I absolutely love when listening to ‘70s funk albums feels like a personal discovery. And 24-Carat Black is one of the most compelling rediscoveries in funk history. 🎆

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The group 24-Carat Black release only one album in 1973: Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth—a rich fusion of soul and funk, widely regarded as one of the earliest concept records in the genre. Sadly, by the mid-70s, they vanish from the music scene, but that one album endures as evidence of their creative ambition.

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Dale Warren: The Creator of a Soul-Funk Synthesis

Dale Warren is the one who assembles 24-Carat Black together. A conservatory-trained violinist and cellist, he works for Stax Records at the time, doing arrangements and orchestrations for many, including Isaac Hayes and The Staple Singers. And all the while, he dreams of creating a classical, funk, and soul synthesis. In 1969, he attends a performance of a band then called The Ditalians. He retrains the band, reshaping their repertoire, and gives them their new name: 24-Carat Black. 😎

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Recording the Reality of the Ghetto

In 1973, the group records Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth under Dale Warren’s close direction. Every note is written and produced by him, with the goal of creating something considerably more ambitious than prevailing funk singles of the day. Unlike the lively, danceable funk that dominates the charts, this conceptual album is something outside the typical funk format, talking directly about poverty and struggle. With her strong, soulful voice, Princess Hearn is the focal point of their sound, bringing the suffering, resiliency, and hopelessness of Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth to life.

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The 57-Minute Descent; Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth

The album spans 57 minutes over eight tracks, each one contributing to a dark, cinematic narrative about urban poverty. 'Synopsis One: In the Ghetto', the first song, sets the mood with its moody orchestrations and a funk groove that’s dense with an oppressive intensity. The title track, 'Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth,' pulls the listener deeper into this concept with rhythmic loops, mournful lyrics, and a steady groove. 'Mother's Day', on the other hand, carries a heavier emotional burden as it tells the struggles from a family's perspectives. 'Poverty's Paradise' is the song where the band truly ventures into experimental area, combining orchestral elements with funk and soul to create an experimental composition. Dale Warren uses complex arrangements that are influenced by his classical training throughout the record, yet he maintains the funk style with raw vocals and rhythmic bass lines.

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The songs are far from the radio-friendly funk hits of the day, both in message and also in length—Dale Warren declines to shorten tracks to fit commercial formats, believing the integrity of the message will be lost. This stubborn refusal to compromise means the album struggles to reach a mainstream audience. His refusal to conform to mainstream expectations, combined with Stax Records’ financial difficulties at the time, dooms the album’s promotional efforts. The album is simply too progressive for its time, both in its experimental composition and its strong message. That being said, Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth is a fascinating musical creation that blends soul, funk, pop, and rap. ​​​

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My particular favorites are the jazzy groover '24 Carat Black Theme,' the funky concluding track that is such a soulful fusion, and the spacey 12.40-minute groove 'Poverty's Paradise,' where Princess Hearn and Ernest Lattimore sing together in a beautiful requiem. 💎​​

Gülben - 09/2024

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📖 Corbin Reiff talks to Author Zach Schonfel about 24-Carat Black for SonicBreadcrumbs

📗  Zach Schonfel’s Book: 24-Carat Black's Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth (33 1/3) 

📖  Album Review @ qobuz

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