The McCrary - Emerge (1973/2025) (Hi-Res)

Originally released in 1973 and pressed in very small quantities, Emerge is the second album by the McCrary family and their non-gospel debut. Long sought after by collectors and modern-soul and funk connoisseurs, it's an exemplar of what was considered "progressive soul" in the early 70s as well as what emerged a generation later as "neo-soul." This long-overdue reissue was produced with the full cooperation of the McCrary family and gives this remarkable record wide distribution and easy accessibility for the very first time since its initial low-key release over half a century ago. The McCrary family started out as a gospel group in their native Youngstown, Ohio but turned to secular music upon relocating to Los Angeles in 1970 and recording this album for the tiny Cat’s Eye label of Beverly Hills. The music veers between sophisticated, jazzy R&B (Charity McCrary’s beautiful “Matter Of Time”) to occasionally grittier funk (as on “Kung Fu”). “Be A Father To Your Son” and “People Run On Love” bear messages that are still relevant decades later. The McCrarys would later gain wider recognition with their hit “You” featuring Stevie on harmonica and with “Any Old Sunday” which was memorably covered by Chaka Khan.

Tracklist
1. Emerge (3:38)
2. Kung Fu (3:00)
3. If It's Difficult (3:05)
4. Matter of Time (2:26)
5. People Run On Love (2:56)
6. Be A Father To Your Son (3:41)
7. Distance, Ain't No Problem Baby (3:14)
8. To Be Understood (2:52)
9. Even If The World (2:57)
10. You've Got A Friend (3:51)