What makes The Hardness of the World by Slave notable?

The album is notable for its critical reception, particularly from publications like Rolling Stone, which recognized Slave as a pivotal group in the funk movement. It showcased their ability to combine catchy melodies with commentary on societal issues, influencing subsequent funk and R&B artists. Released in 1977, The Hardness of the World was Slave's third studio album, following their breakthrough record, Live: The Last Concert. At this point in their career, the band had solidified their place in the funk genre and were expanding their musical experimentation with more complex arrangements.

How many songs are on The Hardness of the World?

The Hardness of the World has 8 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

The Hardness of the World

Slave · 1977

38 min · 8 tracks · rhythm and blues

A vibrant blend of funk and R&B, pulsating with infectious grooves and socially conscious lyrics.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Great American Funk Song — This track epitomizes the band's sound with its catchy hooks and rhythmic complexity, encapsulating the essence of funk while addressing cultural themes.
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Can't Get Enough of You — A smooth, seductive groove that highlights the band's melodic strengths and showcases their ability to fuse romantic themes with danceable rhythms.
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Baby Sinister — With its darker undertones and intricate instrumentation, this track reveals the band's versatility and willingness to explore different thematic depths within their music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album blends infectious grooves with social commentary, showcasing Slave's funk roots and vocal interplay.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a slower, more reflective pace.
Several songs feature call-and-response vocals, enhancing the communal feel of the music.
The album closes with an instrumental track that shifts from rhythmic funk to a more ambient soundscape, creating a contrast with earlier tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Life Can Be Happy 4:18
2 The Great American Funk Song 3:54
3 Can't Get Enough of You 4:10
4 Baby Sinister 6:48
5 The World's on Hard 3:30
6 The Party Song 4:12
7 We Can Make Love 5:32
8 Volcano Rupture 6:26

What to play next

Listen next

The Concept

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Go back to

Slave

1977

Full Slave discography Artists like Slave

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata