Jay Dee - Come On In Love [Expanded Edition] (1974/2015)

With production by Barry White, and seven of its nine songs written or co-written by the Walrus of Love, you d think that this one-off release from Jay Dee was in reality all but a solo album from White. And you know what? You d be right...almost. For while Come On In Love sports the trademark lush orchestration (with arrangements by Gene Page) and funky rhythms that made Barry White a superstar during the 70s, the artist Jay Dee was, if not an equal partner, a worthy front man. Born Earl Nelson, he first surfaced in 1963 as half of Bob & Earl on the hit Harlem Shuffle (which was arranged by you guessed it a young Barry White)! Then, as Jackie Lee he scored a huge novelty hit two years later with The Duck, which again had Barry in the background (the two co-composed the single s flip, Ooh Honey Baby ). So, this 1977 album was actually a collaboration between two seasoned pros, and it showed it with a number of slow-burning jams spearheaded by excellent soulful vocals from Jay/Earl/Jackie. Our Expanded Edition includes two bonus tracks, both sides of the Strange Funky Games and Things single featuring the single edit and a long instrumental version under the name Games and Funky Things, with liner notes by Gene Sculatti that explore the background behind this lost classic of 70s soul. If you missed this one the first time around, don t miss it again!