Numero Group has unearthed and recently released what looks to be the final demo material ever recorded from the now legendary seventies-era soul group 24-Carat Black, simply titled III.

Based out of Ohio, 24-Carat Black were collective led by highly-accomplished producer, arranger and songwriter Dale Warren, who had previously collaborated with Billy Eckstine, the Staple Singers, Albert King, Issac Hayes and hundreds of other notable soul acts during the sixties and seventies. Even though the group’s Stax Record debut Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth did not breakthrough and sell many copies at the time of it’s release, the album has since been sample many times and is now considered a “holy grail” by vinyl collectors and DJs globally. Featuring a brilliant combination of soulful vocals, heavy funk grooves, and epic arrangements, the record was simply way ahead of it’s time.

Fast forward to 2009, Numero finally was able to release the unfinished follow up, titled Gone: The Promises Of Yesterday, and now more than a decade later, the Chicago-based label has released a collection of unreleased tracks from the group that were discovered in a storage space were Warren’s 1980s demos were cut. This latest batch of never-before-released material is a bit more stripped down in overall production, however definitely captures the same funky soul foundation that made Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth a masterpiece.

Overall, a great final chapter to what the label describes as “Dale Warren’s mysterious oeuvre.” Highly recommended!

24-Carat Black — ‘III’
(Numero Group)

1. I Need A Change
2. Your Love Is My Desire
3. Speak Low
4. Skeleton Coast
5. Now You Sit Alone
6. You’re Slipping Away
7. I’m Coming Back
8. Someone To Somebody

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• Funk
• Reissue
• Soul