Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly Live in Los Angeles

At a time when disco reigned supreme Maze and Frankie Beverly took the RampB charts by storm with a smooth yet gritty soulfunk approach that rejected the disco beat entirely Growing up in the soul hotbed of Philadelphia had a definite impact on Mazes distinctive sound which owed as much to Marvin Gaye as it did to Philly soul Classics like While Im Alone Lady of Magic You and the hit Happy Feelins earned Maze an intensely devoted bunch of followers who will tell you in a minute that the charismatic Beverly is the very essence of a soul singer Though it wasnt a single one of the best offerings on the album is Colorblind a jewel expressing Beverlys frustration over the racial polarization that plagued the US in 1977 and remained alive and well years later This outstanding debut album didnt do much in the pop market but thanks to enthusiastic support from the RampB market it went gold