MR BONGO
Carey Harris & Michael Orr - Spread Love (2026 Reissue) Carey Harris & Michael Orr
As the saying goes, 'There's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come'
50 years since Michael Orr and Carey Harris self- released Spread Love, this iconic underground cult masterpiece is finally getting the attention it deserved all along. A timeless release, with a sound, production and level of songwriting that could go toe-to-toe with the best, it was passed over by a number of labels back in '75, leading to Michael and Carey putting it out themselves. Spread Love radiates with a message that is as pertinent as ever - heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum of genres including modern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz-funk. Raised in Detroit before moving to rural West Virginia, Michael learned to play piano at a young age. Those early influences of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and many more, led him to form a band who played local 'sock hops' as well as getting paid $5 a week at aged 14 to play piano for the church choir. Fast forward 10 years, and whilst working for the local county, Michael would travel back home every lunch to write songs on his baby grand in his basement. His dream was to be a songwriter, and his intention was never the limelight. He penned 'Feelings' with Gladys Knight in mind and sent it to his childhood friend Carey Harris, who was the bassist in her band. Gladys liked it but didn't think it fit with where she was going at the time. That initial rejection sparked the idea of Carey and Michael recording it themselves. With the help of Michael's wife who sold some of her possessions to fund the studio time, they recorded the album at Agency Recording Studio in Cleveland alongside one of the O'Jays drummers Ricardo "Ricky Speed" Nixon, Adolph Burton and Bernardine Mitchell.
That DIY drive paved the way for the now- iconic cover, with Michael's sister- in- law painting the genie and rainbow and his brother drawing the sun / star logo for what became their record label. Spread Love's time though hadn't come. No matter how many Michael could sell to shops out of the boot of his car, the message couldn't reach far enough to break it out to the wider world - ultimately putting him in a 50-year hiatus.
Spread Love is most known for its sublime anthemic title track. A celestial, soul-rousing cut with a message which feels more apt than ever. The album though is stacked start to finish with gems. There's a balance between beauty and sadness in the modern- soul dancer 'Here I Go (Through These Changes Again)', a song that Johnnie Taylor would later cover. It features a superb vocal performance by Michael reminiscent of Gil Scott- Heron. Elsewhere, Bernardine Mitchell takes the place of Gladys Knight for 'Feelings' with her vocals resonating deep down inside.
Other highlights include the opening song, 'Ecstasy, Fantasy & Dreamland' - it is sheer brilliance with an awesome flute solo by Michael Neal. Then there's 'A Piece Of Mine' an early disco/jazz-funk instrumental with vibraphone by Bernard James, whilst 'You Opened My Eyes To The World' has a Strata East jazz meets soul quality that is spacey, uplifting, and spiritual. It's been a joy working with Michael and his son Jamal, who restored and remastered the original tapes, to reissue this forgotten gem and spread that love all over the world
50th year anniversary of an iconic underground cult masterpiece, with a sound, production and level of songwriting that could go toe-to-toe with the best.
Heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum of genres including modern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz- funk. Includes the anthemic title track 'Spread Love'.
Vinyl LP in tip sleeve available black or gold with obi strip
Track List
1. Ecstasy, Fantasy & Dreamland
2. Let Me Be With You Awhile
3. Here I Go (Through These Changes Again)
4. Feelings
5. A Piece Of Mine
6. Spread Love
7. Keep My Fire Burning
8. You Opened My Eyes To The World
9. Afterwhile
Pickup available at Cambridge
Usually ready in 24 hours. Unless it's a Pre-Order
){kind=link}
Product information
Shipping
We aim to keep postage costs as low as possible while making sure your records arrive safely. All orders are packed securely using Defenda MusicMax stiff cardboard mailers, with plenty of “FRAGILE” tape, to provide the best protection in transit.
Shipping costs are calculated automatically at checkout based on the weight and destination of your order, along with packaging materials.
We send most orders via Royal Mail tracked services. For larger or heavier orders, we may use a courier service or split your order into multiple parcels to ensure it arrives safely and efficiently.
Pre-orders
Any items ordered alongside a pre-order item will be held back and posted alongside your pre-order. If you’d like them sent individually, please make separate orders.
On the subject of pre-orders, please note than release dates can change (sometimes not until the scheduled release date). Please keep an eye on our website
Returns
Returns Procedure
If you wish to cancel or return an order, you need to notify us by email (quoting your order number), and wait for us to get back to you before returning goods.
We will email you with instructions and a returns reference number. When returning items to us, you will need to take reasonable care to ensure they are not damaged in transit and that they are labelled clearly with the correct address & reference number (as provided by us) :
Relevant Record Café,
260 Mill Road
Cambridge,
CB1 3NF.
We reserve the right to not process returns sent to us without prior permission.
It’s your responsibility to retain possession and to take reasonable care of the goods in the period prior to return and until you send them back to us.
Your Right To Cancel An Order
Your right to cancel your order starts from the moment you place the order, and ends 14 days from the time you receive your order.
Non-Faulty Products
If you wish to return a product because it’s unwanted or it was ordered in error, please follow the returns procedure (see above).
We’ll happily accept a return as long as the product is still in its original shrink-wrapped packaging and is completely undamaged. You have 14 days from when you receive your order to notify us that you wish to return your order.
By opening a sealed product in any way (or using any digital download code accompanying your order), you waive your right to cancel or return your order.
Obviously we’d rather offer you store credit (in the form of a gift card), but if you’d prefer a refund, we promise to get this sorted within 14 days of receiving your return.
Please take care when ordering!
Faulty Products
If you believe you have purchased a faulty or damaged record, please follow the returns procedure (see above).
Once we receive your record, it will be tested by a member of staff in store.
If your record is deemed as faulty, you will be entitled to a refund, swap or store credit (to the same value as your initial purchase).
If this record is not deemed as faulty, we will not cover any additional postage and packaging costs incurred by either you or us, and we will not be able to offer you a refund, store credit or swap.
Basically, please be absolutely certain the record you have purchased is faulty before following the returns procedure. If possible, we suggest testing the record on different turntables and weighting the tone arm differently.
Steepletone and Crosley Record Players
After having several “faulty” records returned to us (that in actuality had nothing wrong with them), we cannot guarantee that any records we sell will play correctly Crosley or Steepletone branded record players.