As DJ’s and music lovers here at Nostalgia King, we’re always on the hunt for the lesser known, undiscovered and in this case, recently discovered music that has been locked away in the vaults for over 50 years and now finally getting to see the light of day. Choice 4 “Clean Up Your Mind” is a project that was recently found in the Sigma Sound Studios which is currently stored inside of Drexel University’s Audio Archives which currently houses of 7000 audio tapes documenting Sigma Sound Studios and its pop, soul, disco, and R&B recordings that became known as “The Sound of Philadelphia.” Founded in 1968 by engineer Joe Tarsia, Sigma Sound Studios served as a hub for many of the defining recordings that emerged from Philadelphia during the 1970s and 1980s.
Talk about tough as nails heavy duty funk!! This is exactly what we would expect to be recorded during that time from a band that’s obviously deep rooted in the funk. “Clean Up Your Mind” features eight never-before-heard tracks recorded in 1972 at the iconic Sigma Sound Studios here in Philadelphia, documenting an early intersection of soul, funk, and psychedelia. The album has been released via Drexel University’s student-run record label MAD Dragon Records and will be available on streaming services and as a limited vinyl release.
Recorded in 1972, the Washington, D.C.-based ensemble included the vocal group The Choice Four and their rhythm section which featured Richard Lee on guitar, Norman Durham on bass, Gregory Tolbert on keyboards, and Woodrow “Woody” Cunningham on drums. These unreleased recordings document an early chapter in these groups’ histories and laid the groundwork for influential careers in soul, funk, and disco. In 1974, The Choice Four signed to RCA Records, while the rhythm section relocated to New York City and renamed themselves Pipeline in 1975. In 1978, Pipeline evolved once again and changed their name to Kleeer. As Kleeer, they signed to Atlantic Records and achieved commercial success, including several charting hits between 1979 and 1985.
The songs on the album were produced by Billy Jackson, a Philadelphia native and foundational yet often under-recognized in our opinion, architect of the Philadelphia Sound. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he wrote and produced for a wide range of artists including Aretha Franklin, The Tymes, Frank Beverly, and many more. His early friendship with engineer Joe Tarsia placed him at the heart of Sigma Sound Studios during its rise as the epicenter of the Philadelphia Sound. These recordings stand as part of that legacy and establish his place within a generation of producers whose work helped define the sound of Philadelphia.
For all inquiries, contact MAD Dragon Records maddragonrecords@drexel.edu
To purchase Clean Up Your Mind https://mainfactormerch.com/collections/choice-4-home