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Turn This Mutha Out is a 1977 album by Idris Muhammad.

The Bay State Banner wrote that “Muhammad is another jazz artist who has succumbed to the lure of money via the disco sound.”

Accompanied by Hiram Bullock (guitar), Cliff Carter (keyboards), Wilber Bascomb (bass), Jeremy Steig (flute), and others, Idris Muhammad ventures into the world of pop and R&B, annoying die-hard jazz fans. Limp and uninspired vocals hurt “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This,” but the track is good and could have stood alone with instrument(s) replacing the vocal parts. If you like African rhythms underneath a haunting flute, then you’ll love “Camby Bolongo” — Sue Evans supplies percussions and Randy Brecker provides a searing trumpet solo.

“Turn this Mutha Out” offers some dynamic interplay between Bascomb’s funky bass vamp and Bullock’s compelling guitar work. The tune landed on the R&B chart in the States and got considerable airplay in Britain. “Tasty Cakes” uses the same lineup including complementary musicians as “Mutha.” “Crab Apple,” aided by Michael Brecker’s tenor sax, jams; the midtempo strut is nasty, particularly when Carter works his synthesizer. “Moon Hymn” is a duo tempo head tune that nods at War’s “Slipping Into Darkness.” Eric Gale is the guitarist on “Say What,” a fusion of jazz and funk. Muhammad never solos, he didn’t write any of the songs, he didn’t arrange any, and he didn’t produce, but that eternally funky, break-heavy drumming makes this an album only he could have recorded (Andrew Hamilton/AllMusic).

Track listing:
“Could Heaven Ever Be Like This” (David Matthews, Tony Sarafino) – 8:37
“Camby Bolongo” (Matthews) – 3:50
“Turn This Mutha Out” (Matthews, Sarafino) – 6:50
“Tasty Cakes” (Matthews, Sarafino) – 4:23
“Crab Apple” (Matthews) – 5:07
“Moon Hymn” (Matthews) – 4:22
“Say What” (Matthews) – 4:05

Personnel:
1. Could Heaven Ever Be Like This

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb — bass
Hiram Bullock — guitar solo
Charlie Brown — guitar
Rubens Bassini — percussion
Sue Evans — percussion
Michael Brecker — tenor saxophone solo
Ronnie Cuber — baritone saxophone
David Tofani — soprano saxophone
Clifford Carter — synthesizer solo
Randy Brecker — trumpet
Jon Faddis — trumpet
Margaret Ross — harp
Frank Floyd — vocal solo
Bill Eaton — background vocals
Zachary Sanders — background vocals
Ray Simpson — background vocals

2. Camby Bolongo

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb — bass
Charlie Brown — guitar
Hugh McCracken — guitar
Sue Evans — percussion
Randy Brecker — trumpet solo
Jeremy Steig — flute solo

3. Turn This Mutha Out

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb — bass
Clifford Carter — keyboards
Hiram Bullock — guitar solo
Sue Evans — percussion
Bill Eaton — background vocals
Zachary Sanders — background vocals
Ray Simpson — background vocals

4. Tasty Cakes

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb — bass
Clifford Carter — keyboards
Hiram Bullock — guitar solo
Sue Evans — percussion
Bill Eaton — background vocals
Zachary Sanders — background vocals
Ray Simpson — background vocals

5. Crab Apple

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb — bass
Charlie Brown — guitar
Hiram Bullock — guitar solo
Sue Evans — percussion
Ronnie Cuber — baritone saxophone
David Tofani — soprano saxophone
Clifford Carter — synthesizer solo
Michael Brecker — tenor saxophone solo

6. Moon Hymn

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb —bass
Charlie Brown —guitar
Sue Evans —percussion
Ronnie Cuber —baritone saxophone
David Tofani —soprano saxophone
Clifford Carter — synthesizer

7. Say What

Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
Wilbur Bascomb — bass
Charlie Brown — guitar
Hugh McCracken — guitar
Eric Gale — guitar solo
Jeremy Steig — flute solo

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Released: 1977
Recorded: December 1976-February 1977
Length: 37:14
Label: Kudu
Producer: David Matthews