Mandré -

Mandré — aka Michael Andre Lewis (Dec. 7, 1948 — Jan. 31, 2012) — was an American electro-funk musician who initially emerged as the organist of High Voltage and the bassist/keyboardist of Maxayn during the early 1970s. As a robot-masked solo artist, he released three albums on Motown between 1977 and 1979, followed by a fourth and final longplayer on self-press FutureGroove in 1980.

Background

Andre Lewis adopted the Mandré alter ego after the breakup of Maxayn, which made three albums (1972–74) on Capricorn. He conceived Mandré a space-age robot persona to complement his newfound interest in futurist electro-funk.

Mandré

Mandré released his self-titled debut album on April 15, 1977, on Motown.

The album presents a keyboard-led vocal and instrumental program by Andre Lewis under the Mandré name, with covers of songs by Barrett Strong (“Money (That’s What I Want)”) and Frank Zappa (“Dirty Love”).

“Keep Tryin’” glides through brash brass weight, backing-woman shine, and Mandré’s plainspoken lead. “Solar Flight (Opus I)” rushes into a fast, polished club run with glossy electronic sweep and long-form momentum. “Third World Calling (Opus II)” turns darker, with squealing synth, flanged wah-wah, clavinet bite, and softened lead lines.

“Masked Music Man” slows into a snaky crawl around Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s line. “Money (That’s What I Want)” stretches Berry Gordy’s song into an elastic group workout. “Wonder What I’d Do” drifts into a languid ballad setting. “Dirty Love” leans into lewd phrasing and harder rhythmic bite. “Masked Marauder” closes with broad, winking funk motion.

A1. “Keep Tryin’” (3:29) – Lewis and Maxayn
A2. “Solar Flight (Opus I)” (7:57) – Lewis
A3. “Interlude” (2:45) – Lewis
A4. “Third World Calling (Opus II)” (6:42) – Lewis

B1. “Masked Music Man” (3:03) – Lewis, Johnny Watson, Maxayn
B2. “Money (That’s What I Want)” (4:15) – Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford
B3. “Wonder What I’d Do” (4:35) – Lewis
B4. “Dirty Love” (4:00) – Zappa
B5. “Masked Marauder” (3:28) – Lewis, Watson

Andre Lewis produced and arranged the album, with Iris Gordy and Winston Monseque as executive producers.

Mandré appeared in a Carl Overr-designed sleeve with cover-and-liner illustration by Bob Hickson, whose adjacent sleeve credits include Syreeta’s One to One and Platinum Hook’s self-titled Motown album.

Motown lifted “Solar Flight (Opus I)” as a September 1977 single (b/w “Money (That’s What I Want)”). “Keep Tryin’” became the second single in December 1977 (b/w “Third World Calling (Opus II)”).

Mandré Two

Mandré released his numerical second album in 1978 on Motown.

The album contains eight tracks and extends the numbered Opus sequence with “Maxymus Lyte (Opus III)” and “Light Years (Opus IV).” The program also includes “Doing Nothing, Nothing Doing,” a title first recorded by Maxayn on the group’s 1972 debut album.

“Love Comes Rushin’ In” opens the A-side’s direct dance sequence with mid-tempo electronic polish. “I Like Your Freaky Ways” extends that side into a longer, looser body track. “Fair Game” tightens the run into a compact single-length cut. “Code Name: MM3” pushes the A-side toward its strangest shape with jumpy synth character and clipped rhythmic motion.

“Maxymus Lyte (Opus III)” starts the B-side’s outer-space turn at a slower pulse. “Iles Dans L’Espace” holds the record in suspended electronic color. “Light Years (Opus IV)” expands the space theme across the album’s longest track. “Doing Nothing, Nothing Doing” closes with the title’s earlier Maxayn link inside Mandré’s sleeker studio frame.

A1. “Love Comes Rushin’ In” (3:38) – Lewis and Maxayn
A2. “I Like Your Freaky Ways” (6:07) – Lewis
A3. “Fair Game” (3:39) – Stephen Stills
A4. “Code Name: MM3” (4:57) – Lewis

B1. “Maxymus Lyte (Opus III)” (3:16) – Lewis
B2. “Iles Dans L’Espace” (4:40) – Lewis, Roger Linn
B3. “Light Years (Opus IV)” (7:08) – Lewis
B4. “Doing Nothing, Nothing Doing” (4:30) – Lewis

Andre Lewis produced and arranged Mandré Two. Iris Gordy and Winston Monseque served as executive producers.

Motown lifted “Fair Game” as a July 1978 single (b/w “Light Years (Opus IV)”).

M3000

Mandré released his third album, M3000, in 1979 on Motown.

The album contains seven tracks and continues the Opus sequence with the title track, “M3000 (Opus VI).” Mandré also includes guitarist Marlo Henderson’s “Spirit Groove,” the only title on the album credited to a single outside writer.

“M3000 (Opus VI)” opens in spacious electronic drift, with rhythm action held back until the track widens. “L’Oasis” stays in that suspended zone and keeps the first side away from direct song shape. “Final Funk” locks into firmer body rhythm and brings the first clear voice lines through warped phrasing.

“Spirit Groove” steadies the set with low-end pull, analog snap, and reduced electronic glare. “Freakin’s Fine” clips its rhythm through handclaps and reply voices. “Do Whatcha Gotta Do” rushes from end to end under restless synth figures. “Swang” closes the sequence as the final short-form track after the album’s heavier middle stretch.

A1. “M3000 (Opus VI)” (5:42) – Lewis and Monseque
A2. “L’oasis” (4:25) – Lewis
A3. “Final Funk” (5:47) – Lewis and Parker

B1. “Spirit Groove” (6:57) – Henderson
B2. “Freakin’s Fine” (4:21) – Lewis and Robins
B3. “Do Whatcha Gotta Do” (3:28) – Lewis and Maxayn
B4. “Swang” (4:58) – Rogel

Andre Lewis produced and arranged the album at Bolic Sound with Winston Monseque as executive producer. M3000 appeared with photography by Yasuo Sasada.

Motown lifted “Spirit Groove” as a May 1979 single (b/w “M3000 (Opus VI)”). “Freakin’s Fine” followed in October 1979 (b/w “Spirit Groove”).

M3000 reached No. 74 on the Billboard Black Albums chart.

4

Mandré released his numerical fourth album in 1980 on FutureGroove.

4 contains eight tracks divided between two LP-side headings, Isle De Joie and Mandre Freaks Back. Andre Lewis co-produced the album with Derek Tracy.

“Rain” signals 4 with elongated pulse. “Isle De Joie” loosens into playful motion. “Fantasy” accelerates before “Magic Woman” careens into overdrive. “I’m on Your Frequency” asserts a clipped electronic stance. “You’re Freaky Girl” jumps into faster body rhythm. “Freaky Freaky Land of Freakyness” tightens around a compact titular chant. “Freaky Feeling” slows the close into a softer landing.

A1. “Rain” (6:08)
A2. “Isle De Joie” (3:38)
A3. “Fantasy” (5:42)
A4. “Magic Woman” (4:38)

B1. “I’m On Your Frequency” (4:11)
B2. “You’re Freaky Girl” (3:47)
B3. “Freaky Freaky Land Of Freakiness” (3:42)
B4. “Freaky Feeling” (3:53)

4 appeared as a transparent LP in a clear plastic sleeve with a paper insert. FutureGroove distributed the album through Box Records and Tapes.

Discography: