If this 1972 record for the Paula label was the sum total of Dallas, Texas soul man Bobby Patterson's career output, then he'd still be reckoned a cult figure among R&B fans. In fact, it's so good that the fact that he went on to cut five other albums and produce artists ranging from Fontella Bass to Chuck Jackson to Little Johnny Taylor almost seems besides the point.

This is a stone soul masterpiece, full of grit and groove, with a breathtaking stylistic breadth stretching from funky soul ("If You Took a Survey"; "How Do You Spell Love") to romantic soul balladery ("I Get My Groove from You") to James Brown-style workouts ("Make Sure You Can Handle It") to socially-conscious, wah wah-drenched commentary ("The Whole Funky World Is a Ghetto") and all points in between.

But what really makes this record mind-blowing is that Patterson wrote all but one song (the one he didn't write, "Right On Jody," is an answer song to Johnnie Taylor's big hit "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone"). For its first-ever LP reissue, Real Gone Music has pressed up 700 copies in transparent purple vinyl and re-created the original album art complete with lyric sheet. Every soul searcher needs this one!

SIDE ONE

1. IF YOU TOOK A SURVEY

2. I GET MY GROOVE FROM YOU

3. MAKE SURE YOU CAN HANDLE IT

4. EVERYTHING GOOD TO YOU

5. HOW DO YOU SPELL LOVE

6. RECIPE FOR PEACE

7. TAKE TIME TO KNOW THE TRUTH
SIDE TWO

1. IT TAKES TWO TO DO WRONG

2. SHE DON’T HAVE TO SEE YOU

3. RIGHT ON JODY

4. I JUST LOVED YOU BECAUSE I WANTED TO

5. ONE OUNCE OF PREVENTION

6. THIS WHOLE FUNKY WORLD IS A GHETTO