MTUME
KISS THIS WORLD GOODBYE / IN SEARCH OF THE RAINBOW SEEKERS

A 2-CD set by the pioneering funk/R&B group of the late ‘70s and ‘80s, MTUME – the group’s debut 1978 album for Epic Records, ‘Kiss This World Goodbye’ and the 1980 follow-up, ‘In Search Of The Rainbow Seekers.’ Both critically-acclaimed albums have long-been sought after by funk lovers and reflect the often-humourous slant that writers Mtume and Lucas brought to their music The group MTUME was formed in 1977 by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, former members of Miles Davis’ band and later touring musicians with Roberta Flack; the original line-up included vocalist Tawatha Agee. As producers, Mtume & Lucas were also responsible for ‘80s hits for Stephanie Mills and Phyllis Hyman among others; Lucas went on to produce early recordings with Madonna. Other original members of the group MTUME included keyboardist Hubert Eaves III, drummer Howard King and bassist Basil Fearington “Kiss This World Goodbye” contains the original version of ‘The Closer I Get To You,’ a 1978 U.S. hit for Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway as well as the popular UK soul groove, ‘Love Lock’ and the deep slow jam, ‘Closer To The End’ “In Search Of The Rainbow Seekers” (which reached No. 30 on the US R&B Album Charts) reflected the group’s quirky lyricism and lively onstage performances with such tracks as ‘Dance Around My Navel (Doesn’t Have To Make Sense, Just Cents),’ ‘So You Wanna Be A Star,’ ‘Anticipatin’’ and the lyrically-pointed ‘Mrs. Sippi.’ The album contained the group’s first U.S. charted single, ‘Give It On Up (If You Want To),’ a Top 30 R&B hit in 1980