Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band: Road Without An End< and I Got Love
From: Express Yourself (Warner Brothers, 1969)
You know, sometimes an artist releases a track so good, so above the standard, that it ends up overshadowing his whole career. A classic example of this is Charles Wright, the man behind the legendary Express Yourself. While that track will probably keep him living comfortably for the rest of his life on it’s royalties alone it he is in fact way off being a one trick pony.
I’ve long considered Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band to be one of the most sorely underrated of the late sixties/early seventies funk artists. These two tracks, both taken from the same album as Express Yourself, itself imaginatively titled Express Yourself, show the outstanding talent of the man.
Road Without An End is the first track on the album and a beautiful start to the proceedings with a solmen piano intro and strings breaking into a lighter than light melody. A real gospel flavor permeates the song and illustrates that Wright is in possession of a wonderfully expressive voice. There’s a sweet mini breakdown halfway through which leads into a richer, layered, second half of the song. Absolutely loving the trumpets on this one as well.
I Got Love is a song more closely in the vein of Express Yourself, with the rising trumpets and classic drum breaks. Having said that, it more than stands up by itself as a great song in it’s own right with Charles emoting in his trademark husky style. Love the musical stylings of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band as well, once again pumping pure energy into the music.
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Brillaint post. Isnt this record out of print?
I have this album & the double "You're So Beautiful" from later…both of which are excellent. They show a versatile writer & performer who, as you say, was/ is underrated.
He crossed-over into the US top 20 with "Express Yourself", of course, but also on two other occasions with "Do Your Thing" & "Loveland".
In terms of versatility, he reminds me (just a little) of someone like Billy Preston who appealed to rock & pop audiences as well as soul & funk fans. Sometimes though, that versatility can surely work against an act that is hard for a major record company like Warners to pigeonhole.
The considerable crossover success of the three Charles Wright singles mentioned above should have been the springboard to a long career. Sadly, it didn't happen. I don't know why. (Does anyone reading this know the reasons?)
Useless but interesting fact: Charles Wright was Easy E's father…hense the express yourself "cover" on the NWA record.
Well well, you learn a new thing every day.
Personally never understood the lack of commercial success for Charles either, maybe he just came along at the wrong time.
His lack of reputation today isn't helped by the fact that the records are out of print and while the compilations aren't bad they fail to show the full range that he offered on the longplayers.
I must just add to my earlier comment in saying that these two tracks are excellent choices. Many thanks.
My Charles Wright song is "Love Land"
where did you hear charles wright's son was easy-e?
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