Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even

Boogie and disco enthusiasts have long loved Universal Robot Band's epic 1982 jam 'Barely Breaking Even', a killer collaboration between NYC producer Greg Carmichael, honeyed vocalist/arranger Leroy Burgess, and various musicians better known for being part of popular funk/disco combo Kleeer. As this Record Store Day reissue proves, the track has lost none of its allure.

The song itself is a classic of its type, with Burgess singing a song of skint-ness ('maybe it's the system, maybe it's the cost of living, every single weekend I never know where the money goes') above a cowbell-heavy boogie beat, squelchy synths and rubbery bass guitar. As it did on release back in 1982, the impeccably stretched-out, 11-minute 'club version' comes backed by a shorter, sharper and even more squelchy instrumental pass.