TWO A+++ SIDES ON QUIET VINYL, making this the best copy of Inner City Blues we’ve found! This copy trounced the other ones we played, giving us the kind of open, transparent sound that brings out the best in this music. The overall sound is very clean and clear with lots of weight down low and extension up top. I don’t think you could find a better sounding copy no matter what you did. 

The lineup here is absolutely stellar, with players including Ron Carter, Idris Muhammed, Richard Tee, Airto and Eric Gale, among many others.

Yer Average Copy

The typical sound we find on most pressings is full of compression as well as the kind of high frequency restriction that prevents the top end from extending naturally. The result: Grover’s horn takes on a slightly sour quality — not a fun way to hear this kind of music.

With Help From Rudy Van Gelder and Bob James

Some of the credit must go to Rudy Van Gelder for recording and mastering this album exceptionally well. Some of the credit also belongs to Bob James, who did the arrangements. I’m not a Bob James fan, but his arrangements on this album allow Grover to take some of this material to an entirely new level.

TRACK LISTING

Side One

Inner City Blues
Georgia on My Mind
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

Side Two

Ain’t No Sunshine / Theme From Man and Boy (“Better Days”)
Until It’s Time for You to Go
I Loves You Porgy

AMG  Review

Released in 1971, produced by Taylor, and arranged and orchestrated by Bob James, the list of players in this band is equally impressive: James played Fender Rhodes, there’s Richard Tee on organ, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Idris Muhammad, then-new guitarist Eric Gale, percussionist Airto Moreira, Thad Jones and Eugene Young on trumpets, trombonist Wayne Andre, and baritone saxophonist Don Ashworth. James also added a violin section and a small vocal chorus on certain tracks.