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Description
**Laugh To Keep From Crying** arrives in this vinyl collection as a fascinating resurrection of Philadelphia funk-soul from the early 1970s, originally recorded between 1969 and 1972 on Philly Groove Records. The album's official debut in 2019-curated from Drexel University's Sigma Sound Studios archives-revealed a lost sonic treasure from a band that briefly existed but never received commercial release during their brief existence. Musically, the band occupied an interesting space: music critic Ken Tucker described them as "a cross between Sly Stone and Blood, Sweat & Tears," though Jefferson insisted they aspired to the sonic soul of Sly and the Family Stone.
Led by the late Joseph Jefferson-formerly of Cissy Houston's Sweet Inspirations-the quartet blended Temptations-style soul vocals with Rolling Stones-inspired rock instrumentation across a seven-piece horned ensemble. Their sound achieved something rare for the era: militant Black Power politics fueling an infectious funk groove, complete with seven-piece horn arrangements and vocal harmonies that suggest ambition beyond their limited catalog. The album's compilation from four singles plus previously unreleased tracks suggests Jefferson's frustration at being underappreciated by the label system.
Tragically, the band fractured in 1972 over financial disputes that allegedly involved Spratley brandishing a gun at Jefferson, ending their brief run before major labels could take notice. The rediscovery of these tracks at Drexel University and their 2019 release by MAD Dragon Records represents both a correction to music history and a vindication for Jefferson, who passed in 2020. This collection captures a moment when Philadelphia funk was still finding its identity, bridging the gap between Sly's psychedelic funk and the soulful rock that would dominate the late 70s.
<small><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Turner_Rebellion_(band)" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> · <a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/18749362-Nat-Turner-Rebellion-Laugh-To-Keep-From-Crying" target="_blank">Discogs</a> · <a href="https://louderthanwar.com/nat-turner-rebellion-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-album-review/" target="_blank">Louder Than War</a></small>
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