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Artist: The Relatives
Album: Goodbye World
Label: Luv N Haight
Release Date: 04/29/2016
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The Relatives
Goodbye World
Album Reviews | July 26th, 2016
Originally hailing from Dallas, Texas, the
Relatives fuse rump shaking funk with the
good word of God. Lead singer Gean West
grew up in a musical family who hosted
travelling stars such as Sam Cooke, Aretha
Franklin, Tina Turner, and the Staples
Singers. Mr.West started his career in
traditional gospel music, but by the late
1960’s began to combine the
contemporary sounds of Jimi Hendrix and
Sly Stone with the message of the
Pentecostal church. The Relatives
continued to perform throughout the 70’s,
but called it quits in 1980. Luckily, a
cracked ‘45 found its way into the hands of
Austin record collector and Dj Noel
Waggener, who helped resurrect the
group’s career.
The Relatives latest release Goodbye World fuses Gospel and Psychedelia that’s good
for the soul. Sadly, the title is appropriate as Mr.West recently passed, but his spirit
lives on through the music. The rst track “Rational Culture/Testimony” simmers with
guitar licks by original axeman Charles Ray “Gypsy” Mitchell whose style brings to mind

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Parliament Funkadelic’s Eddie Hazel. With falsetto backing vocals by brothers Tommy,
Tyrone and Cedric, Gene sings, “He’s gonna rule the world/don’tchya’know/we gotta
put it together/put it together.” Mr.West testi es with an epic sermon about how
despite his health problems, he was called back by the Lord to keep on preachin’. “I
got so sick that the doctors thought I wasn’t gonna make it/I had tubes all over my
body/the church went on their knees/the heaven bust open/when the prayer went
through/it stopped God in his tracks/ and he stood still and said, I hear my people
calling me/somebody call my name/and God seen t said, well Gene the church done
prayed for you/I’m sending you back/and I want you to work for me/don’t let me down
son/ God, control, this universe.”
“No Man Is An Island” begins with classic R&B vocal stylings and spreads an important
message that Dallas and all of America could use these days. “And we ought to try to
defend, yeah/treat each man as your brother/and each man as your friend.” The rest
of the album grooves and oozes with positive vibrations and uplifting tunes.
It’s impossible to resist the Relatives. They heal through funk, and their conviction in
the power of God through music is infectious. Theirs is an electric soul church we’d all
be wise to attend. Say a little prayer for brother Gene and dig the Relatives. Hallelujah!
– Mike Cobb
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