The sublime Time Capsule remains Weldon Irvine's most fully realized and influential recording. Assembled as a kind of musical scrapbook documenting the thought patterns and belief systems of the early '70s, it nevertheless boasts a surprising vitality and timelessness thanks to luminous funk grooves that anticipate the latter-day emergence of acid jazz. Irvine also rhymes over several tracks, further cementing his influence on successive generations of hip-hop. A profoundly righteous spirituality winds through all eight of Time Capsule's performances, assaying both the affection ("Soul Sisters") and anger ("Watergate") vying for control of post-Woodstock America. Irvine's searing keyboard and piano playing further capture the moment in question, deftly balancing between beatitude and bitterness. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG.
Nodlew Music, NM-1002, 1973
Hubbub Records, HUBCD13, 1996
Recorded and Re-Mixed 17th
May, 1973 At Sound Ideas Studio, New York
Musicians:
Weldon Irvine - Hammond B-3
(#3), Fender Rhodes (#1,2,4,7) Melodica (#5,6),
Piano [Solo] (#6), Narrator (#1), Vocals (#3,4)
Jimmy Owens - Trumpet (#2,3),
Flugelhorn (#4)
Preston Williams - Flugelhorn
(#2-4)
George Cables - Fender Rhodes
(#3,5,6)
John King - Guitar, Vocals
(#2)
Alex Blake - Electric Bass
[Fender] (#2,4)
Clint Houston - Bass (#3,5,6)
Anthony Wiles - Congas
(#2,4,5,6) Percussion (#3)
Lenny White - Drums (#2-6)
Napoleon Revels - Percussion
(#3-6)
Charlette Cook - Voice
[Recitation] (#1,4,7)
Emerson Cain Vocals (#2,4)
Willa Vaughn - Vocals (#2)
Tracks:
1. Time Capsule {Weldon
Irvine} (2:24)
2. Feelin' Mellow {Weldon
Irvine, John King} (3:44)
3. Soul Sisters {Weldon Irvine}
(7:36)
4. Deja Vu {Weldon Irvine}
(9:26)
5. Watergate---Don't Bug Me!
{Weldon Irvine} (7:10)
6. Spontaneous Interaction
{Weldon Irvine} (6:02)
7. I Am {Weldon Irvine}
(1:27)
8. Bananas {Weldon Irvine}
(2:18)
Total Time: 40:07
Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes,
Arranger - Weldon Irvine
Engineer - George Klabin
Photography, Design,
Layout - Collis H. Davis, Jr.
