulent strings, a relentless groove marshalled by a killer bass line. A build up that keeps rolling along. Archie’s yearning, and improvisation and the Drells’ sweet backing vocals. All these components come together to make Strategy a masterpiece of dance floor dynamics.

Sampled to great effect by faithless on their tribute record Muhammad Ali, this Gamble and Huff Philadelphia record is a standout in a catalogue of great Philly recordings.This tune also featured the Instant Funk Rythm section
Main man Archie Bell was supported by The Drells who were — at varying times — Archie's brother Lee Bell, James Wise, Joe Cross, Billy Butler, Lucious Larkins and Willie Pernell. The act had a number of fine records and features on many a compilation album. Seek out the extended version for the full experience

For me Strategy is a phenomenal tune that grows and grows because it just doesn’t stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7n-2iKH4MU
original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMzGu94L4_0
muhammad ali

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuxzeSGbBLk
dubious fusion

Available on this album

Comments

  1. You know. This funk is the north on the compass pointing to the good groove. I recently tracked down this little treasure. The album isn't great overall but Strategy .....oww. You is dead if it don't move you feet.

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  2. So sweet. ABD moved away from the dance craze tracks and just got the funk down and groovy. I had forgotten this until hearing it on a Jazzy B compilation cd. I tracked it down and finally own it on vinyl. The rest of the album doesn't offer up anything with a relentless groove like 'Strategy' but I should have realised that albums from this period rarely do.

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having said that;

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