Starfire


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1 (1976-78)

- Ronnie Cokes -- drums, percussion, backing vocals

- Antwan Garrison -- bass, lead and backing vocals

- Rudy Leaper -- vocals, percussion, backing vocals

- Jay Pryor -- lead guitar, backing vocals

- Willie McWhite -- keyboards, backing vocals

 

 

 

- none known

 

 

 


 

Genre: soul

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Get Off with Us

Company: Dynamic Artists

Catalog: DA 1001
Year:
 1976

Country/State: Richmond, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: SOLD 

Catalog ID: SOLD 249

Price: SOLD $140.00

 

My older son went to college in Richmond, Virginia and every now and then I'd troll record stores in the city (there are actually quite a few), which led me to stumble across the band Starfire.  The album cover had a cool looking '70s vibe (wouldn't you love to hear them trying to explain the stage outfits to their offspring?) and I couldn't beat the price (which I'm not going to disclose here). 

 

I can't tell you a great deal about the group, other than they were Richmond-based and featured a line-up of drummer Ronnie Cokes, bassist Antwan Garrison, singer Rudy Leaper, lead guitarist Jay Pryor, and keyboard player Willie McWhite.  Released by the small Richmond-based Dynamic Artists label, the band made their debut with 1976's "Get Off with Starfire".  Co-produced by Joe Carter and Tom Caphan, the album featured a largely original mix of up-tempo funk tinged numbers and conventional ballads.   Musically their influences were pretty standard - Larry Graham, Maurice White and Earth, Wind & Fire, Philadelphia International, etc. and while the results were occasionally a tad on the rough side, the overall performances and vibe were quite strong.  Bassist Garrison's contributions were a consistent highlight, but  guitarist Pryor was even better, welding a mean fuzz guitar that bore an occasional resemblance to Dennis Coffey, or Ernie Isley (not bad baselines to be compared against).  Nothing here was particularly original, or life changing, but it was a fun album to listen to and if you like playing "spot-the-influence" you should have a blast going through this one.  Personal favorite - 'Cussin and Fussin' which sounded like their take on Norman Whitfield-styled Temptations.

 

"Get Off with Us" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Calling All Party People   (Joseph J. Carter) - 3:51   rating: **** stars

I can't tell you 'Calling All Party People' was the most original dance track you've ever heard, but as far as mid-70s funk went it wasn't half bad, somehow managing to cobble together a slew of influences ranging from Graham Central Station, to Ohio Players, and even a bit of Ernie Isley-styled Jimi Hendrix  guitar pyrotechnics.  And it was that latter characteristic that gave the song it's winning edge. Pryor's screaming fuzz guitar was first rate, giving the song a nice rock edge.

2.) Make the Most of It   (Willie McWhite) - 4:59   rating: **** stars

Penned by guitarist McWhite, 'Make the Most of It' was a surprisingly smooth and accomplished ballad.  Kicked along by Garrison's bass and Cokes thumpin' drums, the track had a nifty Earth, Wind & Fire-styled jazzy edge to it giving it an almost adult contemporary feel.   Again, not the most original song you've ever heard, but nicely done.  

3.) If You Can't Stand the Heat Get Out of the Kitchen   (Jay Pryor) - 3:17   rating: *** stars

The album's first disappointment, 'f You can't Stand the Heat Get Out of the Kitchen' was a rather pedestrian funk number highlighted by Garrison's chugging bass line.

4.) Almost Insane   (Joseph J. Carter) - 6:05  rating: ** stars

The ballad 'Almost Insane' was the album's most mainstream and commercial number.  It was also one of the album's dullest performances with a horrible spoken word segment, some cheesy synthesizer washes, and a completely plain and anonymous performance.  Guess that's why it was tapped as the single ...   

  

- 1976's 'Almost Insane' b/w 'Don't Come Back' *Dynamic Artists catalog number DA 1001)  

5.) Out of the Ghetto   (William T. Thomas) - 3:09   rating: **** stars

Opening up with some intriguing Garrison bass moves, 'Out of the Ghetto' morphed into a Moog-powered jumpy number with mulit-tracked Leaper vocals.  I wouldn't call it a hardcore funk number, but with Pryor's fuzz lead guitar it would have given The Isley Brothers a run for their money.   

 

(side 2)

1.) Get Off with Us   (Chauncy Burnett - David Brown) - 3:55   rating: *** stars

The title track may have had the album's best funk groove (certainly the best bass line), with the group chant/vocals sounding a bit like prime Ohio Players.  'Course, The Ohio Players weren't exactly the most innovate funk band under the sun ...  Fun track, but far from the album's best performance.  

2.) Trust the Infinite   (Willie McWhite) - 3:34   rating: *** stars

A pretty, adult contemporary-styled ballad with some new age-tinged lyrics, 'Trust the Infinite' has always reminded me a bit of the British soul band Heat Wave.  McWhite wrote it and also turned in some nice, slightly jazzy keyboards.  The song also showcased the group's tight harmony vocals.  

3.) Don't Come Back   (Antwan Garrison) - 3:59   rating: **** stars

Bass player Garrison wrote it so you had every right to expect 'Don't Come Back' to underscore the band's funk side ...  and it did in capital letters. Showcasing Garrison's bass and McWhite's bouncy Moogs, the result was a great dance track.    

4.) Fussin and Cussin    (Joseph Evans) - 3:07   rating: **** stars

Say what you will about these guys, but you had to admit that Pyror was one talented guitarist and seldom was it as aptly displayed as on the up-tempo 'Fussin and Cussin'.   Musically this one sounded like something copped from Norman Whitfield's Temptations playbook - very Motown-styled psych, complete with one of those trendy socially relevant lyrics and Pryor's Dennis Coffey-styled guitar ...  I'm a pushover for this kind of stuff.  

5.) Girl Your Good Thing Has Come To An End   (William T. Thomas - August Moon) - 3:49   rating: ** stars

Unfortunately the album ended on a flat note in the form of the plain and pedestrian ballad 'Girl Your Good Thing Has Come To An End'.   Technically it was fine, but not in the least bit memorable.

 

I'm not sure I'd agree with the label designation "the baddest five stars in the galaxy", but they were pretty entertaining and I've heard far worse from better known bands.

 

 

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Dancing and Singing for You

Company: Dynamic Artists

Catalog: DA 1002
Year:
 1978

Country/State: Richmond, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: original lyric inner sleeve

Available: 

Catalog ID: 1623

Price: $150.00

 

After a two year break, Richmond, Virginia's Starfire returned to the music wars with 1978's "Dancing and Singing".  Produced by Joe Carter (who also wrote much of the material), the album was divided into a side of up-tempo funk numbers and a side of ballads.  At least to my ears, that wasn't the smartest thing they could have done.  Side one was uniformly good, but the side two ballads quickly began to run out of steam, devolving into sounds-the-same territory.  Still, musically these guys remained an impressive entity.  Lead singer Rudy Leaper had a great voice; capable of handling both the band's up-tempo dance catalog and the ballads.  Antwan Garrison was a dynamic bassist, while the rest of the band were equally tight.  As mentioned, all four of the side one dance tunes were strong with 'Get Up Everybody' being the standout.  'Loneliness Has Got Me Down' was probably the best of the ballads.  Curiously, 'If You Can't Stand the Heat' and 'Make the Most of It' were repeats off the debut album.  Same songs, but slightly different arrangements.

 

"Dancing and Singing For You" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Dancing and Singing (Is What It Is All About)   (Joseph J, Carter Jr.) - 5:51   rating: **** stars

Hum, Kool and the Gang meet George Clinton ...  Seriously, that may not have sounded like much of an endorsement and from the originality standpoint 'Dancing and Singing (Is What It I All About)'  didn't exactly get high marks.  On the other hand, powered by Rudy Leaper's growl-of-a-voice the song had a nice funk groove and the  spacy lyrics were pretty funny.    

2.) Super Sensuous Woman  (Joseph J, Carter Jr.) - 4:33   rating: **** stars

'Super Sensuous Woman' was a slinky dance tune with dumb lyrics, but funky horns.  They were probably lucky The Commodores didn't come after them for the 'brick house' reference.  

3.) Get Up Everybody   (Ronnie R. Cokes) - 4:29   rating: **** stars

Mindless, but fun slice of mid-'70s funk.  You've heard this mix a dozen tines before; Antwan Garrison's  poppin' bass, a touch of Jay Pryor's rock guitar, Leaper's nifty voice, sweet group harmonies.  That sai, few did it as well as these guys. Hard to sit still through and probably the album's standout performances.   

4.) If You Can't Stand the Heat   (Jessie T. Pryor) - 3:17   rating: **** stars

'If You Can't Stand the Heat'' was a repeat from the debut album, though with a better arrangement this time around.  Kicked along by Garrison's bubbling bass and  Willie McWhite's percolating synthesizers it was probably the track that should have been tapped as a single.    

 

(side 2)

1.) I Want To Sing This Song For You   (Joseph J. Carter Jr.) - 4:11   rating: *** stars

Pretty, but ultimately bland and pedestrian ballad.  Would have been perfect for a prom.  The song was tapped as the album's single:

-- 1978's 'I Want To Sing This Song For You' b/w 'Super Sensuous Woman' (Dynamic Artists DA 1004) 

2.) Loneliness Has Got Me Down   (Anthony Garrison) - 3:57   rating: *** stars

Written and sung by bassist Garrison, the breezy 'Loneliness Has Got Me Down' was the best of the ballads.  Nice example of the band's shimmering harmony vocals.  

3.) Love You One More Time     (Joseph J. Carter Jr.) - 3:58   rating: *** stars

'Love You One More Time' was another pretty, but somewhat anonymous ballad.  Leaper and Garrison shared lead vocals on this one.  Billed as a "disco ballad", Dynamic Artist released the song as a promo 12" single:

- 1978's 'Love You One More Time' b/w 'Love You One More Time' (Dynamic Artists catalog DA 1005)

4.) Make the Most of It   (Willie McWhite) - 4:59   rating: **** stars
The second remake from the debut, 
'Make the Most of It' was a surprisingly smooth and accomplished ballad.  Kicked along by Garrison's bass and Cokes thumpin' drums, the track had a nifty Earth, Wind & Fire-styled jazzy edge to it giving it an almost adult contemporary feel.   Again, not the most original song you've ever heard, but nicely done.  

 

 

 


Genre: soul

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Starfire

Company: Dynamic Artists

Catalog: DA 1011
Year:
 1980

Country/State: Richmond, Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: includes original lyric inner sleeve

Available: 

Catalog ID: 1624

Price: $100.00

 

1980's "Starfire" was an apparent posthumous repacked version of 1978's " Dancing and Singing for You".  As far as my ears can tell it was the same eight songs with the same arrangements, though a slightly different song order.  Produced by Joe Carter (who also wrote much of the material), the album was divided into a side of up-tempo funk numbers and a side of ballads.  At least to my ears, that wasn't the smartest thing they could have done.  Side one was uniformly good, but the side two ballads quickly began to run out of steam, devolving into sounds-the-same territory.  Still, musically these guys remained an impressive entity.  Lead singer Rudy Leaper had a great voice; capable of handling both the band's up-tempo dance catalog and the ballads.  Antwan Garrison was a dynamic bassist, while the rest of the band were equally tight.  As mentioned, all four of the side one dance tunes were strong with 'Get Up Everybody' being the standout.  'Loneliness Has Got Me Down' was probably the best of the ballads.  Curiously, 'If You Can't Stand the Heat' and 'Make the Most of It' were repeats off the debut album.  Same songs, but slightly different arrangements..  .   

 

"Starfire" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Get Up Everybody   (Ronnie Cokes) -    rating: **** stars

Mindless, but fun slice of mid-'70s funk.  You've heard this mix a dozen tines before; Antwan Garrison's  poppin' bass, a touch of Jay Pryor's rock guitar, Leaper's nifty voice, sweet group harmonies.  That sai, few did it as well as these guys. Hard to sit still through and probably the album's standout performances.

2.) Love You One More Time   (Joseph J, Carter Jr.) -    rating: **** stars

'Love You One More Time' was another pretty, but somewhat anonymous ballad.  Leaper and Garrison shared lead vocals on this one.  Billed as a "disco ballad", Dynamic Artist released the song as a promo 12" single:

- 1978's 'Love You One More Time' b/w 'Love You One More Time' (Dynamic Artists catalog DA 1005)

3.) Dancing and Singing   (Joseph J, Carter Jr.) -    rating: **** stars

Hum, Kool and the Gang meet George Clinton ...  Seriously, that may not have sounded like much of an endorsement and from the originality standpoint 'Dancing and Singing (Is What It I All About)'  didn't exactly get high marks.  On the other hand, powered by Rudy Leaper's growl-of-a-voice the song had a nice funk groove and the  spacy lyrics were pretty funny.    

4.) I Want To Sing This Song for You   (Joseph J, Carter Jr.) -    rating: **** stars

Pretty, but ultimately bland and pedestrian ballad.  Would have been perfect for a prom.  The song was previously tapped as a single:

-- 1978's 'I Want To Sing This Song For You' b/w 'Super Sensuous Woman' (Dynamic Artists DA 1004)

 

(side 2)

1.) Super Sensuous Woman)   (Joseph J, Carter Jr.) -    rating: **** stars

'Super Sensuous Woman' was a slinky dance tune with dumb lyrics, but funky horns.  They were probably lucky The Commodores didn't come after them for the 'brick house' reference. 

2.) Loneliness Had Got Me Down   (Anthiny Garrison) -    rating: **** stars

Written and sung by bassist Garrison, the breezy 'Loneliness Has Got Me Down' was the best of the ballads.  Nice example of the band's shimmering harmony vocals.

3.) Make the Most of It   (Wilie McWhite) -    rating: **** stars

The second remake from the debut,  'Make the Most of It' was a surprisingly smooth and accomplished ballad.  Kicked along by Garrison's bass and Cokes thumpin' drums, the track had a nifty Earth, Wind & Fire-styled jazzy edge to it giving it an almost adult contemporary feel.   Again, not the most original song you've ever heard, but nicely done.   

4.) If You Can't Stand the Heat  (Jessis Pryor) -     rating: **** stars

'If You Can't Stand the Heat'' was a repeat from the debut album, though with a better arrangement this time around.  Kicked along by Garrison's bubbling bass and  Willie McWhite's percolating synthesizers it was probably the track that should have been tapped as a single.    

 

 

 

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