Ultrafunk Meat Heat

Anonymous British funk band Ultrafunk was spearheaded by Blues & Soul magazine proprietor John Abbey, who ran a record shop and label called Contempo during the 1970s; he conceived of the group as the UK counterpart to US studio bands like Mfsb. Arranger Gerry Shury, who had worked with Barry White and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees, drafted guitarist Chris Rae and bassist Frank McDonald (who often composed library music together) and future Rubettes drummer John Richardson. A lack of band photos, suggestive song titles and a predilection for American over tunes led many to believe the band was US-based. Second LP Meat Heat shows the group at the peak of their powers, with five choice hard funk instrumentals, including a tasteful synth-led adaptation of Stevie Wonders’ “I Wish” (beautifully arranged by session guitarist Gordon Hunte, who had worked with Osibisa and Rebob Kwaku Baa), while their take on Norman Whitefield’s “Sunrise,” from the Carwash soundtrack, is exceptionally rendered. Sadly, Shury’s death in a car crash would soon squash the group, leaving Meat Heat the best reminder of their musical talents.