Speaking Of Forgotten Heroes....Frankie Beverly & Maze

[visuals]

Now, Frankie Beverly & Maze is a very under-appreciated group that I can't say I see mentioned on this forum a lot. I read somewhere that Frankie started out in the early 60's doo-wop days with a Philly group called "The Butlers" but I didn't get into him until 1977's self-titled "Maze" album. I loved and own all of their Capitol albums from the 70's on CD....The ones that came packaged as double disc sets back in the late 90's. I didn't really care for their early/mid-80's offerings BITD but I bought them anyway to fill gaps in my collection and they have grown on me now. Frankie had a sultry, unique voice that always got the ladies excited with very progressive backings by a great group of musicians. I thought that their comeback album in 1993 (Back To Basics) was a very good offering during a time when everyone else was releasing electric/techno sounding rhythms. Has anyone else ever noticed how all of their albums are very high in treble and low on bass? Though Frankie has aged quite a bit, He's still out and about touring and I'm sorry that I missed him in Fla recently. Just a shout out to a very underated group. P.S. Anybody know anything about him starting a group called "Raw Soul" that was also a Philly group?

[eddie]

He was with the Butlers and Raw Soul and recut some of the stuff for his debut Maze album. Maze though was much more progressive and seemed to be more focused than his earlier stuff. His earlier stuff like the O'jays 60's stuff or Manchild was very rough and not really distinct. He did record with the Butlers for Cameo-Parkway back in the mid 60's.

Alot of 80's soul is high in treble like Surface or After 7. It just was highly percussive and the treble brought that out. Actually Teddy Riley's New Jack relied on high treble response.

Did you check out "Teach each other" from the Brothers soundtrack from about 5 years ago. It has a "new" exclusive Maze track on it.

I can't say enough about this group. Check out the following is you really dig them:
"Don't cry little sad boy" LpLost soul oldies Vol 8
"Because of my heart" With the Butlers Lp Cameo Parkway Story 4cd
"Love your pain goes Deep" with the Bulters LpPhiladelphia Roots vol 2

Other rare records include "Moonwalk" with his stint with Raw Soul. He had quite a few singles for small labels in the 60's and 70's with the Butlers. "Because of my heart" is really good northen soul but the Box set was only mediocre and delved into rock. Both volumes of Philadelphia roots are essential if you like early disco.

[tony98]

Maze have always had a loyal following over here.I still play "Joy and pain" and "Before i let go",not forgetting that great funk instrumental "Twilight".

[Disco Funk]

I like the usual tracks, 'Joy and Pain' and 'Before I Let Go', but my favorite cut by them is 'Happy Feelings'. They've got a nice smooth soul and funk sound, but I'm not blown away by all their stuff. I've seen their concert DVDs which were filmed in the early 80s, and they were great to watch.

Disco Funk

[tony98]

I found that i have 2 good cover versions of Maze songs.
Keith Washington - "Before i let go"
Donna Allen - "Joy and pain".

[Mixmachine]

I love Frankie Beverly and Maze stuff, although not until recently did I pick up my first CD from them (I have other vinyl lps) "Greatest Slow Jams" , this one has a few cuts I was not familiar with (or forgot) and is missing a few other familiar ones like "joy and pain" but still I truly enjoyed this comp, I constantly played it in my car for many weeks, His great relaxing soul music coupled with those soft smooth vocals alleviates the stress of big city traffic
:-x:p

[eddie]

Yes, Tony98 those remakes are essential. I just heard the Keith Washington "Before I let go remake and I always thought Donna Allen's version of "Joy and pain" was even mellower than Maze's.

[paul]

Funny, I mentioned them and that self titled Maze album a few months back. That album is excellent through and through. Highly recommended.
I've heard rumors back in the late '70s that Frankie was somewhat temperamental. I do remember the group was to perform in Hartford around '78 and for whatever reason cancelled. The other acts appearing that night showed up :o

[buckaroo]

'Back In Stride' aways brings back memories of 1985 to me. :grin:

[visuals]

Did you check out "Teach each other" from the Brothers soundtrack from about 5 years ago. It has a "new" exclusive Maze track on it.

I can't say enough about this group. Check out the following is you really dig them:
"Don't cry little sad boy" LpLost soul oldies Vol 8
"Because of my heart" With the Butlers Lp Cameo Parkway Story 4cd
"Love your pain goes Deep" with the Bulters LpPhiladelphia Roots vol 2

eddie this is very interesting to me as I am a major Maze fan but have never heard this stuff that you mention. I will have to seek them out in the future.

[eddie]

The early Beverly stuff doesn't have that laid back Maze feel to it. But that "Teach each other" track from the Brothers soundtrack is just like what they did back in the day.