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Album Summary
By 1979, Stuff had already carved out a warm and well-loved space in the New York session world — these were the cats who played on everybody's records, the invisible heartbeat behind some of the decade's finest grooves. 'Stuff It!' came out on Warner Bros. Records as the band leaned further into the disco and funk currents flowing through the culture, bringing together the guitar wizardry of Eric Gale and Cornell Dupree, the keyboard soul of Richard Tee, the thunderous yet tasteful rhythm section of Steve Gadd and Gordon Edwards, and the collective firepower of Chris Parker, Mike Clark, James Alan Smith, Mick Gaffney, and saxophonist Alex Foster. The album captured a band at the crossroads of jazz fusion, funk, and the irresistible pull of the dancefloor, delivering a set that was as much at home in the club as it was on the late-night airwaves.
Reception
- As a late-period entry in Stuff's catalog, 'Stuff It!' was received warmly by fans of the band's slick, groove-forward sound, though it did not generate widespread mainstream chart attention.
- Critics of the era recognized the album as a polished showcase for some of New York's most in-demand studio musicians, appreciating the seamless blend of fusion chops and danceable funk.
- The album's disco-inflected approach reflected the commercial realities of 1979, and while purist jazz listeners were sometimes divided, the record found a devoted audience among fans of sophisticated, rhythm-driven music.
Significance
- Stuff It!' stands as a document of the late-70s moment when jazz fusion, funk, and disco were deeply intertwined, with Stuff serving as a living bridge between the session world and the emerging dance culture.
- The ensemble — featuring some of the most recorded sidemen in history — helped demonstrate that jazz musicianship and groove-oriented pop sensibility were not mutually exclusive, influencing how producers and bandleaders thought about jazz in a commercial context.
- Gordon Edwards' presence as a foundational bassist and the track 'Gordon's Theme' named in his honor speaks to the deep camaraderie and individual identity within the band, a rarity in the often anonymous world of studio supergroups.
Samples
- "Mighty Love" — the track's deep funk groove has attracted the attention of hip-hop and R&B producers looking for soulful, rhythm-forward source material from the late-70s Warner Bros. catalog.
Tracklist
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A1 Mighty Love 115
4:46
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A2 Dance With Me 123
4:18
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A3 Since You've Been Gone (Baby, Baby, Sweet Baby) 129
4:53
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A4 Always 123
5:46
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A5 Stuff It 110
0:46
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B1 Love Having You Around 132
3:54
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B2 Rainbows 105
3:56
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B3 Gordon's Theme 103
6:49
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B4 Talkin' About My Love For You 119
4:56
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B5 Do It Again 117
2:20
Artist Details
Stuff was a New York-based jazz-funk and fusion collective that brought together some of the most in-demand session musicians of the 1970s, including guitarist Eric Gale, keyboardist Richard Tee, and drummer Steve Gadd, whose combined studio pedigree ran deeper than the Hudson River. Recording for Warner Bros. Records, the group channeled the laid-back groove sensibility they had each honed behind countless other artists into a sound that was simultaneously tight and effortlessly soulful. With a rotating cast of heavy hitters like Cornell Dupree, Gordon Edwards, and Chris Parker rounding out their ranks, Stuff represented the cream of New York's session world finally stepping into the spotlight on their own terms.
