Patterson Twins - Let Me Be Your Lover (1978)
8 videos • 4,714 views • by Moraito The Patterson Twins recorded several singles under the Big Beat banner (based in Greenville, Mississippi) during 1972, before joining Star Fox Enterprises using the revised title of 'The Patterson Twins'. Again, several 45s emerged from this tenure, this time on King Records, one of which is included on the LP presented here (the track 'A good thing'). Also around this time (1973) they recorded the wonderful two-step groover 'I need love' on Malaco records, that wasn't released until 1976. They then signed up to Commercial Records based in Nashville, Tennessee, and the fruits of those sessions are presented here. On the lead title track, a deceptive funky intro suddenly transforms into glitzy, popcorn disco, a blatant reminder of the 70s disco era at its peak. A free-flowing guitar on the exit was a nice surprise on this one. Next up, with warning rhymes like 'loser', 'uptown cruiser' and 'woman user', we have the tell-tale signs of a bitter man. 'He's a loser' has a warm, striking arrangement -- my pick of the ballads. That warm soulful sauce continues onto 'How long must the show go on', a delightful ode to love turned sour that is delivered with tenderness by the brothers, and possesses a curious sing-a-long chorus. Then it's a wonderful time-escalator ride to the cusp of the 70s complete with monophonic sound, 'A good thing' is something Don Covay would have been proud to be involved in (and is a result of the aforementioned Star Fox sessions). Swinging, honest-to-goodness grits that is a positive joy from the first note, it is however far too short and left me demanding an encore ! Side Two signs on with the unrelenting 'Gonna find a true love', a crisp pulsating melody that is rightly a club classic, and busy enough to command its 5.19 minutes running time. Wonderful. We are then greeted with some drag-funk in 'Funk machine', with snarling over-dubbed vocals and retorting horns, this is a very competent and fun escapade. 'You give me someone to love' was another single lifted from the LP, a bluesy joint with a sombre violin adding fragility to the message, and I was reminded of Don Covay again on this one. Not bad at all. For the final cut with a title like 'Disco dream', I was expecting to be blinded by the bright spangle of the boogie, but no ! This is a midtempo offering that plays like an inferior version of Hot Chocolate's 'Emma' (itself a brilliant record by the way). What we have here is a record that appears to pre-date its release, and to have been complimented with some disco-flavoured tracks to make it more contemporary. As such, there is a rich seam of soul that runs through it, intertwining effortlessly betwixt funk, balladry, or dance." 1 Let Me Be Your Lover 2 He's A Loser 3 How Long Must The Show Go On 4 A Good Thing 5 Gonna Find A True Love 6 Funk Machine 7 You Give Me Someone To Love 8 Disco Dream