::ALBUM REVIEW::

With the powerhouse of the Stax music label behind them, the Rance Allen Group released a number of stylistic contemporary gospel music that fit the flavor of the day. Explosive rhythms powered by Rev. Rance Allen’s swooping versatile vocals helped launch a promising career for the group on the Truth imprint of legendary soul empire Stax Records - literally becoming the biggest drawing card in inspirational soul after the Staple Singers. During this time, the label began to show signs of financial strain and reports of bankruptcy leaked into the press - creating such a stigma that Stax’s inevitable demise was near. But they continued to release a number of well-received, engaging albums and singles, which included Johnnie Taylor’s “Cheaper To Keep Her” and Shirley Brown’s “Woman To Woman”. One of the last set of records to ease out of the Stax vault before the company closed was the Rance Allen Group’s “A Soulful Experience”, their fourth collection on Stax. The album contains a nice assortment of spiritual funk and dazzling R&B with extra help from Stax personnel including Al Jackson (drums) and Donald “Duck” Dunn (bass) providing the musical backdrop. Brothers Tom Allen (drums) and Steve Allen (bass) also join in on the soulful experience.

Album producer David Porter, known for co-writing “Hold On, I’m Comin”, “Soul Man” and “B-A-B-Y” with Isaac Hayes, got some extra assistance from Ronnie Williams on five of the nine tracks and lays down an impressive plate of charming music set to passionate, contemporary-styled lyrics. The album’s biggest attention-getter, Porter’s “Ain’t No Need Of Crying” became one of the group’s signature classics due to its relaxed rhythm, brilliant non-preachy lyrics and Allen’s signature riffs. It even made an appearance on Billboard’s R&B charts - reaching number 61. But there’s much more to marvel at on A Soulful Experience including the funky “Talk That Talk” and the Isaac Hayes-influenced “Ring My Bell” - which stretched out like a Barkays epic for nine full minutes. “The Painter”, set to a cool R&B melody, uses standout parable-like lyrics and imagery to tell a story of possibilities and aspiration for a better world. “What A Day”, penned by Allen, is a marriage of traditional jazz and gospel and finds a confident Allen singing of Heaven’s rewards.

Even though Stax has long forgotten to praise the Rance Allen Group’s contributions to their label’s success, the group is still a survivor in the gospel music industry and have released albums on Al Bell’s Bellmark label in the ‘90s and, most recently, Tyscot Records. You can see them in the Wattstax motion picture and. It is albums like A Soulful Experience that gives you a wider scope of the Rance Allen Group’s profound versatility and legend. Comparisons to Sly & the Family Stone, Isaac Hayes, the Isley Brothers and almost anything funky at Motown was extremely apparent here, but let it be said that the Rance Allen Group were more than just another group that followed the popular tides. They became influential artists; helping to bring crossover appeal to contemporary gospel music and the growing infant Contemporary Christian (CCM) genre.

A Soulful Experience, a sure firecracker for Stax, peaked at number 35 R&B.