(October 4, 2021) Soul music fans know Detroit’s pride and joy, The Floaters, for their monster #1 hit, “Float On.” And for decades after that legendary hit, the group toured with one of the baddest backing bands around, The Floaters Orchestra, also known at T.F.O. And T.F.O. had its own fans, largely for the 1981 two sided single on Venture Records, “Happy Family / Let Love Come Right In,” a wonderful slice of early 80s R&B that became an underground hit internationally.
Well, it is 2021, and T.F.O. has brought in some other Detroit musical royalty to create new versions of those longtime favorite songs. Spyder Turner, Pat Lewis, Carolyn Crawford, Willie Kendrick and Greg Mathis join TFO vocalist Esther Todd in providing the alternating lead vocals on newly recorded cuts, backed by Ronnie Nelso and original T.F.O. members.
The two songs literally pop from the speakers, sounding fresh four decades after we first heard the originals on vinyl. T.F.O. keeps the groove going throughout, and it is fantastic hearing some longtime ST favorites handling the vocals. “Happy Family / Let Love Come Right In” is available as a two-sided single on Soul Intention Records. Check the two-sided single below and welcome back these longtime friends.
T.F.O. – “Happy Family / Let Love Come Right In”