Phyrework - Listen To The Sound
Year Released: 2025 (Compiled from recordings circa 1977–1982)
Genre: Funk, Soul, Jazz, Rare Groove
Description:
Listen To The Sound is a retrospective LP released by Phyrework in 2025 on Izipho Soul Records. It compiles both previously unreleased material and a few selections from their original 1978 self-titled LP, offering a deeper look into the soulful, jazz-tinged funk of this lesser-known Texas band.
Phyrework — a group that featured members like vocalist Clarence Pitts, guitarist Willie Smith, bassist Gerald Calhoun, keyboardist Frank Hames, trumpeter Jim Foster, saxophonist Bill Eden, and drummer John Bryant — operated in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Though they only officially released one album during their active years, they recorded much more music that remained in the vaults — until now.
The album is an 11-track collection, featuring nine previously unreleased tracks and two tracks from their original LP (“Fly Away” and “Make It Last”). The sound throughout is a rich blend of brassy funk, smoky soul, and jazz-inflected grooves, drawing comparisons to contemporaries like Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, and Sly & The Family Stone.
Track Highlights:
The title track, “Listen To The Sound”, serves as the album’s closing moment — a soulful and expansive tune that captures the spirit of Phyrework’s smooth yet powerful delivery.
“Make It Last” and “Fly Away”, revisited here from their original release, show off the band’s classic romantic soul side.
“Never Felt Like This” introduces an Afro-funk groove not previously heard from the band, bringing a percussive intensity to the mix.
“You & Me” leans into more intimate, mellow territory, showcasing the versatility of the group’s songwriting.
What makes this release especially compelling is its emotional and sonic continuity — even though the tracks span several years, the album feels cohesive. The instrumentation is lush but never overdone; arrangements spotlight strong horn sections, melodic basslines, and Clarence Pitts’ expressive, heartfelt vocals.
Listen To The Sound isn't just a collection of deep cuts — it's a reintroduction and recontextualization of a band that, despite their low profile, had a clear and sophisticated musical identity. For crate diggers, funk heads, and lovers of rare groove, this album serves as both a historical document and a fresh musical discovery.
Limited vinyl editions — including black and colored pressings — have added to the release’s buzz among collectors, while its analog warmth and unreleased gems have earned praise from DJs and soul archivists alike.