Creative Source - Creative Source (1973)

Staying on the West Coast, this next album comes from a super-group of West Coast studio veterans. Managed by former Fifth Dimension member, Ron Townson, Creative Source blends all the smoothness of the West Coast with a drive more common to Motown. Not surprisingly, the album was recorded in Detroit and mastered in LA.

The Creative Source's technical competence allowed them to dabble in various genres. The band even takes a funky stab at Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride". If you're an Earth Wind and Fire fan, this is the album to check out. Especially for the classic, "You Can't Hide Love" - later covered by D'Angelo.

The album contains their even funkier rendition of the Bill Whithers "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)" - which gained the group the most commercial success peaking at #69 on the US Hot 100 charts in 1974. Following this album, Creative Source managed to put out another three albums before loosing their record contract due to lack of sales. Sales aside, the self-titled debut of the Creative Source is a fantastic album and is a nice snapshot of the offshoots of the 5th Dimension.

Can't hide love...