B.T. Express were pioneers of the funky early-1970s Brooklyn Sound with their proto-disco classic Express.

This has such a great intro with its wheezy train whistle, the swirling strings and then the killer moment – the funky bassline – before the brass comes in.

Express is the signature tune of Brooklyn disco-funksters BT Express, and one of their two big hits alongside Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) – both Top Five singles in the US charts.

Part of the Brooklyn Sound of the early 1970s, the group was formed by producer Jeff Lane with three members of a local dance band, The King Davis House Rockers.

They released a couple of singles inclduing 1967’s Baby You Satisfy Me  – now a Northern Soul favourite – backed with the tearjerking We All Make Mistakes Sometimes.

Another single, Rum Punch / Holiday In Love, was released under the band name The Visitors, before they became Madison Street Express, evolving (via Brothers Trucking) into the Brooklyn Transit Express, soon to be shortened to B.T. Express.

The core of the group, was the House Rockers trio of Rick Thompson on lead guitar, Bill Risbrook on sax, flute, piccolo and clarinet, and Panamanian alto sax player Carlos Ward, who had played with John Coltrane, Don Cherry, Pharoah Sanders and McCoy Tuner.

They were joined by Bill’s brother Louis (later Jamal Rasool) on bass and organ, percussionist Dennis Rowe, guitarist Wesley Hall, vocalist Barbara Joyce Lomas and drummer Terrell Wood, with Billy Nichols on songwriting duties.

Their hits continued into the mid-’70s with Give It What You Got / Peace Pipe (1975), Can’t Stop Groovin’ Now (Wanna Do It Some More) (1976) and Shout It Out (1977), enjoying a later hit single with Give Up The Funk (Let’s Dance) (1980).