One of the greatest of all the so-called "lost" funk albums of the early to mid-'70s, Act One's eponymous debut album stands as a testament to all the gritty majesty that Raeford Gerald would bring to his work with Millie Jackson -- sharp production, slick instrumentation, and a driving, dirty punchiness that absolutely defines such titles as the vaguely punning "A Whole Lotta Lovemaking," "Takes Two of Us," and "Tom the Peeper." It is that latter, of course, which brought Act One the most attention; a favorite on the British Northern soul circuit, from whence its renown spread to the U.S., it has since turned up on various genre compilations, drawing further fans and collectors into the search for this (admittedly hard-to-find) album. However, "Tom the Peeper"'s ruthless horns and thunderous gyrations are only the tip of the iceberg, both musically and commercially -- two further tracks from the album, "Friends and Lovers" and the aforementioned "Takes Two of Us," hit the domestic R&B chart during 1973, while "Never Had a Love Like Yours," too, offers an unforgettable highlight. All of which means, record-buyers of the age can scarcely be forgiven for not drawing the album, too, into the commercial spotlight. ~ Amy Hanson, All Music Guide
![Act One [Southbound]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/dri400/i434/i43452mwqe4.jpg)
