It may have taken over 40 years, but in 2006, history finally caught up to soul singer/songwriter extraordinaire Clarence Reid. This past August and September found two albums on top of the Billboard Pop chart fueled by singles that openly sample Reid’s signature grooves. Rapper DMX’s anthem “We In Here†swings to Reid’s top ten 1969 R&B hit “Nobody But You Babe†– not even bothering to put another note in the song besides the opening horn break. R&B diva Beyonce’s smash “Upgrade U†similarly rides the hook of the Reid-penned Betty Wright hit “Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do.â€
And it’s not just Pop stars who have embraced Reid’s work in the past year. Two much heralded soul compilations featured Reid’s funk: What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (Rhino) and Soul Sides Vo1. 1 (Zealous). A third compilation released in 2006, Eccentric Soul - The Deep City Label (Numero Group), contains 11 Reid compositions.
All this belated respect and attention has spawned the unthinkable – a new Clarence Reid 45! “Prime Timeâ€B/W “Gas Guzzler†will be released in June 2007 on the Chicago soul label Rabbit Factory. Don’t call it a comeback – consider it an awakening. The great Clarence Reid, the inventor of the Miami Soul sound, has removed his mask and has restarted the Funky Party.
