Brass Construction

One of the greatest disco bands of the 1970's - Randy Muller's clever orchestration featured fabulous basslines and streaking violins with clever syncopated rhythms. Group originally recorded as "Dynamic Soul". First album included full length versions of their charting hit "Movin'" and the incredible "Changin'", which has my vote as one of the top 10 basslines ever. "Dance" and "Talkin'" from the same album are good; and "Love" is certainly not your run-of-the-mill disco track.

Their second album included "Ha cha cha", the highly danceable "Screwed", freaky chord changes from "Get to the point" and "What's on your mind". Album III produced more fascinating basslines with "We", "Top of the world", disco classics "Celebrate" and "Get it together", and "Happy people". Their fourth album contains "Pick yourself up" - the chord changes still send shivers down my spine - along with "Get up". Their fifth album had a more electro-funk feel with "Shakit" and "Music makes you feel like dancing". By their sixth album, Randy Muller left the group and they lost their old magic... but listen for "We are Brass". Group continued into the 1980's with a more synthesizer orientated breakdance feel... and released several of their 1970's tracks as remixes.

The UK 12" of "Changin'" is one of the very first 12" on United Artists and includes a spoken intro by Randy only available in this format (there is no spoken intro on the US 12" of "Changin'"). There is no US 12" of "Movin'", although there is a UK copy pressed on United Artists in 1980.

Randy Muller also wrote for several other disco acts in the 1970's, including: B.T. Express Garnet Mimms Tamiko Jones Spider's Webb Skyy Charles Earland Morning, Noon & Night

 

  1. Changin' (United Artists 12" SP-131, 1976)
  2. Ha cha cha (funktion) (United Artists 4-track EP SP-142, 1976)
  3. Get up / Starting tomorrow (United Artists 12" SP-190, 1978)
  4. How do ya do / Do ya (Liberty 12" SP-205, 1980)

     

  5. Changin' (United Artists 12" [UK] UPS 11, 1976)
  6. Help yourself / Pick yourself up (United Artists 12" [UK] 12-UP 36474, 1978)
  7. Music makes you feel like dancing / Shakit (United Artists 12" [UK] 12-UP 615, 1979)
  8. Movin' / Changin' (United Artists 12" [UK] 12-UP 617, 1975) - pressed in 1980

     

  9. Brass Construction (United Artists LP, 1975)
  10. Brass Construction II (United Artists LP, 1976)
  11. Brass Construction III (United Artists LP, 1977)
  12. Brass Construction IV (United Artists LP, 1978)
  13. Brass Construction V (United Artists LP, 1979)
  14. Brass Construction VI (United Artists LP, 1980)

     

  15. Movin' (UA, 1975)
  16. Changin' (UA, 1975)
  17. Ha cha cha (Funktion) (UA, 1976)
  18. What's on your mind (UA, 1977)
  19. We (UA, 1977)
  20. Celebrate (UA, 1977)
  21. Help yourself (UA, 1978)
  22. Music makes you feel like dancing (UA, 1979)
  23. I'm not gonna stop (UA, 1980)                                
 

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