SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HAROLD WHEELER CONSORT – BLACK CREAM

THE HAROLD WHEELER CONSORT
BLACK CREAM
REAL GONE MUSIC

Perhaps best known for his jingles written for McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Kool Aid, Pan Am Airlines, and Boone’s Farm Wines, Harold Wheeler released his only album, Black Cream, in 1975. For the 50th anniversary, Real Gone Music has launched the first ever reissue of this lost record with a limited run of 750 copies.

Opening on a surprisingly suspenseful note to the ambient chords of the title track, Black Cream starts with a funk overture that feels like it should be backing the opening credits of a film as musical themes are introduced over a funky groove with light backing vocals heard in the distance. The predominant use of keys, a lead guitar running through a heavy wah, and an array of strings, “Black Cream” marks one of the highest points on the album. Save the odd melody or use of lush backing harmonies, Black Cream is largely an instrumental affair. This continues on the following tracks, “Then Came You” and “Don’t Cry Girl”, with the former taking the shape of a brisk and funky strut staring what feels to be a far too simple melody and the latter taking the form of a slightly melancholic ballad that suffers from a lack of development. Truly, there is a cinematic element to this as it feels as though it should be accompanied by either a lead vocal line or a visual aspect.

Unfortunately, much of Black Cream falls victim to similar criticism. While uplifted by cinematic and symphonic elements that demonstrate a conceptual approach to funk and pop music, that album would greatly benefit from lead vocals. Despite this, Black Cream shines best during the funkier numbers, like “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and the very strong closer, “Mack The Knife”, which, between this and “Black Cream”, bookends the record with it strongest tracks.

There is nothing particularly wrong with The Harold Wheeler Consort’s sole album; however, the record suffers from a lack of special moments to allow for Wheeler’s writing and performance to shine. Despite this, there is a cinematic air to Black Cream that feels reminiscent of the Blaxploitation sounds of Shaft and Superfly, which ultimately allows for Black Cream to scratch a very particular itch as a lost gem from a very specific era.

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