Law Of The Land
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Album Summary
Law Of The Land arrived in 1973 on Motown's Gordy imprint, catching the Undisputed Truth at a fascinating crossroads in their evolution as a group. Under the creative umbrella of Motown's production machinery, the ensemble — featuring the voices and energy of Yvonne Stevens, Joe Harris, Lloyd Williams, Melvin Stewart, Billie Calvin, Marcy Thomas, Brenda Evans, Tyrone Barkley, Doc, and Virginia McDonald — brought a rich, layered vocal attack to a record that leaned into the deep soul and funk currents running through Black American music in the early seventies. The album drew heavily on the songbook swirling around Motown and beyond, threading beloved compositions into the group's own soulful aesthetic and presenting them to listeners hungry for something that felt both familiar and alive with fresh feeling.
Reception
- Law Of The Land did not generate the kind of mainstream crossover attention that some of Motown's marquee acts commanded at the time, reflecting the broader challenge the label faced in a rapidly shifting musical landscape.
- The album was received warmly within soul and funk circles who appreciated the group's rich ensemble vocal approach and their willingness to reinterpret well-known material with genuine emotional depth.
Significance
- Law Of The Land stands as a testament to the deep-roster ambition of Gordy Records, showcasing how Motown nurtured large, vocally complex group acts at a time when the industry was moving toward leaner, star-driven formats.
- The album's expansive lineup — stretching to nine or more credited members — represented a communal, choir-inflected approach to funk and soul that felt rooted in both gospel tradition and the psychedelic soul wave washing over Black music in the early seventies.
- By weaving together compositions that had already become touchstones — from the Temptations' catalog to singer-songwriter fare crossing over from white pop radio — the Undisputed Truth made a quiet argument that soul music's power lay in its ability to absorb and transform everything it touched.
Samples
- "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" — the Undisputed Truth's version of this Motown classic has been drawn upon by hip-hop producers attracted to its brooding, heavy groove, following in the wake of the track's enormous sampling legacy across the genre.
- "Law Of The Land" — the title track has been sampled by hip-hop artists, with its deep Gordy funk pocket making it a sought-after source for producers mining the Motown catalog.
- "Feelin' Alright" — this cut's soulful intensity has attracted samplers looking for raw, emotive vocal and instrumental textures rooted in the classic Gordy sound.
Tracklist
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A1 Law Of The Land 122
4:24
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A2 Papa Was A Rollin' Stone 117
3:25
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A3 Girl You're Alright 144
2:54
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A4 Killing Me Softly With His Song —
4:49
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A5 Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) 98
3:40
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A6 This Child Needs Its Father 170
3:24
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B1 Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No) 98
3:37
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B2 Feelin' Alright 137
4:51
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B3 Love And Happiness 96
3:13
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B4 With A Little Help From My Friends 140
4:23
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B5 If I Die 91
3:16
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B6 Walk On By 81
3:46
Artist Details
The Undisputed Truth was a Detroit-based soul and funk collective that recorded for the legendary Gordy imprint, bringing a rich ensemble sound rooted in the fertile Motown tradition. The group cycled through a fluid lineup of vocalists and performers — including Joe Harris, Yvonne Stevens, Billie Calvin, Brenda Evans, Marcy Thomas, and others — giving their music a layered, communal energy that set them apart from the tighter vocal trio formats of the era. With their feet planted firmly in the grooves of funk and soul, The Undisputed Truth represented the deeper, more adventurous side of what the Detroit sound could offer when given room to stretch out and get down.
