Dexter Wansel – Life On Mars
Label: | Philadelphia International Records – PZ 34079 |
|---|---|
Format: | |
Country: | US |
Released: | |
Genre: | Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: | Fusion, Funk, Disco, Jazz-Funk |
Tracklist
| A1 | A Prophet Named K.G. | 4:20 | |
| A2 | Life On Mars | 5:50 | |
| A3 | Together Once Again | 4:23 | |
| A4 | Stargazer | 3:20 | |
| B1 | One Million Miles From The Ground | 5:00 | |
| B2 | You Can Be What You Wanna Be | 5:04 | |
| B3 | Theme From The Planets | 4:53 | |
| B4 | Rings Of Saturn | 3:43 |
Companies, etc.
- Distributed By – CBS Records
- Distributed By – CBS Inc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
- Copyright © – CBS Inc.
- Published By – Mighty Three Music
- Published By – Blackwood Music Inc.
- Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
- Recorded At – Sigma Sound Studios
- Mastered At – Frankford/Wayne Recording Labs
- Lacquer Cut At – Frankford/Wayne Recording Labs
Credits
- Arranged By – Dexter Wansel (tracks: A1 to A3, B1 to B4)
- Art Direction – Ed Lee
- Backing Vocals – Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton
- Bass – Derrick Graves
- Design – Chris Peterson (6), Gerard Huerta
- Drums, Percussion – Darryl Brown
- Engineer – Jay Mark
- Engineer [Assistant] – Jeffrey Stewart (2), Mike Hutchinson*, Peter Humphreys
- Engineer [Chief] – Jim Gallagher
- Guitar – Calvin Harris (3)
- Lacquer Cut By – NS*
- Percussion – Charles Collins, Joe Johnson (2)
- Photography By – Danny Wong, Eric Meola
- Producer, Written-By, Keyboards, Synthesizer [Arp], Lead Vocals – Dexter Wansel
- Saxophone, Flute – Bobby Malach*
- Strings, Horns – MFSB
- Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Al Harrison (4)
Notes
Label and pressing variation, labels have white 'holes' in Philadelphia International Records logo. Differs from Life On Mars, which has green 'holes' in the Philadelphia International Records logo, in addition to unique runout etchings.
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA.
Mastered at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs, Philadelphia, PA.
TSOP "The Sound Of Philadelphia" T.M.
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA.
Mastered at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs, Philadelphia, PA.
TSOP "The Sound Of Philadelphia" T.M.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Rights Society: BMI
- Matrix / Runout (A-side label): AL 34079
- Matrix / Runout (B-side label): BL 34079
- Matrix / Runout (A-Side runout etching variant 1): o TI P.I.R. AL-34079-1D F/W NS. B
- Matrix / Runout (B-Side runout etching variant 1): p P.I.R. BL-34079-1B F/W NS.
- Matrix / Runout (A-Side runout etching variant 2): 1 S P.I.R. AL-34079-1H RE F/W B
- Matrix / Runout (B-Side runout etching variant 2): o T1 P.I.R. BL-34079-1D F/W NB D6
Other Versions (5 of 11)
View All| Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life On Mars (LP, Album, Promo, Stereo, Pitman pressing) | Philadelphia International Records | PZ 34079 | US | 1976 | |||
| Life On Mars (LP, Album, Santa Maria Pressing) | Philadelphia International Records | PZ 34079 | US | 1976 | |||
Recently Edited | Life On Mars (LP, Album, Stereo, Pitman Pressing) | Philadelphia International Records | PZ 34079 | US | 1976 | ||
New Submission | Life On Mars (8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo) | Philadelphia International Records | PZA 34079 | US | 1976 | ||
New Submission | Life On Mars (LP, Album, Promo, Stereo, Terre Haute Pressing) | Philadelphia International Records | PZ 34079 | US | 1976 |
Recommendations
Reviews
- An article on Discogs' homepage claims, that this is an "essential Philly-Soul" album. There's no Soul at all on "Life on Mars". Discogs' Genre/Style section describes it as "Fusion, Funk, Disco, Jazz-Funk" which is utterly correct.
Well, which version should we get? Can someone comment and recommend one?
What an unbelievable pressing. Just a great album from start to finish.- One of the most underrated Jazz Funk Records. Its neon blue-awashed cover may give off cheesy vibes but there is nothing cheesy about this record. The more you listen the more you realize how complex the arrangements, funky the grooves, and how solid this classic is. Dexter Wansel hits it out of the ball park like no other.
- One of the most underrated Jazz Funk Records. Its neon blue-awashed cover may give off cheesy vibes but there is nothing cheesy about this record. The more you listen the more you realize how complex the arrangements, funky the grooves, and how solid this classic is. Dexter Wansel hits it out of the ball park like no other.
Thundercat was definitely listening to this along with George Duke.
Keyboard wiz in action. Enjoy the spectacular layered cosmic Arp Key Synth sound with jazz funk groove .
A thematic concept album ..funky voyage to Mars !
Edited 7 years agoWhen I finally had the chance to ask Dexter Wansel about the ideas behind his magnificent album, he said joyfully: "Well Alain, very early on I was into synthesis. And I really didn't understand sinewaves, oscillators, envelope generators, etc. I also didn't understand the the Solar System, or the Universe - (and still don't), but trying to merge the two paths of thinking was very exciting to me. Like on "Rings Of Saturn". I imagined what the rings might sound like as they circled around the gaseous planet itself and came up with some sounds on the Arp 2600 V that I thought would make sense. When I first got ARP 2600, Al Pearlman basically walked me through patching the components in their proper order. He created ARP synthesizer."
After many listens this album still moves me and it is incredible how well Wansel executed the core concept of the title, from fun and funky to just plain touching and romantic, always with space travel in mind. Of course there are a few great samples and lots of funk, but just listen to the honesty of Together Once Again, about lovers divided by the distance of Earth and Mars, to get a feel for just how well the theme informed the tracks. They dont make them like this anymore.
"Theme From The Planets" is an absolute funk / disco-y masterpiece. Tip: Play it at 45 and its really good to dance to
Release
For sale on Discogs
Sell a copy30 copies from $8.81
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