Midnight Lights [Deluxe] [With Booklet], Council Of Thirteen, CD

The 35th album by The Council of Thirteen features the band delving back into the solid soul, r & b and funk sound of the 70s and 80s. The lead track "Heartbeat" echoes the style and funk vibes of The Ohio Players. "August Sun" is straight out of Earth, Wind & Fire's playbook with it's soaring vocals and horn section. "Foxy Roxy" is pure funk with the flavor of George Clinton. "Monster Hunters" is a modern day Ghostbusters/Ray Parker Jr. Style song full of fun, funk and energy. The MFSB-influenced "The Council's There" features those Three Degrees styled vocals and does "Johnny Yesterday". Soulful ballads "No Forever Fire", "Under Your Spell Tonight", "Shadows On The Shore", "Ocean Boulevard" and "The Way Me Move" echo the sounds of Barry White, Lou Rawls, Marvin Gaye, Natalie Cole and Patrice Rushen. The Al Jarreau styled jazzy "Leave A Light In The Hall" is followed by the Heatwave-tinged "The Groove Don't Lie" and the title track "Midnight Lights" emulates the Brothers Johnson's edgy vibe. All in all a flashback to the great sound that followed the Motown Era. For fans of Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, Brothers Johnson, Barry White, Ohio Players, Three Degrees, MFSB, Patrice Rushen, Funkadelic and more!