Master Force, Hey Girl  
Master Force
Hey Girl
GBR 7inch 
Label: Backatcha
Release Year: 2019
Style: Disco
 
  Tracks  
  Hey Girl  
  Don't Fight The Feeling  
  A standout choice on any playlist, Master Force’s 1979 release ‘Hey Girl’ c/w ‘Don’t Fight The Feeling’ has become a staple classic across generations tuned into the soul-funk-disco sounds of late-70’s New York and all its makings.

Originally released on both 12” and 7”, both singles had different mixes and are equally sought-after. Whilst Greg’s work has been heavily bootlegged over the years, the Master Force 45 mixes favoured by many have remained both untouchable and unavailable to most.

For the first time, Backatcha reissue the original 45 versions on a remastered official 7” licensed direct from Greg Henderson.

Excerpt from an ‘Annual Dance’ flyer of 1979:

“Masterforce creates its own unique sound and has a groove all on it’s own. The group is guided by the dedication, love and faith in themselves and the sound of the soul filled feeling of MASTERFORCE”

Led by composer and trumpet player Greg Henderson, Master Force were a 10-piece band based in Brooklyn, performing in the late-1970s onwards throughout the city. They adhered to a strict rehearsal regime and headlined the club circuit including an evening at Carnegie Hall. “I’d played trumpet for so many bands and I loved writing music. I was use to leading bands and organising musicians to get results. I always had a lot of original material I wanted to play so the concept for Master Force came naturally” says Greg.

Residing in Bedford-Stuyvesant, lead singer Bernie Felton had already been cutting 45’s with his vocals on Doo Wop singles since the late-50s and had a few generations worth of craftsmanship to share with his band-mates. “His vocals were so smooth and silky, he was an incredible singer” says fellow Tenor-Saxophone player and music teacher Don Echoles. “Sid Bratton our keyboard player had the keys to the mail room at his job and we had an arrangement to rehearse their after hours. Everyone really put a lot into it.”

Female lead was Angela Blake who’s formative years in the church navigated her professional career as a seasoned vocalist. After Master Force, fellow singer and friend Yvonne Lewis (Rainbow Brown) recommended her to audition for Roberta Flack and the rest is history. She started touring with Flack in the early part of 1982 and has since recorded and sang backup behind many; Ronnie Dyson, Tito Puente, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Kills, Bette Midler, Roxanne Shante, Jessica Simpson, and Amy Winehouse to name a few.

Their was a lot of experienced players and talent in the band and Greg knew the club-scene and how to get the shows. Their music was sophisticated and the dress-code reflected that. “Greg had us dressing real smart, he knew how to get gigs and really present a strong image. He always dressed sharp” says Doc.

“You gotta believe in what your doing” says Greg.

“He’d write all the music and bring it for us to work on. A lot of bands just did covers but Greg was about original material ... we’d go through the parts and maybe add something that worked with the flavour. We was all about the rhythm section. Like ‘Hey Girl’, you hear that baseline? That’s me man doing that ‘Lovely Day’ baseline over” explains Doc about his Bill Wither’s inspired groove.

Produced by Greg Henderson and self-released on his own Rain Forest Records imprint, the record was to be Master Force’s first and only release for the label before the group disbanded going their separate ways in the early-80’s.
 
      Wish List  
  Price: CHF 17.00   Currently not on stock!
Please check back later or call us for more information:
+41 (0)43 322 02 04
 
  Releases of the same artist  
  No items found ..  
  Releases of the same label  
  Aka Shaic, Ain't No Big Thang Do  
Aka Shaic
Ain't No Big Thang Do
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 7inch  Wish List
CHF 17.00 Add To Cart
 
  Betty Lou, Betty Lou Landreth  
Betty Lou
Betty Lou Landreth
[Backatcha]
GBR 2xLP  Wish List
CHF 38.00 Add To Cart
 
  Dolette McDonald, xtra Special  
Dolette McDonald
xtra Special
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 7inch  Wish List
CHF 18.00 Restocking!
 
  Dr. Mary Sullivan Bain, Do You Know Black History  
Dr. Mary Sullivan Bain
Do You Know Black History
[Backatcha]
TIP  
USA 12inch  Wish List
CHF 20.00 Add To Cart
 
  Fungai Malianga, Finsbury Park Party  
Fungai Malianga
Finsbury Park Party
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 7inch  Wish List
CHF 17.00 Add To Cart
 
  Garden Of Eden, Everybody's On A Trip  
Garden Of Eden
Everybody's On A Trip
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 7inch  Wish List
CHF 18.00 Restocking!
 
  Jady Kurrent / Ja'Net Dubois, Queen Of The Highway  
Jady Kurrent / Ja'Net Dubois
Queen Of The Highway
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 7inch  Wish List
CHF 17.00 Restocking!
 
  Mystic Harmony, Night Over Egypt  
Mystic Harmony
Night Over Egypt
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 12inch  Wish List
CHF 20.00 Restocking!
 
  The Bees, I Love You  
The Bees
I Love You
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 7inch  Wish List
CHF 25.00 Restocking!
 
  True Feelings, Love Me, Love Me  
True Feelings
Love Me, Love Me
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 12inch  Wish List
CHF 20.00 Restocking!
 
  V/A, Swave Villi Us - Independent Soul 1971-84  
V/A
Swave Villi Us - Independent Soul 1971-84
[Backatcha]
TIP  
GBR 2xLP  Wish List
CHF 39.00 Add To Cart
 
21 Savage
American Dream
[Slaughter Gang]
Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru
Souvenirs
[Mississippi Records]
James Alexander Bright
Fall For You
[Athens Of The North]
Major Arcana
Major Arcana
[Out-Sider]
Manillio
Deheim
[Bakara Music]
Men From S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Magnetic Sunshine
[Library Of The Occult]
Papa Bear & His Cubs
You're So Fine
[Athens Of The North]
Samizdat / Michael J.Blood
Disenfranchised Refuseniks
[Blood]
Tara Clerkin Trio
On the Turning Ground
[World Of Echo]
  1. Earl Sweatshirt & Alchemist
Voir Dire
 
  2. Mogwaa
Translucent
 
  3. CCO
Sonic Atmospheres
 
  4. TamTam
Ramble In The Rainbow
 
  5. Benedek
Southland Mystic EP
 
  6. Dimitri Grimm
For Beauty's Source
 
  7. Fugees
The Score
 
  8. VA
Instrumental Dubs 2
 
  9. Arctic Monkeys
AM
 
  10. Che
The Incident