{"product_id":"carey-harris-michael-orr-spread-love-50th-anniversary-remastered-edition","title":"Carey Harris \u0026 Michael Orr - Spread Love (50th Anniversary Remastered Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs the saying goes, 'There's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e50 years since \u003cstrong\u003eMichael Orr\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eCarey Harris\u003c\/strong\u003e self- released \u003cem\u003eSpread Love\u003c\/em\u003e, this iconic underground cult masterpiece is finally getting the attention it deserved all along. A timeless release, with a sound, production and level of songwriting that could go toe-to-toe with the best, it was passed over by a number of labels back in '75, leading to Michael and Carey putting it out themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpread Love\u003c\/em\u003e radiates with a message that is as pertinent as ever - heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum of genres including modern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz-funk. Raised in Detroit before moving to rural West Virginia, Michael learned to play piano at a young age. Those early influences of \u003cstrong\u003eRay Charles\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eStevie Wonder\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eDionne Warwick\u003c\/strong\u003e and many more, led him to form a band who played local 'sock hops' as well as getting paid $5 a week at aged 14 to play piano for the church choir.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFast forward 10 years, and whilst working for the local county, Michael would travel back home every lunch to write songs on his baby grand in his basement. His dream was to be a songwriter, and his intention was never the limelight. He penned '\u003cem\u003eFeelings\u003c\/em\u003e' with \u003cstrong\u003eGladys Knight\u003c\/strong\u003e in mind and sent it to his childhood friend Carey Harris, who was the bassist in her band. Gladys liked it but didn't think it fit with where she was going at the time. That initial rejection sparked the idea of Carey and Michael recording it themselves. With the help of Michael's wife who sold some of her possessions to fund the studio time, they recorded the album at Agency Recording Studio in Cleveland alongside one of the \u003cstrong\u003eO'Jays\u003c\/strong\u003e drummers \u003cstrong\u003eRicardo \"Ricky Speed\" Nixon\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eAdolph Burton\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eBernardine Mitchell\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat DIY drive paved the way for the now- iconic cover, with Michael's sister- in- law painting the genie and rainbow and his brother drawing the sun \/ star logo for what became their record label. \u003cem\u003eSpread Love\u003c\/em\u003e's time though hadn't come. No matter how many Michael could sell to shops out of the boot of his car, the message couldn't reach far enough to break it out to the wider world - ultimately putting him in a 50-year hiatus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpread Love\u003c\/em\u003e is most known for its sublime anthemic title track. A celestial, soul-rousing cut with a message which feels more apt than ever. The album though is stacked start to finish with gems. There's a balance between beauty and sadness in the modern- soul dancer '\u003cem\u003eHere I Go (Through These Changes Again)\u003c\/em\u003e', a song that \u003cstrong\u003eJohnnie Taylor\u003c\/strong\u003e would later cover. It features a superb vocal performance by Michael reminiscent of \u003cstrong\u003eGil Scott- Heron\u003c\/strong\u003e. Elsewhere, Bernardine Mitchell takes the place of Gladys Knight for '\u003cem\u003eFeelings\u003c\/em\u003e' with her vocals resonating deep down inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther highlights include the opening song, '\u003cem\u003eEcstasy, Fantasy \u0026amp; Dreamland\u003c\/em\u003e' - it is sheer brilliance with an awesome flute solo by \u003cstrong\u003eMichael Neal\u003c\/strong\u003e. Then there's '\u003cem\u003eA Piece Of Mine\u003c\/em\u003e' an early disco\/jazz-funk instrumental with vibraphone by \u003cstrong\u003eBernard James\u003c\/strong\u003e, whilst '\u003cem\u003eYou Opened My Eyes To The World\u003c\/em\u003e' has a Strata East jazz meets soul quality that is spacey, uplifting, and spiritual. It's been a joy working with Michael and his son \u003cstrong\u003eJamal\u003c\/strong\u003e, who restored and remastered the original tapes, to reissue this forgotten gem and spread that love all over the world\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e50th year anniversary of an iconic underground cult masterpiece, with a sound, production and level of songwriting that could go toe-to-toe with the best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum of genres including modern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz- funk. Includes the anthemic title track '\u003cem\u003eSpread Love\u003c\/em\u003e'.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MR BONGO","offers":[{"title":"Indie Exclusive Gold Colour Vinyl LP","offer_id":59352109777241,"sku":"SDZ-52103","price":34.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black Vinyl LP","offer_id":59352109810009,"sku":"SDZ-52104","price":30.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":59352109875545,"sku":"SDZ-52105","price":14.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/PROP_20260904_1831_173947_569_v_5024017007703_008.jpg?v=1788971225","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/carey-harris-michael-orr-spread-love-50th-anniversary-remastered-edition","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}