Magnum - 1974 - Fully Loaded

Magnum

1974

Fully Loaded

01. Evolution 5:39
02. Your Mind 3:48
03. Natural Juices 6:36
04. It's The Music That Makes Us Do It 3:49
05. Witch Doctor's Brew 7:25
06. Funky Junky 5:02
07. Composition Seven 9:32

Bass, Backing Vocals – Harold Greene
Congas, Bongos, Backing Vocals – George 'The Chain' Chainey
Drums, Backing Vocals – David "Bra Ping" Sutton
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Arranged By – Kevin 'Cornbread' Thornton
Piano, Organ, Percussion, Vocals – Michael Greene
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Thurron 'Thorn' Mallory
Trombone, Organ, Piano, Percussion, Vocals – Vince "Worm" Wormley
Trumpet, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Lamont Payne

Latin-tinged Southern California funk band Magnum has seen its reputation blossom since the original 1974 release of their LP, “Fully Loaded.” An exuberant band of individually talented musicians working in an expansive and comfortable environment, they give a loose funky overlay to a grounded R&B and Jazz sound that included a variety of instruments, including whistles, that lift the music to an exciting, hypnotic groove.

Based in San Pedro Bay, California, Magnum originally consisted of brothers Michael Greene (muilti-instrumentalist and youngest in the group) playing piano, organ, percussion and vocals and Harold Greene on bass; with Kevin “Cornbread” Thornton on lead and rhythm guitars and doing the arrangements, Vance Wormley on trombone, organ, piano and percussion and with George Chaney on congas and bongos; Thurron Mallory, playing tenor, alto sax and electrified percussion, joined six months later and brought with him the rest of the Magnum Horn ensemble with Lamont Payne on trumpet as well as percussion.

As the house band for radio station KGFJ-AM’s Soul Search competition as well as the Soul Caravan, a series of weekly performances on a flatbed truck playing in and around urban Southern California. They also drew large crowds practicing in the Greene’s garage. Once they practiced at Thurron's childhood home in Compton, LA that drew such big crowds that the police had to shut the block down to disperse the crowd. The band stuck together performing in Southern California for a couple years after the release of “Fully Loaded,” once the opportunity came to perform with other artists, Magnum disbanded and the members moved on to other projects.

For fans of groups like Rasputin Stash, Funk. Inc., Black Heat, Mandrill and whatnot, this album is right up your alley. A sampling DJ's best wet dream, the album features horn driven '70s black rock, wet bottom heavy basslines and a tight rhythm section. - - a popular music review web site that I respect very highly (since they gave my own CD four stars) remarked that they were a very good group but not quite up to par with other funk ventures of the time (like Earth Wind and Fire and Sly Stone.) - - I disagree... In all fairness, I think when you listen to many of those legendary bands, you have to realize that as great as they are, your ears have been biased by years and years of hearing the music over and over again and the memories that comes with it (plus once a group has one mega hit... trust me, they get to record in better studies and get much better pre and post production.) - - In all honesty, a few weeks ago I heard Magnum for the first time and I have to say while their music didn't have the advantage of "bringing back warm memories", I liked the music enough to have been listening to it over and over again... so I'm sure in time this album will fall into that category... this album offers variety of a Jazzed out Frank Zappa meets Miles Davis soul Jam, to the sheer rockin' funkiness of It's The Music That Makes You Do It and fingerpopping blaxploitation groove of Funky Junky.. there are also plenty of production surprizes and kicks thrown in to make this album a rare treat and great listen straight through. - - Yes, maybe I wouldn't trade all the Tower of Power albums in my collection to get my hands on this if I had to, but trust me... this is must have for any serious '70s "free soul" fanatic !