LP Review: Welcome To Our World
Released: 1976
LP Charts: #35 R&B, #142 pop
Pretty damn good album, this Welcome To Our World.
Sure, it’s obviously derivative of the exciting disco-funk pioneered by B.T. Express in 1974, but that just speaks to B.T. Express’s immediate influence and ain’t necessarily a knock on Mass Production. Other bands tried to emulate B.T. Express and failed miserably, including B.T. Express themselves after their debut album.
SPOILER: Mass Production would pretty much fall into the same trap on their own later albums.
The whole first side of this album is turned over to the disco-funk boogie. The title track, “Welcome To Our World (Of Merry Music)”, is quite glorious as its instruments are allowed to deviate from the rock-solid groove that anchors the track. Other B.T. Express acolytes, like say Brass Construction, adhered to a more monolithic ideology where all the instruments were strongly chained to the groove. I prefer individuality within the groove. Tip of the hat to Mass Production.
After that opening track, the disco-funk continues uninterrupted with the even more glorious “Wine-Flow Disco”. First of all, that’s a great song title. Second of all, it’s an appropriate song title. The infectious groove indeed flows forth like a musical intoxication. Bacchus would approve.
For the record, “Welcome To Our World (Of Merry Music)” and “Wine-Flow Disco” were played jointly at dance clubs and thus reached #5 on the disco charts as a tandem.
Then we gets “I Like to Dance”. Simple enough title with simple enough lyrics. Although it is the first track to even remotely highlight a single vocalist, the spotlight isn’t too bright. The point is to get you movin’ and that is achieved with tons of percussion and solid electric guitar solo. Side 1 officially confludes with a harlmess one-minute interlude/reprise of “Welcome To Our World (Of Merry Music)” called “Our Thought (To The World)”.
For Side 2, the beat slows down a bit, but only a bit. “Magic” is a smooth midtempo disco-soul song even if the lead vocal is a bit underwhelming. The rest of the song is strong enough to cover up that weakness.
Same can’t be said for the next two songs. “Galaxy” is the first song not the least bit danceable. In fact it tries to be dreamy as Agness “Tiny” Kelly gives a jazz chanteuse performance. It’s not a bad song, just kinda there. “Just A Song” follows the same sleepy mold. As would be proven in droves over the years, these kind of slow songs are NOT Mass Production’s forte.
The album leaves on a good note with “Fun in the Sun”. Another title that lives up to its title, especially as it rollicks to its effervescent conclusion. This is the kind of funky stuff that would inspire groups like the Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai in the 1990s to revisit the gloriousness of disco-funk for a new generation.
ALBUM GRADE: B
Absolutely can’t mess with that first side. It’s some happenin’ disco-funk. Also can’t deny the second side slumps quite a bit in the middle, even if it’s book-ended with two really good songs that match the happenin’-ness of the first side. In the end, it’s a solid B album that’s enjoyable for anyone the least bit enthralled with disco and/or funk.
Song Scores
Welcome to Our World (Of Merry Music): 7.5/10
Wine-Flow Disco: 8/10
I Like To Dance: 7.5/10
Magic: 7/10
Galaxy: 6/10
Just A Song: 6/10
Fun in the Sun: 7.5/10