Ronnie McNeir
★★★★
Makes A Move
KENT. CD/DL/LP
Superb 1972 soul/funk album found in producer Mickey Stevenson’s archive.
Keyboardist/singer Ronnie McNeir met husband and wife team Mickey Stevenson and Kim Weston in an LA church; he was the organist; they sung in the choir. The three hooked up, resulting in his excellent 1972 self-titled debut issued on RCA Victor. This compilation rounds up the remaining tracks from the session left in the vaults. Like the originally released album, they mine the early-’70s Motown sound, with Marvin Gaye being the main touchstone: see the voluptuous ballads Tell Your Mama and My Day Will Come, although Ronnie’s Bag #1 and #2 are jazz-soul instrumentals built around searing synths more akin to Stevie Wonder. Even better, however, are Let’s Make A Move, an infectious party funk jam with handclaps and cosmic vibes, and Say You, McNeir’s sumptuous cover of The Monitors’ 1965 Motown single, with backing vocals by Hodges, James & Smith.