MATERIAL — One Down (1982) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

One Down marked a distinct shift in sound for Material, the avant-garde downtown pickup group organized around bassist Bill Laswell and keyboardist Michael Beinhorn. The edgy experimentalism that characterized earlier efforts like Temporary Music and Memory Serves is downplayed here in favor of funk and disco tunes delivered with a minimum of weirdness. Sure, it sounds dated but that doesn't make it less attractive. Laswell is a master of funk bass, and with guests like drummer Yogi Horton, guitarist Nile Rodgers and singers Nona Hendryx and Whitney Houston (just before she became a superstar on her own), he didn't really have much chance to go wrong. Highlights include"Take a Chance" and the strutting "I'm the One"; if you want something a little more challenging, check out Archie Shepp's squalling sax solo on the Houston vehicle "Memories." This is straight-ahead turn-of-the-80s funk at its old-fashioned best from the folks you'd have least suspected of harboring such sympathies. Rick Anderson
Tracklist
 1    Take A Chance 4:33
Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – B.J. Nelson
Backing Vocals [Chœurs], Vocals [Chants] – Nona Hendryx
Drums [Batterie] – J.T. Lewis
Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis
Percussion – Nicky Marrero
Written-By – B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
2    I'm The One 5:27
Backing Vocals [Chœurs], Vocals [Chants] – R. Bernard Fowler
Bongos – Daniel Ponce
Drums [Batterie] – Tony Thompson
Electric Piano [Yamaha CP-70 B Electronic Grand Piano] – Raymond Jones
Guitar – Nile Rodgers
Written-By – R.B. Fowler, B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
3    Time Out 4:58
Drums [Batterie] – J.T. Lewis
Guitar – Fred Frith
Snare [Caisse Claire] – Nicky Marrero
Written-By – B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn, T.L. Le
4    Let Me Have It All 5:27
Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – B.J. Nelson, Nona Hendryx
Drums [Batterie] – Yogi Horton
Guitar – Ronnie Drayton
Vocals [Chants] – Noris Night
Written-By – S. Stewart
5    Come Down 4:45
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Olivier Lake
Drums [Batterie] – Tony Thompson
Guitar – Nile Rodgers
Vocals [Chants], Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – R. Bernard Fowler
Written-By – R.B. Fowler, B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
6    Holding On 4:46
Drums [Batterie] – J.T. Lewis
Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis, Ronnie Drayton
Percussion – Nicky Marrero
Vocals [Chants], Backing Vocals [Chœurs] – B.J. Nelson
Written-By – B. Laswell, B. Eno, M. Beinhorn
7    Memories 4:03
Drums [Batterie] – Yogi Horton
Electric Piano [Yamaha CP-70 B Electronic Grand Piano] – Raymond Jones
Engineer – Robert Musso
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Vocals [Vocaux] – Whitney Houston
Written-By – H. Hopper
8    Don't Lose Control 4:21
Bongos – Daniel Ponce
Drums [Batterie] – Tony Thompson
Guitar – Nicky Skopelitis
Voice – Jean Karakos, Nicky Skopelitis, Thi-Linh Le
Written-By – B. Laswell, M. Beinhorn
9    Busting Out 8:04
Bass – Bill Laswell
Drums [Batterie] – Fred Maher
Guitar – Ronnie Drayton
Synthesizer – Michael Beinhorn
Vocals [Chant] – Nona Hendryx
Written-By – B. Laswell, F. Maher, M. Beinhorn