Mary Mundy
★★★★
Mother Nature
REAL GONE MUSIC. LP
1980 rare disco funk with powerhouse vocals.
From Dillon, South Carolina, Mary Mundy made one album and a few singles before turning to academia. 1980’s Mother Nature, originally on the obscure New York Image label, currently goes for ridiculous prices, so this first ever vinyl reissue is welcome. Produced by Lew Hanson, it’s full of end-of-the-night disco verging on hi-NRG anthems, peaking with exultant Love Me, Love Me, with Mundy delivering full-throated gospel diva exhortations and breathy whispers over taut funk guitar and big horns. Yet she was no one-trick wonder. Each Other is adrenalised pop, while the climactic title track proves she has enough razzmatazz to galvanise Broadway, had she so desired.