Mass Production (band)
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Norfolk, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Funk and disco music |
Mass Production is a funk and disco ensemble originating from Norfolk, Virginia, United States, recognized primarily for their 1979 single "Firecracker." This ten-member band secured several modest R&B chart successes throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. The track "Firecracker" is frequently confused with releases by the comparable group Brass Construction.
History
The group's roster featured Kevin "D'No" Douglas on bass and vocals; James "Otiste" Drumgole handling trumpet, flugelhorn, clarinet, flute, piccolo, and vocals; Agnes "Tiny" Kelly as lead vocalist and vocoder operator, later succeeded by DeeDee Henderson; George Jefferson on trombone; Larry Marshall contributing lead vocals and percussion; Gregory “Sagittarius” McCoy playing saxophone, tuba, bassoon, and kazoo; Emmanuel Redding on percussion including kettle drums and marimba; Ricardo Williams providing lead vocals along with drums and percussion; Tyrone Williams on keyboards; Rodney Phelps covering lead guitar and keyboards; and LeCoy Bryant on rhythm guitar and vocals. Prior to the release of the 1980 album Massterpiece, Phelps departed and was replaced by Dan Harris on lead guitar for several years before Harris transitioned to session musician work. In the early 1980s, Samuel Williams joined as drummer, enabling Ricardo Williams to concentrate solely on vocal duties.
Apart from "Firecracker," which climbed to number four on the R&B charts in 1979, other significant songs include "Cosmic Lust," "Groove Me," "Shanté," and "Turn Up the Music." The band sustained moderate popularity until their breakup in 1983. They reunited in 2017 with most of the original lineup, producing new recordings and resuming live performances.
The 1989 hit "Me So Horny" by 2 Live Crew, featured on the album As Nasty As They Wanna Be, incorporated samples from "Firecracker."
Studio albums
- Welcome to Our World (1976)
- Believe (1977)
- Three Miles High (1978)
- In the Purest Form (1979)
- Massterpiece (1980)
- Turn Up the Music (1981)
- In a City Groove (1982)
- '83 (1983)
Compilation album
- Firecrackers: The Best of Mass Production (1996)