Kleeer - Get Tough The Kleeer Anthology 1978-1985 (2016)

• After a brief stint as The Universal Robot Band, KLEEER enhanced their funk/disco leanings further to notable success on the Billboard Hot 100 charts from their late 70s work through to the eventual shift to electronic R&B in the 80s.

• 1979 saw the release of I LOVE TO DANCE (R&B #53) on Atlantic Records, which featured disco anthems ‘Tonight’s the Night (Good Time)’ (R&B #33) and ‘Keeep Your Body Workin’’ (R&B #60). WINNERS (POP #140/R&B #24) boasted a more Funk oriented sound. The title track (R&B #23/DANCE #37) is a fine example of this whilst second single ‘Open Your Mind’ (R&B #86) is a subtler jazz inflected groove.

• Kleeer entered their peak in commercial success with 1981’s LICENSE TO DREAM (POP #82/R&B #15). GET TOUGH (R&B #15/DISCO #5) is a rollicking fusion of funk and dance 1982’s GET READY and TASTE THE MUSIC (POP #139/R&B #31) continued the band’s progressive approach to keeping the funk uptown but they were about to undergo a change in direction that would win them a whole new audience.

• Kleeer would close their remarkable run with two albums produced by the legendary Eumir Deodato, fresh from his hit run as Kool & The Gang’s producer. 1984’s INTIMATE CONNECTION (R&B #49) and 1985’s SEEEKRET (UK #96) displayed a laid-back almost entirely electronic sound that found that band in step with the mid-eighties soul sound. ‘Next Time It’s For Real’ (R&B #79) is possibly their most understated release and continues the mid-tempo groove they continued to explore throughout their run whilst final hit ‘Take Your Heart Away’ (R&B #62/UK #86) boasts a wondrous quiet storm prelude before segueing into a breathless soulful groove.

• BBR is very proud indeed to present this newly remastered 2CD anthology of Kleeer’s catalogue with brand new interviews with Paul Crutchfield and Richard Lee housed in a super jewel case.