- Ronnie Drayton -- lead guitar

- Fred Firth -- lead guitar

- R. Bernard Fowler -- vocals

- Nona Hendryx -- lead vocals, backing vocals

- Yogi Horton -- drums

- Whitney Houston (RIP 2012) -- vocals

- Raymond Jones -- keyboards

- Jean Karakos -- vocals

- Oliver Lake -- sax

- J.T. Lewis -- bells, drums

- Nicky Marrero -- percussion

- B.J. Nelson -- backing vocals

- Norris Night -- vocals

- Daniel Ponce -- percussion

- Nile Rodgers -- lead guitar

- Archie Shepp - sax

- Nickt Skopelis -- lead guitar

- Thi-Linh Le -- vocals

- Tony Thompson -- drums, percussion

- Chnage

- Distancer

- Divination

- The Golden Palominos

- Bill Laswell (solo efforts)

- Massacre (Fred Firth, Bill Laswell, and Fred Maher)

- Next To Nothing

- New York Gong

- Nicky Skopelitis (solo efforts)

Genre: pop

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  One Down

Company: Celluloid / Elektra

Catalog: 60206-1
Year: 1982

Country/State: New York, NY

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 298

Price: $15.00

Best time to play:  dance party time !!!

So anyone who was into Michael Beinhorn, Bill Laswell, and Fred Maher's original New York-based new wave/experimental moves was probably going to be in for a major surprise here.  Wow !  Material adds soul and funk to the repertoire ...    that may not have sounded like the makings of a good album, but with an assist from a wide array of talents (including several members of Chic, a young Whitey Houston recording one of her first songs, Nora Hendryx, and Fred Firth), I have to admit 1982's "One Down" was surprisingly enjoyable.

1.) Take a Chance   (Bill Laswell -  Michael Beinhorn) - 4:31

Say what you will, but powered by Nona Hendryx's killer voice.'Take a Chance' started the albumout with a dynamite disco track.   If I'm not mistaken, the Italian outfit Mr. Flaggio had a hit with their vocodoor heavy cover of the tune.  rating: *** stars

2.) I'm the One'  (Bill Laswell - Michael Beinhorn - R. Bernard Fowler) - 5:25

To my ears Nile Rodgers' Chic-esque lead guitar makes this song.  Okay, I guess R. Bernard Fowler's gritty lead vocal wasn't bad either.  rating: *** stars

3.) Time Out  (Bill Laswell - Thi-Linh Le - Michael Beinhorn) – 4:52 

The first disappointment, 'Time Out' was a skittery, slightly new-wavish track that to my ears sounded pretty much like a throwaway tune.  Forgettable.   rating: ** stars

4.) Let Me Have It All    (Sylvester Stewart) - 5:23

The cover of Sly and the Family Stone's 'Let Me Have It All' (off of 1973's "Fresh") was probably side A's most interesting offering.  With Noris Night handling lead vocals (Nora Hendryx on backing vocals), the song managed to come up with a near perfect mash-up of the original's funky edge and a distinctive mid-'80s New York new wave edge.   Quite cool !!!   rating: **** stars

1.) Come Down   (Bill Laswell - Michael Beinhorn - R. Bernard Fowler) – 4:43

With R. Berdard Fowler on vocals and Chic's Nile Rodgers and Terry Thompson providing support, the dance ready 'Come Down' should have racked up major radio airplay.  instead it got tapped as a forgotten 'B' side.   rating: **** stars

2.) Holding On    (Bill Laswell - Michael Beinhorn - Brian Eno) – 4:40

Another highly commercial slice of dance music with a tasty lead vocal from  B.J. Nelson.   Yeah this one sounded like Nile Rodgers, but it was actually Ronnie Drayton and Nicky Skopelities.    rating: *** stars

3.) Memories   (Hugh Hopper) - 3:58

I was hoping Material would have put a young Whitney Houston in an upbeat/funky arrangement, but they decided to play to her strengths - namely a big ballad in the form of 'Memories'.  Give Material credit for giving this cover of a Soft Machine song (how strange), an interesting jazzy-orientation courtesy of Archie Shepp's sax.  Houston was certainly in good form, avoiding some of the bombast that she would bring to her later releases ...   few people have heard it, but it was one of her best performances.   rating: **** stars

4.) Don't Lose Controls   (Bill Laswell - Michael Beinhorn) – 4:18

'Don't Let the Music Stop' was the album's most experimental and Material-like track.  Kicked along by some vocodor heavy vocals, the song had a jittery, slightly distantant new-wavish edge that was actually pretty intriguing.   rating: *** stars

Yes, these eight tracks certainly have a distiinctive '80s vibe. but I've got to tell you that song-for-song, it make for a nice retro vibe.   Well worth looking for ...  and of course there's the wonderful Whitney Houston song.