The 24-Carat Black

Alto Saxophone – Gregory Ingram
Arranged By – Gregory Ingram
Arranged By – William Talbert
Art Direction – David Hogan
Art Direction – Ron Gorden
Bass – Larry Austin
Cello – Barbara Thompson
Cello – Vincent De Frank
Creative Director – Larry Shaw
Creative Director – Ron Gorden
Electric Piano – James Talbert
Engineer – Dale O. Warren
Flute – Edwin Hubbard
Flute – James Terry
Guitar – Ernest Latimore
Oboe – Nick Vergos
Organ – William Talbert
Percussion – Tyrone Steele
Photography By – Frederick Toma
Piano, Vibraphone – Dale O. Warren
Producer – Dale O. Warren
Tenor Saxophone – Jerome Derrickson
Trumpet – Ricky Foster
Trumpet – William Gentry
Viola – Dale Warren
Viola – David Becker
Viola – John Wehlan
Violin – Albert Edelman
Violin – Joan Gilbert
Violin – Noel Gilbert
Violin – Robert Snyder
Vocals – Ernest Latimore
Vocals – Kathleen Dent
Vocals – Princess Hearn
Vocals – Tyrone Steele
Vocals – Valerie Malone
Written-By – The 24-Carat Black
Written-By – Dale O. Warren
Written-By [Co-Writer] – Bonnie J. Warren (A1)

"Composed, arranged, and produced almost entirely by longtime Isaac Hayes collaborator Dale Warren, the album draws marked comparisons to the lush, transformative arrangements penned by Warren for the seminal trio of Hayes albums: Hot Buttered Soul, The Isaac Hayes Movement, and ...To Be Continued. Often cited as one of the first concept albums in the soul/funk genre at a time when such boldly artistic statements were reserved for progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd, this 'soul opera,' is an entrancing mixture of lush, orchestral soul ballads and blaxploitation-era funk grooves, split into vignettes dealing with aspects of everyday life in some of America's poorest areas. Its unique blend of immaculately arranged grooves and socially conscious narrative launched the album into cult-classic status among DJ's and producers who have sampled it, most recently by Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Digable Planets, Dr. Dre, and many others.

Released as part of Craft Recordings' "Made In Memphis" series.

Includes:
- 180-gram vinyl cut at Ardent studios on the original Stax lathe and pressed at Memphis Record Pressing.
- Old-school style tip-on jacket with printed inner sleeve.
- New liner notes by Rob Bowman, Grammy® Award winning author of 'Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records'.

Spelling error on tracklisting on rear of cover. Track A2 = "POVERY'S PARADISE"

Barcode (Scanned (Stickered)) – 888072025813
Barcode (Printed (Stickered)) – 8 88072 02581 3
Matrix / Runout (Side A hand etching) – 88807 2025813-A Re2 -CKJ- AIR2
Matrix / Runout (Side A stamp etching) – MRP0828 / STX00224-A 159901E1/A
Matrix / Runout (Side B hand etching) – 88807 2025813-B -CKJ- B2
Matrix / Runout (Side B stamp etching) – MRP0828 / STX00224-B 159901E2/A