Brick -

Brick was an American soul-funk band from Atlanta that released six albums on Bang Records between 1976 and 1982.

Members: Jimmy Brown (vocals, saxophone, flute, horns), Ray Ransom (vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion), Donald Nevins (keyboards, vocals), Regi Hargis (vocals, guitar, bass), Eddie Irons (vocals, drums, keyboards), Ambric Bridgeforth Jr. (electric piano, synthesizer), Victor Alexander (drums)

Brick formed in 1975 through the merger of two Atlanta-area bands, one soul-funk and one jazz-funk. Their original lineup was reedist Jimmy Brown, bassist Ray Ransom, keyboardist Donald Nevins, guitarist Regi Hargis, and drummer Eddie Irons.

That year, they issued their debut single, “Music Matic” (b/w “Good High”), on one-press Mainstreet Records. It was recorded at The Sound Pit (The Counts, Loleatta Holloway, Ripple, The Spirit of Atlanta) under the auspices of Brickhouse Prod. Hargis also played on the 1975 ABC Records release Loneliness & Temptation by soul singer Clarence Carter.

In 1976, Brick signed to the locally based, nationally distributed Bang Records (Street Corner Symphony, Muscle Shoals Horns). Their first single on the label was “Dazz,” a portmanteau of “disco” and “jazz,” coined to represent their musical synthesis. With its stomp/clap rhythm, percolating bass, watery organ riff, and soaring sax break, the song hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was backed with the earlier a-side. (Coincidentally, a then-forming Cleveland band named itself Kinsman Dazz — later Dazz Band — in reference to their combination of “dance music” and “jazz”.)

Discography: