On the rare groove tip, The Pharaohs Awakening (Luv n Haight LHCD 025, 42:40) is a must-have. Originally released in 1970, it is the only studio release from the Chicago band, whose horns and percussion-laden, Afrocentric-soul sound set the stage for later groups like Earth, Wind and Fire (whose first disc included several Pharaohs members). Even without knowledge of that fact, the introduction to “Black Enuff” (which recalls EW&F’s “Gateway”) confirms the influence of this short-lived but potent outfit.
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