Yusef Lateef's Detroit


Yusef Lateef's Detroit is an album by multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef, recorded in 1969 and released on the Atlantic label.

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek described it as "one of Lateef's most misunderstood recordings".

Recording

The album was recorded at Century Sound, a small Detroit studio typically produced commercial pop and disco records. Producer Joel Dorn sought to blend Lateef's jazz sound with Motown elements by combining two rhythm sections: Lateef's traditional jazz group and Atlantic Records' R&B musicians. Initially, tension existed between the musicians due to their different playing styles, but during the sessions the two rhythm sections merged organically. According to Dorn, it was "one of the few times where oil and water produced a whole new liquid."

Track listing

All compositions by Yusef Lateef except as indicated
  1. "Bishop School" – 3:00
  2. "Livingston Playground" – 3:37
  3. "Eastern Market" – 4:15
  4. "Belle Isle" – 3:12
  5. "Russell and Elliot" – 4:47
  6. "Raymond Winchester" – 2:35
  7. "Woodward Avenue" – 2:11
  8. "That Lucky Old Sun" – 7:25

Record Store Day re-release

The album was re-released in the UK for Record Store Day on April 22, 2023, as a limited edition of 2,000 copies. It was selected by Giles Peterson from the Warner archive for re-release on his Arc Records label, it was re-mastered in mono from the original tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl. This is the only re-issue the album has had on vinyl since its original release in 1969.

Personnel