HARLEM RIVER DRIVE — Harlem River Drive (review)

HARLEM RIVER DRIVE — Harlem River Drive album cover Album · 1971 · Latin Rock/Soul Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Rokukai
A minor classic that successfully merges afro-cuban and latin music with soul, rock, jazz, salsa, and funk. Over the years, this style has been filtered millions of times; this is the original. Tune in to see where War got it's inspiration (and a few licks).

This album was real difficult for me to find. I rememeber learning of it 15 or so years ago, and I finally tracked it down in digital download form 5 years ago or so (on walmart music if you can believe that). Honestly, after digging heavily into each Palmieri brother's catalogue (Eddie is the leader here, but Charlie lends terrific support throughout), and being an avid War fan, I was fastidiously anticipating the first listen.

I was mildly disappointed. I thought it would knock my socks off--instead that took about 25 listens. "Idle Hands" is my favorite song off this record, but the soulful leadoff title track and the second "If(We Had Peace Today)" stick with me, I find myself whistling them in the shower or out in the yard from time to time. "Broken Home" is a musically subtle, lyrically aggressive giant about urban family plight. This song takes a few listens to really digest the nuanced groove shared by 15(!) first-rate musicians, each provided ample space to explore their sound. The closer "Seeds of Life" was a regional NYC hit and appears on a few lost groove comps. I like it.

I love the album, the components make an impressively coherent whole. This will be in my rotation forever.
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