Creative Source was a short lived band out of Los Angeles, California. Comprised mostly of mostly unknown musicians, the band put out four Lps, 2 on the mighty Sussex label, and 2 on the equally big Polydor Records. Here’s their biggest hit, a cover of Bill Withers’ “Who Is He And What Is He To You” on Sussex Records from 1974.

Bill Withers, when he wasn’t assisting the whole of the country procreate with his music, was writing solid, Soul music. There is no way you can deny “Use Me” or “Just The Two Of Us” (among others). However, Creative Source took his song “Who Is He And What Is He To You” and elevated it to something else. Members Barbara Berryman, Barbara Lewis, Don Wyatt, Steve Ranagan, and Celeste Rose went the funky Disco route and hyped up this side. Although they would make the move from Sussex to Polydor after Migration, clearly a bigger record label, they didn’t find the success they wanted. In fact, after just two more records with not much promotion, Creative Source would be put back onto a dusty shelf. Even though they would reach the top fifth of the US R & B charts with several of the records, it seems like it’s the same old song and dance with the old record industry. No money, no promotion, and in a world where there was no social media let alone computers or Twitter, you actually had to rely on radio stations, A & R, and a record company to push a certain record or band. While they had a good run, Creative Source faded back into normal life as quickly as they came in.

Creative Source’s version of “Who Is He And What Is He To You” is something special. What I’m bringing to you today is the instrumental, which I think is the best version. The Lp version is well over 10 minutes long (imagine that playing on FM on a Saturday night), but the single version packs a punch too. A wah wah guitar, some fuzzed out guitars, plus some fantastic horn stabs will keep your head nodding (and the dance floor movin’) until the end of the night. They may have been a flash in the pan, but if Creative Source kept putting out belters like this, they might have had a little longer shelf life. In fact, this has Blaxploitation car chase written all over it. Black Dynamite, get on it will you? FYI, this band also did a great version of “Magic Carpet Ride” from the S/T first LP which I have included on a past FMF mix. Here’s to a funky MLK Day. Keep Diggin’!

Download or Listen to Creative Source – Who Is He And What Is He To You from the Sussex 45