Originally released in 1973 on the small Cat’s Eye label, Emerge was the non-gospel debut from The McCrary, a group who began in Youngstown, Ohio before relocating to Los Angeles. Long coveted by collectors and modern-soul enthusiasts, the album stands as a landmark of early “progressive soul”—a precursor to what would later be called neo-soul. This first widely available reissue, produced in full cooperation with the McCrary family, finally restores the record’s rightful place in the soul canon.
Across its tracks, Emerge moves fluidly between sophisticated, jazz-inflected R&B, exemplified by Charity McCrary’s ‘Matter of Time’, and tougher, funk-driven cuts like ‘Kung Fu’. Songs such as ‘Be a Father to Your Son’ and ‘People Run on Love’ reveal a social consciousness that remains potent today. Following this album, the McCrarys achieved wider acclaim with the Stevie Wonder–featuring single ‘You’ and Chaka Khan’s later cover of their song ‘Any Old Sunday’.
Across its tracks, Emerge moves fluidly between sophisticated, jazz-inflected R&B, exemplified by Charity McCrary’s ‘Matter of Time’, and tougher, funk-driven cuts like ‘Kung Fu’. Songs such as ‘Be a Father to Your Son’ and ‘People Run on Love’ reveal a social consciousness that remains potent today. Following this album, the McCrarys achieved wider acclaim with the Stevie Wonder–featuring single ‘You’ and Chaka Khan’s later cover of their song ‘Any Old Sunday’.
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