The 9th Creation -

The 9th Creation was an American soul-funk band from Stockton, Calif., that released three albums on Ritetrack, Prelude, and Hilltak between 1975 and 1979. In 1980, the band recorded a fourth album that was ultimately released by archivists Prelude in 2019.

Members: A.D. Burrise (bass, backing vocals), J.D. Burrise (vocals, percussion), Henry Anadon (saxophone, keyboards), Don Way Allen (vocals, drums), W. Thad Bourland (trumpet, backing vocals), Robert Clark (guitar), Bill Ericksen (keyboards), Laurence Holman (trumpet, flugelhorn), Mike Michenheimer (trombone, saxophone, backing vocals), Steven Rubio (saxophone, vocals)

Background

The 9th Creation evolved from the Soul Struts, a covers act formed in 1970 by Stockton bassist A.D. Burrise. His older brother, singer-percussionist J.D. Burrise, assumed leadership in 1971 and renamed the band 3rd Creation, which shifted toward original material. In 1972, they demoed material at Studio C, the recording site of Los Vampiros.

By mid-decade, their lineup included singer-drummer Don Way Allen, guitarist Robert Clark, keyboardist Bill Ericksen, and five hornists: trumpeter W. Thad Bourland, flugelhornist Laurence Holman, saxophonist Henry Anadon, trombonist Mike Michenheimer, and reedist-singer Steven Rubio.

As 9th Creation, they released their first single on Clarama, a division of the LA-based Sussex soul label (Bill Withers, Creative Source, Masterfleet, Soul Searchers).

A. “Skin It Back” (3:48) – Henry Anadon
B. “I’m Still Your Friend” (3:15) – J.D. Burrise

Upon the 1975 collapse of Sussex, 9th Creation launched Rite Track.

Bubble Gum

The 9th Creation released their debut album, Bubble Gum, in 1975 on Ritetrack Record Co.

Bubble Gum works from clipped breaks, bass-forward riffing, and smoother lead-vocal titles. The title track snaps around a sinuous bass figure and short break sections. “Quit It” retains the tight pocket with compact ensemble hits. “Rule of Mind” slows into a mellow, space-toned keyboard wash. “Falling in Love” carries the album’s smoother vocal side.

A1. “Bubble Gum” (2:12) – Anadon
A2. “Learn-N-To Live” (3:33) – Eriksen
A3. “Sexy Girl” (3:23) – Grant, J.D. Burrise
A4. “Quit It” (2:26) – A.D. Burrise, Eriksen, J.D. Burrise, Micenheimer
A5. “Falling in Love” (6:43) – Anadon, J.D. Burrise

B1. “Truth, Trust, Love & Happiness” (3:31) – J.D. Burrise, Clarke
B2. “Rule of Mind” (5:06) – Anadon, J.D. Burrise
B3. “Suburban Blue” (3:45) – Eriksen
B4. “We Need Love” (3:49) – A.D. Burrise, J.D. Burrise

Rite Track Record Co. produced the album for Pye Records Limited. Sessions occurred at Freeway Recording Studio in Oakland with engineers Andy Edlen and Brent Dangerfield.

Neil Terk directed the art for the Pye issue, and Steve Pereira photographed the cover.

Pye issued “Falling in Love” as a 1976 single (b/w “Sexy Girl”), and the record reached No. 54 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart.

Reaching for the Top

The 9th Creation released their second album, Reaching for the Top, in October 1977 on Prelude Records.

Reaching sharpens their dance-side with brass punctuation, gospel-rooted vocals, and tighter rhythm placement. “Reaching for the Top” rushes through a busy ensemble pattern. “He’s Coming” places group harmony over a warmer, church-derived cadence.

“It Ain’t Right” punches through shorter accents and a firmer rhythmic bite. “Why Not Today” drives its harmony over an explosive rhythm figure. “A Good Time” closes the set inside the same floor-directed arrangement field.

A1. “Reaching for the Top” (3:58) – A.D. Burrise, J.D. Burrise
A2. “He’s Coming” (5:01) – Anadon, J.D. Burrise, Micenheimer
A3. “The Time Has Come” (3:56)
A4. “It Ain’t Right” (3:03)

B1. “Why Not Today” (4:46) – Scott, Medley
B2. “Bionic Love Affair” (3:50)
B3. “Come Back Home” (6:13) – Anadon, J.D. Burrise
B4. “Happy Go Lucky Man” (3:19)
B5. “A Good Time” (4:02)

Prelude lifted “Why Not Today” as a March 1977 single (b/w “Come Back Home”), which reached No. 98 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

Superheroes

The 9th Creation released their third album, Superheroes, in 1979 on Hilltak Records.

Superheroes leans into heavier dance arrangements with cleaner studio edges and broader vocal placement. “Shucks You’re Fine” and “Let’s Dance” mark the club-friendly side while “Love Is a Fantasy” softens with a sweeter, jazz-tinged vocal. “What’s Shakin’” and “Much Too Much” complete a compact program built around rhythm-guitar drive, brass punctuation, and group responses.

A1. “Superheroes” (5:35)
A2. “Shucks You’re Fine” (4:32)
A3. “Love Is a Fantasy” (3:57)
A4. “What’s Shakin’” (4:45)

B1. “Let’s Dance” (3:38) – A.D. Burrise, J.D. Burrise, Don Allen
B2. “Got My Baby Back” (5:23)
B3. “I’d Did It Again” (3:37)
B4. “Much Too Much” (3:57)

Hilltak lifted “Let’s Dance” as a 1979 single (b/w “Shucks, You’re Fine”), which reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

Love Crime

The 9th Creation released the four-song EP Love Crime in 1986 on Track Records.

The EP contains four tracks by the group, with bassist/synthesist A.D. Burrise, singer/conguero J.D. Burrise, keyboardist/trumpeter W. Thad Bourland, saxophonist Steve Rubio, singers Darryl Le’Vance Carter and Pam Neal, and additional musicians Cecil Ramirez and Ronnie Moton.

A1. “Love Crime” (3:40) – A.D. Burrise, J.D. Burrise, W. Thad Bourland, Carter
A2. “Maybe” (4:02) – A.D. Burrise, J.D. Burrise, Jones

B1. “(She’s) The Kind” (4:21) – J.D. Burrise, W. Thad Bourland
B2. “Bygones” (3:07) – J.D. Burrise, Moton

The 9th Creation arranged the EP. A.D. Burrise and J.D. Burrise produced the EP at Rick’s Place in Lodi, California, and Fantasy Studios mastered the record.

A Step Ahead

The 9th Creation released their fourth album, A Step Ahead, in April 2019 on Past Due Records, after the group recorded the material in 1980.

The album contains eight previously unreleased tracks from the Modesto sessions, performed by singer/guitarist Perry Lewis Joshua, singer/conguero J.D. Burrise, bassist/synthesist A.D. Burrise, drummer Donnie Allen, keyboardist Steve Mason, reedists Larry Banks and Steve Rubio, trumpeters W. Thad Bourland and Laurence Holman, and trombonists Mike Micenheimer and Mike Mena.

“A Step Ahead” charges through a thick bass line, sharp brass figures, and bright guitar accents. “More & More” presses the brass parts into a mid-tempo drive. “Body Energy” snaps through cutting guitar figures, fast horn replies, and falsetto lead placement. “Always Be Lovers” slows into a romantic lead-vocal setting. “Let It Shine” bounces at a medium pace, while “Party Down” locks bass, guitar, and brass into a dance-line pattern. “Music Is My Pen & Paper” closes the LP sequence with a rounder slow-song cadence.

A1. “A Step Ahead” (5:14)
A2. “More & More” (4:21)
A3. “Body Energy” (4:52)
A4. “Always Be Lovers” (4:24)

B1. “Let It Shine” (4:45)
B2. “Beautiful Lady” (5:02)
B3. “Party Down” (4:42)
B4. “Music Is My Pen & Paper” (4:02)

The 9th Creation recorded the material at a Modesto studio southeast of Stockton. Federal agents later seized the studio’s master tapes, and Mike Micenheimer preserved cassette mixdowns from the sessions.

Discography: