Gotham - Pass The Butter (album review)

Gotham – Pass The Butter   Motown 1972

         With names like John Gatchell, John Eckert, and PeeWee Ellis, how can you go wrong? You can’t. And the lesser-known musicians are just as inspiring specifically drummer Jimmy Strassburg and the explosive voice of lead vocalist Schullar ‘Sky’ Ford. Produced by Tom Wilson who’s resume includes such names as Bob Dylan, Sun Ra, John Coltrane, The Velvet Underground, and the very 1^st Simon & Garfunkel album, Wed Morning 3am, Pass The Butter sees Gotham on the attack from the get-go. The suits at Motown kept some of the aggression at bay leaving the group to maroon another albums worth of tunes in the vault. But they could not be contained enough to make this masterful LP. Pass The Butter may be one of the truest jazz and rock hybrids of the era. ****

Key tracks: Ease My Mind, Why Doesn’t The Sun Shine, Use It or Lose It