"The Rimshots were the house band at
Joe and
Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum/Stang label family during the '70s, and also released their own records, mostly on the latter imprint. Led by guitarists and sometime composers and producers
Walter Morris and
Tommy Keith, their ranks also included drummer
Clarence Oliver, bassist
Jonathan Williams, and keyboardist
Bernadette Randle. Their highest-profile backup appearances were with label flagship artists
the Moments, whose
Harry Ray and
Al Goodman sometimes penned material for them. The Rimshots began releasing their own singles in 1972, when their brand of funk was harder than the disco-flavored sound they would later adopt. Early songs like "Soul Train, Pts. 1 & 2" and "Save That Thing" would go on to become rare collector's items, as would their 1972 debut LP
Soul Train. Over the next couple of years, the Rimshots continued to release high-quality, non-LP singles -- "Dance Girl," "Harvey Wallbanger," "Who's Got the Monster" -- that cemented their future standing as a reliable source for hip-hop samples. By 1975, singles like "Do What You Feel, Pt. 1" and "(7-6-5-4-3-2-1) Blow Your Whistle" were beginning to move the Rimshots into smoother disco territory, and 1976's "Super Disco" and "We've Got You Singing" solidified the transition. 1976 also saw the release of the Rimshots' second album,
Down to Earth, and the group contributed two tracks to the lesser-known blaxploitation soundtrack
Patty. In addition to their work as the Stang house band, the Rimshots backed
Etta James on her funky blues outing
Etta Is Betta Than Evah. The 2000 Sequel compilation
7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle) reissued both
Soul Train and
Down to Earth, plus additional non-album material."
allmusic.com
Tracklisting
1. The Rimshots - Neighbor! Get your own (2:55)
2. The Rimshots - A hot day in Harlem (3:21)
3. The Rimshots - Love, true love! (please pass me by) (3:52)
4. The Rimshots - In cold blood (3:36)
5. The Rimshots - Soultrain - Part 1 (2:05)
6. The Rimshots - Soultrain - Part 2 (1:37)
7. The Rimshots - Born Funky (3:19)
8. The Rimshots - Coastin' and Crashin' - part 1 (3:37)
9. The Rimshots - Coastin' and crashin' - part 2 (3:32)
10. The Rimshots - Dance girl (2:56)
11. The Rimshots - Who's got the monster (instrumental) (3:15)
12. The Rimshots - Harvey Wallbanger (2:57)
The Rimshots - A Hot Day In Harlem