Purple Image

Purple Image was an American soul-psych band from Cleveland that released a 1970 self-titled album on Map City.

Members: Warren Adams (vocals, piano, organ), Kenneth Roberts (vocals, rhythm guitar), William Adams (vocals, congas), Frank Smith (lead guitar), Del Moran (bass), Richard Payne (drums), Diane Dunlap (vocals)

Background

Purple Image formed in 1969 in Cleveland’s East Side 105th–Superior corridor, a predominantly Black neighborhood active with local soul, funk, and gospel ensembles. The group consisted of multi-instrumentalists from Cleveland’s inner-city scene. Guitarist Frank Smith, saxophonist Edward Snodgrass, and bassist Del Morán played in underground rock and funk bands across the regional circuit. Keyboardist Warren Adams and his brother, vocalist/percussionist William Adams, performed in church groups and community bands. Vocalist Diane Dunlap emerged from gospel and soul revue circles. Vocalist/guitarist Kenneth Roberts and drummer Richard Payne played in R&B and rock units on the East Side club circuit.

Despite their roots in funk and soul, the group gravitated toward psychedelic rock. Drawing on the influence of Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and Iron Butterfly, they combined fuzz-toned guitar, phase-heavy textures, and communal vocals with lyrics about social struggle and transcendence.

In late 1969, Purple Image recorded the single “(Marching To…) A Different Drummer” (b/w “Why?”) for Map City, a New York label operated by Tommy James. Due to a professional conflict, local newscaster Bill Jacocks — then working for NBC affiliate WKYC — penned the lyrics under the alias Robert Craig, fearing repercussions from his news director. The single gained local airplay and led to an album deal with Map City the following year.

Purple Image (the album)

Purple Image released their self-titled album in late 1970 on Map City.

The album contains six songs: five credited to the band and one to guitarist Frank Smith. Vocalist Kenneth Roberts and keyboardist Warren Adams collaborated on the group’s vocal arrangements. The 15-minute closer “Marching to a Different Drummer” is an extended version of the earlier single with lyrics by Robert Craig (Bill Jacocks).

Purple Image features Smith on lead guitar, Morán on bass, Payne on drums, and Snodgrass on saxophone. Warren Adams plays piano and organ, with Dunlap, Roberts, and William Adams contributing lead and backing vocals. William Adams also plays congas throughout.

A1. “Living In the Ghetto” (6:32) – Opens with a fuzzed-out riff and lyrical vignettes of cramped urban life. Mid-song, the rhythm loosens into a free-form jam with clashing guitars, noise layers, and percussion breaks.
A2. “Why” (4:37) – Begins in an ambient swirl of flanged guitars and ghostly voices. A phased Am riff anchors a hypnotic vocal chant amid reverse loops and bass ostinato.
A3. “Lady” (3:37)
A4. “We Got To Pull Together” (3:35)

B1. “What You Do To Me” (3:32)
B2. “Marching To A Different Drummer” (15:24) – Extended suite of funk-rock and psych segments, interspersed with group vocals, shifting grooves, and instrumental breakdowns.

Sessions occurred in early 1970 at Audio Recording Studios in Cleveland, where the band self-produced Purple Image with engineer George Stagge. The studio concurrently handled regional R&B and garage-rock acts on local indie labels.

Purple Image appeared in a sleeve designed and photographed by Michael Kanarek (front) and Jim Brown Studios (back). The backside shows the band grouped outside Loew’s Liberty Theater, opened in 1915 on Superior Avenue and E. 105th Street, Cleveland.

Map City issued “(Marching To…) A Different Drummer” as a single (b/w “Why”) in late 1969. Purple Image did not chart but later gained collector interest as one of the few acid-funk LPs by a Black Midwestern rock band.

Discography:

• Purple Image (1970)

Sources:

• Discogs: Purple Image
• RYM: Purple Image