Music Inc 45 on O'be Records

[JSngry]

Anybody hear this? Is it an edit of a Strata-East cut, or is it a unique take?

https://www.discogs.com/release/2362995-Babs-Gonzales-CBA-Ensemble-Music-Inc-And-The-CBA-Ensemble-Ali-Is-The-Champ-For-Me-Abscretions

[mikeweil]

Never heard of this. The trumpet soloist sure sounds like Charles Tolliver.

[Kevin Ashley]

I have it. It’s a very special funky take on Stanley Cowell’s Abscretions. Definitely is the core Music Inc. band joined by the Collective Black Artists Collective Ensemble. This recording was done by the legendary Black recording engineer Orville O’Brien and released on his very shortlived O’Be Records (the only other release was the incredible Kawaida record that had Jimmy and Albert Heath, Mtume (Jimmy Heath’s son), Don Cherry, Herbie Hancock and Ed Blackwell. It is likely that Strata-East was launched soon after these recordings…which included Orville O’Brien recording on Music Inc (Live at Slugs), The Heath Brothers (Marchin’ On), the legendary Al-kebulam by Mtume, and Billy Harper’s Capra Black….

[JSngry]

14 hours ago, Kevin Ashley said:

I have it. It’s a very special funky take on Stanley Cowell’s Abscretions. Definitely is the core Music Inc. band joined by the Collective Black Artists Collective Ensemble. This recording was done by the legendary Black recording engineer Orville O’Brien and released on his very shortlived O’Be Records (the only other release was the incredible Kawaida record that had Jimmy and Albert Heath, Mtume (Jimmy Heath’s son), Don Cherry, Herbie Hancock and Ed Blackwell. It is likely that Strata-East was launched soon after these recordings…which included Orville O’Brien recording on Music Inc (Live at Slugs), The Heath Brothers (Marchin’ On), the legendary Al-kebulam by Mtume, and Billy Harper’s Capra Black….

So this is a unique take, and not an edited Strata-East cut?

If so we have a Musc Inc item that has escaped reissue. 

How/Will that be remedied,?

[T.D.]

Intriguing. But all the usual issues: Do tapes still exist? Who owns the rights? Etcetera.

Better get "The Jazz Detective" on the case. 🤣

[felser]

Listening to the two back to back, this is so similar it could almost be an edit of the take from the MI&BB album.  Historically quite intriguing, but musically doesn't seem to really be anything particularly new.  BTW, I really enjoy that Kawaida album put out on the same label.  I first heard it on a Trip reissue in the mid-70's.  It's rough but bracing.  Available on CD via recent budget label reissues.

https://www.discogs.com/master/163798-Kuumba-Toudie-Heath-Kawaida

[Rooster_Ties]

50 minutes ago, felser said:

Available on CD via recent budget label reissues.

https://www.discogs.com/master/163798-Kuumba-Toudie-Heath-Kawaida

I’ve got it on CD via this budget release under Herbie’s name.

https://www.discogs.com/release/9128473-Herbie-Hancock-Baraka

Not sure if this has ever gotten any decent — or recommendable — release on CD.

[JSngry]

I think the 45 is an edit from the LP.

Such things sometimes get included as bonus cuts.

[Dub Modal]

16 hours ago, Kevin Ashley said:

I have it. It’s a very special funky take on Stanley Cowell’s Abscretions. Definitely is the core Music Inc. band joined by the Collective Black Artists Collective Ensemble. This recording was done by the legendary Black recording engineer Orville O’Brien and released on his very shortlived O’Be Records (the only other release was the incredible Kawaida record that had Jimmy and Albert Heath, Mtume (Jimmy Heath’s son), Don Cherry, Herbie Hancock and Ed Blackwell. It is likely that Strata-East was launched soon after these recordings…which included Orville O’Brien recording on Music Inc (Live at Slugs), The Heath Brothers (Marchin’ On), the legendary Al-kebulam by Mtume, and Billy Harper’s Capra Black….

Awesome info. Thanks for shining a light on that. I didn't know about O'Brien or this label at all.

Great find @JSngry

[Late]

2 hours ago, felser said:

BTW, I really enjoy that Kawaida album put out on the same label.  I first heard it on a Trip reissue in the mid-70's. 

I've always been intrigued by the cover image:

My mind first thinks "small wooden instrument" and then "pipe?" But it's probably neither.

[Pim]

19 hours ago, Late said:

I've always been intrigued by the cover image:

My mind first thinks "small wooden instrument" and then "pipe?" But it's probably neither.

Good question I wouldnt know. What I do know is that I like that record a lot

 

[T.D.]

Looking at the album art on discogs, it seems to be a pendant on a necklace.

[Dub Modal]

Discogs pics have a description of what this references: 

[mikeweil]

Kawaida may be among the most often bootlegged LPs.

[clifford_thornton]

yep.

I have a Japanese pressing on Mercury, which seems to have been licensed from Trip, who in turn had gotten the tapes from Orville O'Brien (O'Be). I don't know what the story is there, but a number of his tapes ended up as Trip releases later in the 70s (Art Blakey; Randy Weston). 

[felser]

On 1/5/2026 at 1:31 PM, clifford_thornton said:

 I don't know what the story is there, but a number of his tapes ended up as Trip releases later in the 70s (Art Blakey; Randy Weston). 

And those are really good albums!

[mikeweil]

2 hours ago, felser said:

And those are really good albums!

Yes! The Randy Eston really has good sound. I wonder if there was more recorded.