Crystal Winds - First Flight '1982/2020

Tracks list

This legendary sophisticated soul LP first released on the privately pressed
Cash Ear label in 1982. It was picked up at the time by some on the UK’s
jazz-funk scene and became a prized collector’s item from day one, always
hard to get to hold of and never failing to satisfy those that were lucky enough
to get hold of it as one of those rare start-to-finish albums.

The key figures behind Crystal Winds were Paul Coleman and M.C. (Morris) Brown,
both alumni of the band Rasputin’s Stash which had had two albums out in
the mid-‘70s which had done reasonably well for Atlantic subsidiary
Cotillion and Chicago indie Gemigo, respectively.

Between them, keyboardist Coleman and saxophonist Brown wrote the vast bulk of
the album (guitarist Martin Dumas co-wrote Lover’s Holiday with Brown,
and one J.Lagrone is added to the credits of So Sad and Signs of Winter’s
Time) and handled the male lead vocals, with the distaff element provided by
Theresa Davis. Brown wrote the horn arrangements, the pair did the string
arrangements, and legendary concertmaster Rich Tufo (associated with Curtis
Mayfield and other Curtom acts including Linda Clifford) was also on hand for
the album (credited with conducting and orchestrating both strings and horns).
Guitarist Dumas had also been a member of Rasputin’s Stash, as had
drummer E.Frank Donaldson (who plays on two tracks).

A solid LP of Sophisticated soul for heads, mid-tempo dancefloors and a solid
home listen, you know what to do. 
credits


Tracklist:
 01. Crystal Winds - So Sad (06:55)
 02. Crystal Winds - Love Aint Easy, Pt. 1 (04:00)
 03. Crystal Winds - Love Aint Easy, Pt. 2 (02:30)
 04. Crystal Winds - Signs of Winters Time (04:50)
 05. Crystal Winds - Its a Wondrous Thing (04:08)
 06. Crystal Winds - Maybe What You Do Comes Back on You (03:49)
 07. Crystal Winds - Lovers Holiday (04:31)
 08. Crystal Winds - Signs of Winters Time (Instrumental) (04:38)
 09. Crystal Winds - Funk Aint Easy (01:06)

Related artists