Iconoclassic Records

B.T. Express’s tight, hard grooving stew of wah-wah guitar, sax, strings, flute, congas, and male-female vocals bridges the late ’60s psychedelic soul era with ’70s funk and disco. Formed in New York, the 7-piece band, originally named Brooklyn Transit Express, independently cut the single “Do It (’Til You’re Satisfied),” shopping it around to labels. They knew they were on to a good thing when it hit #1 R&B and #2 Pop. B.T. Express then recorded its debut album, which yielded another smash: the band’s theme song “Express,” a horns and strings-powered groove that stands tall with “Pick Up the Pieces” and “TSOP (The Sound in Philadelphia)” in the annals of timeless R&B near-instrumental hits. Subsequent B.T. Express albums spun off further Top 10 R&B hits, including 1975’s double-sided banger “Give It What You Got”/“Peace Pipe” and 1976’s “Can’t Stop Groovin’ Now, Wanna Do It Some More.” A teenaged Kashif (then known as Michael Jones) joined B.T. Express by its third album, before launching his successful career as a producer, songwriter and solo artist.