Suzie Super Groupie

While the out of print The Westbound Years collection is the best way to hear Junie's mid-'70s work for the Detroit label, this 1976 album offers something of a viable alternative (alas, it has long been deleted, too). Manning most of the instruments himself (beyond solo work, he also worked with the Ohio Players and P-Funk), Junie concocts an enjoyable mix informed by Sly Stone, the Philadelphia International label, and Parliament. He finds his own ground here, though, somewhere between the harder funk of the day and the soul-symphonic work of Gamble & Huff. The only problem is that Junie's not quite up to the task in the vocal department; had the mike work been doled out to others, this might qualify as one of the unsung gems of '70s soul. ~ Stephen Cook