Idris Muhammad – Power Of Soul

Absolute gem of a record. MOVLP pressing is superb (they inveriably are)

My copy of this pressing sounds incredible. The bass is very full, the drums are right out front where they should be for an album like this. Amazing sound stage. Flat and quiet. Super super pleased to own this album and this pressing. I’d love to hear it next to an OG. Couldn’t imagine it sounding much better tbh.

Decent pressing of a hard to find original. The OG is although much better. Soundstage, bass and overall more balanced sound.

My copy sounds good, no issues. The yellow cover art would have been a lot nicer imo.

I have this alternative cover release & it is an unusual approach to selling a record, looks like a library album release of an audio documentary, or something tediously serious.

The contents are far from it. I'd go along with pkny's theory here, just look at the artist line- up.

There was a 3 year gap between 1971's releases of the 1st LP's 'Peace & Rhythm' & 'Black Rhythm Revolution!' and this, which may well indicate the first LP's were low volume seller's. All points towards the 1st full picture cover release of 'Power Of Soul' being quickly swapped out for this re-thought 'artist plug' cover to encourage sales.

Clever move, as 'Power Of Soul' seems to mark the start of a very successful & golden period in IM's career. It was also 1974, & if you know your funk / jazz- funk, you know what that meant for the music in general... If you didn't know Idris Muhammad, you sure knew Bob, Grover, Ralf McDonald et all.

The result is a pure class set, the first I purchased by IM & as a result of hunting samples from these later records (which were of my generation, being born in 74'):

'Power Of Soul'

Totally Insane 'What Ya Know' 1992
DJ Food 'Cookin' 2000

'Piece Of Mind'

Roni Size & DJ Die 'Music Box' 1993
Wagon Christ 'Pretty Crap' 1998

'The Saddest Thing'

Metal Fingers 'Myrtle Leaf' 2003 (RIP DOOM)

'Loran's Dance'

Beastie Boys 'To All The Girls' (Pauls Boutique 1989)

'To All The Girls' was the one that put me onto Muhhamad's music back in the day. Classic from a classic album, the one that proved the Beastie Boys were not just a one hit drunken party record crew, but NYC's cultural underground hero's in the making.

I’ve got this one with Motown sticker and exact same labels, but the B-side has different runout etching: PS RVG-98777 B-3 VAN GELDER (A side: PS RVG-98777 A-1 VAN GELDER)

My copy is silent in of surface noise. Mastering is very good also, would have given full marks if they gave it a bit more oomph to the bass and a bit more bite to the saxophone.

I concur, this sounds great to my ears. Bought it recently for less than 20 euros and gave it a proper clean. Good value for money.

I love these sides so much. The playing is a sheer display of awesomeness and talent that leaves me in awe, and ventures almost into P.Funk territory at times. And the RVG mastering is killer even by his standards.

This pressing kills my original and my promo copy from the 70s. This is the Gary King pressing imho the bass is so much better. The vinyl is great my only issue is the use of the black promo cover instead of the original kudu yellow cover. Seems like an odd choice to make since this was a promo cover. But this is definitely the definitive pressing of this album.