Soulfunkjazz’s Blog

Moving On 1980.
In the late ’70s, many American rock journalists hated disco as much as they loved punk and reggae. The critics who applauded punk and reggae for addressing social and political concerns were quick to attack disco for having escapist, innocuous lyrics; as they saw it, disco lacked the substance that punk and reggae had. But contrary to what its detractors claimed, disco was every bit as exciting and innovative as punk, new wave, or reggae. The lyrics were often frivolous, but musically and rhythmically, disco was most definitely rock’s equal. One band that challenged the idea that disco couldn’t be sociopolitical was Machine, whose 1979 single “There but for the Grace of God Go I” was exalted as a rare example of “disco with a brain” or “disco with substance.” But Machine wasn’t strictly a disco band, and the truth is that their second and last album, Moving On, has as much to do with soul, funk, and rock as it does with disco. Machine’s goal was to combine an infectious beat with thought-provoking lyrics, which is exactly what it does on intelligent gems like “You Learned Your Lesson,” “Power and Reason” (an attack on oil companies), and “Number Player.” Combining funk and hard rock, “Number Player” isn’t unlike something Mother’s Finest would have done and underscores Machine’s desire to avoid being labeled a full-time disco band. Unfortunately, this excellent 1980 release lacked a hit single and didn’t sell. In an ideal world, Machine would have stayed together a long time and become as famous as Earth, Wind & Fire or Parliament/Funkadelic; instead, the band called it quits in 1981.
Tracks:
1. Machine Introduction
2. Power & Reason (Mr. Exx-On 52nd Street)
3. I Finally Found
4. Number Player
5. You Learned Your Lesson
6. Is It Love
7. You Really Didn’t Love Me
8. Thunder, Lightning And Rain
9. (In A World Of) Broken Dreams
**Listen**

Machine.
Best known for its 1979 cult classic “There But for the Grace of God Go I,” Machine was a soul/disco/funk band that tackled social and political issues at a time when many of its colleagues were afraid to. Machine was formed in New York in 1977, when the disco-era was in full swing and most R&B, disco, and funk lyrics were escapist in nature. The members of Machine – who included lead singer Clare Bathé, lead singer/guitarist Jay Stovall, bassist Melvin Lee, keyboardist Kevin Nance, and drummer Lonnie Ferguson – were big fans of the R&B message songs of the early ’70s, and they regretted the fact that after 1975, many R&B artists had gotten away from social and political commentary. Machine set out to change that when, in 1978, it signed with RCA and recorded the single “There but for the Grace of God Go I” – a brilliant piece of social commentary about Latino immigrants who move to the U.S. in search of a better life but quickly realize how dangerous the mean streets of the Bronx can be. Released in early 1979, the disco/soul masterpiece became a club hit and is considered a cult classic. Machine’s self-titled debut album also came out in 1979, and in 1980, RCA released its sophomore effort, Moving On. Regrettably, Machine’s second album was also its last. Moving On wasn’t a big seller, and in 1981, Machine broke up.
Tracks:
01. There But For The Grace Of God Go I
02. You’ve Come A Long Way
03. Marisa
04. Get Your Body Ready
05. Machine Introduction
06. Power & Reason (Mr. Exx-On 52nd Street)
07. I Finally Found
08. Number Player
09. You Learned Your Lesson
10. Is It Love
11. You Really Didn’t Love Me
12. Thunder, Lightning And Rain
13. (In A World Of) Broken Dreams
**Listen**