Logg

Logg was an American soul-funk band that released a 1981 self-titled album on Salsoul Records.

Members: Leroy Burgess (lead vocals, keyboards, producer, arranger), Fred McFarlane (synthesizer), James Calloway (bass, percussion, backing vocals), Russell Patterson, Sonny T. Davenport (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Stan Lucas (guitar)


Background

Logg formed in New York in 1981 when singer-keyboardist Leroy Burgess, bassist James Calloway, drummer Sonny T. Davenport, and percussionist Willis Long continued the Convertion studio project with producer Greg Carmichael under a new name.

Burgess joined the Mellow Souls as lead singer in Harlem in 1968, then recruited Stuart Bascombe and Russell Patterson for a revised trio. Producer Patrick Adams took the group into the Today Records organization and renamed them Black Ivory.

Calloway joined Black Ivory after the second year as bassist, then left with Burgess in 1977 to develop new material. Davenport, a cousin of Burgess, came from gospel drumming and later joined Burgess and Calloway on sessions for Phreek and Dazzle. Carmichael had already partnered with Adams on releases by Universal Robot Band and Bumble Bee Unlimited through the New York disco network.

Carmichael brought Burgess, Calloway, and Davenport into a studio session to cut rhythm tracks for another production. The musicians completed the assignment in about an hour and used the remaining overnight booking to create “Let’s Do It,” with Renée J.J. Burgess and Dorothy Terrell on backing vocals. SAM Records issued the track under the Convertion name early in the year, and Frankie Crocker placed the single into rotation on WBLS. Larry Levan subsequently played the record at Paradise Garage.

SAM owner Sam Weiss controlled the Convertion name, and negotiations for additional releases ended without an album agreement. Carmichael approached Salsoul president Ken Cayre with the project and renamed the unit Logg. Burgess, Calloway, Davenport, and Long then cut “I Know You Will” at Soundworks Studios in a nine-hour midnight session. Salsoul prepared the track as the first Logg single, with Larry Levan mixing the release ahead of the self-titled album.


Discography:

  • Logg (1981)

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