Midnight Movers -

Midnight Movers were an American soul-funk band that made the 1970 album Do It in the Road on Elephant V Ltd., followed by the 1974 Buddah release Follow the Wind.

Members: George Earl “Dimp Paco” Patterson Jr. (saxophone), Charles “Skip” Pitts (guitar), Jack Philpot (saxophone), Curtis Pope (trumpet), Ernest Xavier Smith (bass)

Background

Midnight Movers began as the Movers, a road band that saxophonist and musical director George Patterson Jr. formed for Wilson Pickett.

George Earl “Dimp Paco” Patterson Jr. was born on February 19, 1942, in Chicago. Patterson learned clarinet and saxophone in high school and then worked as a Chicago sideman. Chess Records A&R director Billy Davis hired Patterson as a studio musician. Patterson led the Cadet group the Jazz Interpreters and later worked as a bandleader for Gene Chandler.

From 1967, Patterson led the Pickett road band, which took its name from Wilson’s 1968 single “I’m a Midnight Mover.” The band included guitarist Charles “Skip” Pitts, saxophonist Jack Philpot, and trumpeters Curtis Pope and Chris Lowe. Midnight Movers also worked in New York during the late sixties as a T-Neck house band for the Isley Brothers.

Do It in the Road

Midnight Movers released their debut studio album, Do It in the Road, in October 1969 on Elephant V Ltd.

The album presents a mix of soul-funk and R&B, with clipped backbeats and horn-cut arrangements across seven tracks. Movers include Patterson, Pope, Philpot, and Pitts along with alto saxophonist Dimp Paco and bassist–singer Ernest Xavier Smith.

“Music Makers” rides a medium stride with a rough-edged band front. “Medicated Goo” lopes through swampy phrasing and a low, unpolished backbeat. “Crabs” scrapes across a coarse instrumental passage. “Stop Look and Listen” charges through a hard road-band number. “Why Don’t We Do It In the Road” writhes over a heavy backbeat and a blues-tinted title phrase. “Tough Enough” punches its vocal phrases with horn-cut accents. “Try Our Thing” closes the set with a rugged final number.

A1. “Music Makers” (3:19) – E. Smith, Gearing
A2. “Medicated Goo” (4:13) – Steve Winwood, Jimmy Miller; originated as a 1968 Traffic single.
A3. “Crabs” (2:18) – Patterson, Pitts, E. Smith
A4. “Stop Look and Listen” (4:24) – Patterson, Pitts, E. Smith

B1. “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road” (5:26) – Lennon, McCartney
B2. “Tough Enough” (4:36) – E. Smith
B3. “Try Our Thang” (4:44) – C. Smith, Patterson

Thomas Kaye produced the album for Elephant V Ltd. George Patterson Jr. arranged the album, and Mallory Earl engineered the sessions.

Do It in the Road sports a shaded black-and-white cover of five players across a curbside scene, with two guitars at the left side and a horn player at the right side.

Elephant V issued “Music Makers” as a 1969 single backed with “Stop Look and Listen”.

Follow the Wind

Midnight Movers Unlimited released their second studio album, Follow the Wind, in April 1974 on Buddah.

The album blends soul-funk and horn-led R&B across twelve tracks, including covers of the Edgar Winter Group (“Frankenstein”), the Doobie Brothers (“Long Train Running (Without Love)”), and the two-part Movers original “Party (With Every Muscle in Your Body).”

George Patterson leads on keyboards, flute, and alto/tenor saxophone, joined by Curtis Pope, Skip Pitts, and Jack Philpot along with guitarist Raymond Patterson, bassist Blake Hinds, and drummer Dave Williams. Musical guests include flutist Robin Kenyatta, trombonist John Mosley, and guitarist Johnny Starr.

“Follow the Wind” clips through choppy guitar figures and a taut opening pace. “Mystery Woman” coils around a circling low-end line and clipped key accents. “Can’t Stand the Heat” grinds through distorted lead figures and thick brass. “Lost for Words” glides on soft flute tone and falsetto responses. “Party (With Every Muscle In Your Body)” claps through child-voice choruses and hand accents. “Frankenstein Meets Blackenstein” barrels through a hard instrumental break. “Flight to Freedom” races through brass lines and a wah-drenched final passage.

A1. “Follow the Wind” (3:25) – Pope, Dimp Paco, X. Smith, Jungle Jim
A2. “Mystery Woman” (3:28) – Patterson
A3. “Can’t Stand the Heat” (4:20) – Pope, Patterson
A4. “Lost for Words” (3:55) – Patterson
A5. “Party (With Every Muscle in Your Body) Part I” (3:15) – Patterson, Spann, Philpot, McElroy
A6. “Party (With Every Muscle in Your Body) Part II” (2:16) – Patterson, Spann, Philpot, McElroy

B1. “Frankenstein” (2:47) – Winter
B2. “Blackenstein” (3:03) – Wills, Pope, Dimp Paco, X. Smith
B3. “Mississippi Foxhole” (4:36) – Patterson
B4. “Long Train Running (Without Love)” (4:06) – Tom Johnston
B5. “Sacrifice” (3:49) – Wills, Pope, X. Smith, Patterson
B6. “Flight to Freedom” (5:05) – Wills, Pope, Moreland, Patterson

Midnight Movers Unlimited produced the album for Dimpaco Productions and R. McElroy Productions. George Patterson Jr. served as executive producer.

Bill Ronalds illustrated the cover, which places five costumed band members among dragons, flames, insects, and a futuristic lower border.

Renee issued “Follow the Wind (Part I)” as an April 1972 single backed with “Follow the Wind (Part II)”. Buddah pressed “Lost for Words” as a 1974 promotional single backed with “Blackenstein (Instrumental)”.

Discography: