Led by Speech, the male-Female, muti-generational quintet-- Baba Oje, age 60, was the group's "Spritual Adviser"--came together in Atlanta. The Title of their 1992 debut (3 years, 5 Months and 2 days in the life of...) refers t the lenght of time it took 'em to get a record deal. Spurred by the slice-of-life-down-south "Tennessee" and anti hooiganism of "People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)" (which incorporates Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People" to help make a point, the album with samples stretching from Earth, Wind & Fire, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells to Minnie Riperton and Bob Dylan--- was a soild smash. And Hit Mr. Wendal is one of the best songs of the group.

"Childern Play with Earth" catlogs tangible ways of grasping our origins: climb trees, put your hands in dirt. "Raining Rovolution" finds a spritual and social renewal as origanic as the fall rain, an extended play on concepts of watery renewal: "the sperm of a brother into a sister" producing a "conscious baby for black resistance." The Narrator concludes soberly: "i feel the rain enhancesthe revolution."

The black church is criticized: "when they want change, the preacher says shout it/does shoutin' bring about change? I Doubt it." Country and folk idioms (white as well as black) are blended in to dramatize the message that the city isnt the best route to spirtual evloution and to "dawn of dreads" (anther number). It is exhilarating and moving to listen to this much thought and resolve expressed in one musical.

Compelling and inspirational
This innovative album opens with Man's Final Frontier, a funky number with lots of scratching and samples. It is followed by the amazingly positive and life-affirming Mama's Always On Stage and People Everyday, black pride anthem and intelligent protest against violence.

Mr Wendall is another gem of a song, about homelessness and recognising the dignity in others. It also has a most compelling arrangement and gripping vocals. Arrested Development highlights personal and social problems without sounding preachy.

The jazzy Raining Revolution is a moving spiritual rap, and Fishin' 4 Religion is a critical look at organized religion. The energetic Give A Man A Fish deals with the music business whilst the bubbly uptempo U and the gentle, melodious Natural are about love and relationships.

Dawn Of The Dreads has lots of pop appeal with its catchy sung parts alternating with the rap; Tennessee has soulful female vocals, and the album concludes on a high note with the spiritual poem Washed Away. What a great album, so original in sound and uplifting in spirit! It encompasses a stunning variety of styles in a set of highly accomplished songs.

mr. wendell, a man, a human in flesh, but not by law
This cd is worth the price alone for "Mr. Wendell" which is definately one of the best songs of the early 90's. back when there was mainstream music with meaning...

Amazing!!
I was in third grade when this lp came out but I remember watching Tennesee and Mr. Wendel on BET. They are truly talented and amzing. I love this album and the creativity.
With their feel-good humanism, uniquely rural perspective, and melodic blend of funk and rap, Arrested Development seemed like the next big thing in 1992. The group hailed from Atlanta, which was not then a capital of hip-hop and R&B, and this, their debut recording, won the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll. Speech, the primary lyricist, wrote and delivered eloquent attacks on gangsta rap's mindless nihilism: the band's first hit, "Tennessee," spoke of reclaiming Southern black traditions from the racism that sullied their memory, while their second, "People Everyday," deftly updated the Sly Stone classic. Although Speech's rapping style was not distinctive, Dionne Farris's keening vocals highlighted the band's front line. Unfortunately, Speech began to run short of ideas and the band failed to maintain the high standards that this debut set. They disbanded a few years later. --Martin Johnson