The Most Requested Rhythm Band – Got To Give It Up (VINTAGE)

AllMusic Review byAlex Henderson[-]

“Over the years, some disco and dance-pop has been described as “producer’s music” because the producer is the star of the show — musicians and vocalists are only there to help the producer carry out his/her vision. This little known disco-funk single from 1977 is definitely an example of producer’s music. The producers areCletus Andersonand Nat Dove, and the Most Requested Rhythm Band is their baby — all of the musicians are merely carrying out their orders. This club-oriented 12″ single finds Anderson and Dove putting their spin on two of the top R&B hits of 1977:Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up” on side A andthe Commodores’ “Brickhouse” on side B. Covers are pointless if you don’t bring something new or different to a song, and thankfully, Anderson and Dove don’t provide carbon copies of the original versions. “Got to Give It Up” gets aSunshine Band-like makeover; elements of Caribbean music are incorporated, and if you didn’t know better, you would assume that KC was the producer. Meanwhile, the “Brickhouse” remake is much faster than the original; whilethe Commodores’ version was strictly funk, Anderson and Dove turn “Brickhouse” into a blend of funk, disco, and jazz. This decent, if less than earth-shattering, single received hardly any radio airplay, although it did enjoy some exposure in dance clubs on the West Coast.”