Longtime fans of soul music can now discover a classic group in a new way. On April 18, a deluxe edition of the Unifics’ debut album Sittin’ In At The Court Of Love has been released on streaming.
Originally released in 1968 via Kapp Records, Sittin’ In At The Court Of Love featured four singles: “Court of Love,” “The Beginning of My End,” “It’s a Groovy World!” and “Toshisumasu.”
The Unifics first formed in 1966 with a group of students attending Howard University in Washington, D.C. The members included singer/songwriter Al Johnson, Robert Hayes, George Roland, Marvin Brown, and Thomas Fauntleroy. Originally called Al & The Vikings, the group changed its name during its first year to the Unique Five and later to the Unifics.
Sittin’ In At The Court Of Love was partly arranged by soul legend Donny Hathaway, including “Court of Love” (which hit No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart) and “The Beginning of My End” (which reached No. 9 on the same chart). In 1973, the singles got re-released as a two-sided record, following MCA’s purchase of Kapp Records. The group enjoyed success at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater and in their D.C. hometown.
Following the dissolution of The Unifics, Johnson and Fauntleroy resurrected the group and recruited Charlie Lockhart and Garrett Hall to be part of the quartet. In 2005, they self-released Unifics Return, the group’s first album in over three decades.
Listen to The Unifics Sittin’ In At The Court Of Love now.
