HARD... RAW... DEEP... FUNK

Batty Davis - Betty Davis (1973)

2013-02-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

" Betty Davis' debut was an outstanding funk record, driven by her aggressive, no-nonsense songs and a set of howling performances from a crack band. Listeners wouldn't know it from the song's title, but for the opener, "If I'm in Luck I Might Get Picked Up," Davis certainly doesn't play the wallflower; she's a woman on the prowl, positively luring the men in and, best of all, explaining exactly how she does it: "I said I'm wigglin' my fanny, I'm raunchy dancing, I'm-a-doing it doing it/This is my night out." "Game Is My Middle Name" begins at a midtempo lope, but really breaks through on the chorus, with the Pointer Sisters and Sylvester backing up each of her assertions. As overwhelming as Davis' performances are, it's as much the backing group as Davis herself that makes her material so powerful (and believable). Reams of underground cred allowed her to recruit one of the tightest rhythm sections ever heard on record (bassist Larry Graham and drummer Greg Errico, both veterans of Sly & the Family Stone), plus fellow San Francisco luminaries like master keyboardist Merl Saunders and guitarists Neal Schon orDouglas Rodriguez (both associated with Santana at the time). Graham's popping bass and the raw, flamboyant, hooky guitar lines of Schon or Rodriguez make the perfect accompaniment to these songs;Graham's slinky bass is the instrumental equivalent of Davis' vocal gymnastics, and Rodriguez makes his guitar scream during "Your Man My Man." It's hard to tell whether the musicians are pushing so hard because of Davis' performances or if they're egging each other on, but it's an unnecessary question. Everything about Betty Davis' self-titled debut album speaks to Davis the lean-and-mean sexual predator, from songs to performance to backing, and so much the better for it. All of which should've been expected from the woman who was too wild for Miles Davis."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Betty Davis - If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up (5:00)
2. Betty Davis - Walkin Up The Road (2:55)
3. Betty Davis - Anti Love Song (4:31)
4. Betty Davis - Your Man My Man (3:39)
5. Betty Davis - Ooh Yea (3:09)
6. Betty Davis - Steppin In Her I. Miller Shoes (3:14)
7. Betty Davis - Game Is My Middle Name (5:12)
8. Betty Davis - In The Meantime (2:43)

Betty Davis - If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up

Baby Charles - Baby Charles (2008)

2013-02-06T02:39:00.001-08:00

Baby Charles are a contemporary British deep funk outfit, and from the evidence of their self-titled debut, it seems impossible to assume it was recorded anywhere other than 1970s New Orleans. The hazy thickness of the record feels like a fever dream of blaxploitation funk, the kind of sound your reptilian memory bank automatically associates with Quentin Tarantino soundtracks. There is nothing academic about any of this, however. Where many live funk groups see their best efforts wilted by a certain "earnest conservatory student" vibe, Baby Charles effortlessly summon the sort of unholy, sweat-in-uncomfortable-places funkiness you probably thought hadn't survived past 1978.

Tracklisting

1. Baby Charles - Treading Water (4:11)
2. Baby Charles - Invisible (4:38)
3. Baby Charles - Comin' From A Higher Place (3:08)
4. Baby Charles - Life's Begun (4:51)
5. Baby Charles - No Controlling Me (3:52)
6. Baby Charles - Hard Man To Please (3:57)
7. Baby Charles - Step On (2:57)
8. Baby Charles - Indecision (3:39)
9. Baby Charles - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (4:28)
10. Baby Charles - Back Of My Hand (4:01)
11. Baby Charles - This Time (2:57)
12. Baby Charles - The Sphinx (3:48)

Baby Charles - Back Of My Hand

The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend (1971)

2013-01-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

"Baby Huey's only album, released after his untimely death, is titled The Living Legend with good reason. He was legendary in his appearance, a 400-pound man with a penchant for flamboyant clothing and crowned by a woolly Afro, a look that is best illustrated by one of several rare photos included in the Water Records edition that shows our man in a wide-lapeled polka-dot shirt with a lime-green jacket. Beyond his unusual appearance, though, he was graced with a stunning, fierce voice on par with Otis Redding and Howard Tate, wailing and howling one moment and oddly tender and sentimental the next. Nowhere on Living Legend is his range more apparent than the opening track, "Listen to Me," where listeners are introduced to both the enigma of Baby Huey and his diamond-tough psychedelic funk backing band, the Baby Sitters. The high-energy instrumental workout "Mama Get Yourself Together" is worthy of the J.B.'s and a hazy, spiraling ten-minute rendition of Sam Cooke's chestnut "A Change Is Going to Come" confirms that the Baby Sitters could hold their own with Blood, Sweat & Tears. Further lore that catapults The Living Legend from good to great: the production was helmed by Curtis Mayfield, reason enough to make it near essential, and is highlighted by three of his compositions, "Mighty Mighty," which Mayfield and the Impressions recorded a few years earlier; "Running," a classic Mayfieldcut that can only be heard here ripped to glorious bits by a band that is trying to let every member solo; and "Hard Times," which Mayfield himself would revisit on his 1975 album There's No Place Like America Today, although Baby Huey's razor-edged reading remains the definitive version -- no small caveat considering Mayfield not only wrote the tune, but could rightfully be considered one of the architects of soul to boot."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Baby Huey - Listen To Me (6:41)
2. Baby Huey - Mama Get Yourself Together (6:15)
3. Baby Huey - A Change Is Going To Come (9:31)
4. Baby Huey - Mighty Mighty (2:49)
5. Baby Huey - Hard Times (3:23)
6. Baby Huey - California Dreamin' (4:48)
7. Baby Huey - Running (3:39)
8. Baby Huey - One Dragon Two Dragon (4:03)

Baby Huey - Hard Times

Funkadelic - Live - Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan (12 September 1971)

2012-10-27T00:22:00.002-07:00

"Not released until 1996, this was an unusual gig for the band, which was breaking in a new rhythm section (this may have been this lineup's first show) without much or any rehearsal. You can't tell from this 77-minute disc, which offers a typically amorphous, free-floating set of black rock -- which is to say, judged by most standards, it's not typical music at all. Seguing from spaced-out jams to occasional numbers with vocals by George Clinton, and throwing in imaginative improvisations by guitarist Eddie Hazel and keyboardist Bernie Worrell, it sounds something like a combination of Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and Sun Ra. The 14-minute "Maggot Brain" verges on prog rock/psychedelia (in the good sense), with its almost mystical guitar lines; earthier pleasures are offered with cuts like "I Call My Baby Pussycat" (two versions). The fidelity is pretty good, though the vocals lack the presence of the instruments. Funkadelic are still shown to their best advantage on their studio recordings of the era, but this is certainly a fascinating find for fans, augmented by detailed liner notes about the gig by Rob Bowman."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. 01 Alice In My Fantasies (with James Wesley Jackson) (6:37)
2. 02 Maggot Brain (14:01)
3. 03 I Call My Baby Pussycat (Fast Version) (5:39)
4. 04 I Call My Baby Pussycat (8:10)
5. 05 Good Old Music (4:28)
6. 06 I Got A Thing, You Got A Thing, Everybody's Got A Thing (8:37)
7. 07 All Your Goodies Are Gone (The Loser's Seat) (15:07)
8. 08 I'll Bet You (5:24)
9. 09 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (5:27)
10. 10 Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow (with James Wesley Jackson) (3:40)

Alice In My Fantasies (with James Wesley Jackson)

Mary Jane Hooper - Psychedelphia: Rare & Unreleased New Orleans Funk 1966-1970

2012-10-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

"New Orleans funk diva Mary Jane Hooper remains one of the most shadowy figures in Crescent City soul history. Famed for her collaboration with legendary producer Eddie Bo, many believe she is simply an alias employed by singer Inez Cheatham, although Bo himself disputes such assertions. Hooper is in fact the stage name of one Sena Fletcher, who began her career singing gospel before crossing over to secular R&B backing Lee Dorsey. Upon signing to Bo's Scram label in 1966, Hooper issued her debut single, "Don't Change Nothin'." She eventually moved to Bo's Power label, where in 1968 she cut her best-known single, "That's How Strong My Love Is," later licensed for national release by World Pacific. "I've Got Reasons" followed later that year on Bo's renamed Power Pac imprint, but after the release of the two-part "I've Got What You Need" (justly famed for drummer James Black's monster groove),Hooper effectively disappeared. Her vocal similarities to Cheatham (another Eddie Bo protégée) prompted many funk collectors to assume the two singers were one and the same, further muddying the waters of her history and recorded output.

Sorely overlooked by everyone (save for major soul and funk fans) who enjoys soul music, the city of New Orleans was relegated to the backseat by their soul brethren in Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Nashville, somewhat unjustly. With the recent movement to unearth funk classics and rare vinyl, this wrong has been slowly corrected, most recently with Funky Delicacies' reissue of Sena Fletcher's finest performances. Recording under the guise of Mary Jane Hooper, this collection of singles recorded for Scram Records includes her most well-known hit "Psychedelphia" and is reason alone for beat junkies to consider purchasing this compilation. But there are several other hidden treasures among the pile as well; "I've Got Reasons" and "You've Got What I Want" are but two that could give "Psychedelphia" a run for its money, and Fletcher's version of "Harper Valley PTA" is a beautifully haunting take on the classic "

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Hooper, Mary Jane - I've Got Reasons (3:08)
2. Hooper, Mary Jane - Don't Change Nothing (3:21)
3. Hooper, Mary Jane - You've Got What I Want (2:49)
4. Hooper, Mary Jane - I Feel a Hurt (4:02)
5. Hooper, Mary Jane - Remember When (3:06)
6. Hooper, Mary Jane - I'm in a Loving Groove (3:33)
7. Hooper, Mary Jane - I've Got What You Need (3:25)
8. Hooper, Mary Jane - How Long (2:15)
9. Hooper, Mary Jane - Harper Valley P.T.A. (3:25)
10. Hooper, Mary Jane - That's How Strong Love Is (3:09)
11. Hooper, Mary Jane - Psychedelphia (3:45)
12. Hooper, Mary Jane - Let My Past Go (3:13)
13. Hooper, Mary Jane - Teach Me (2:30)
14. Hooper, Mary Jane - Stolen Moments (2:26)

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Hooper, Mary Jane - I've Got What You Need

Don Julian - Shorty The Pimp/Savage! (1973)

2012-09-17T09:45:00.001-07:00

"Shorty the Pimp was to have been a blaxploitation movie around 1973, but was never released due to various problems; supposedly, only one rough cut of the movie now exists, rumored to be in the hands of director Quentin Tarantino. This is the soundtrack album that would have accompanied the project, performed by journeyman Los Angeles soul band Don Julian & the Larks. The soundtrack was canceled along with the film, though most of this made it onto official releases (usually on the Money label). Released or not, this is damn rare stuff, and aside from its appeal for blaxploitation collectors, it's pretty respectable early-'70s soul-funk on its own merits. Although this is heavily derivative of Superfly-eraCurtis Mayfield (there's even a parody called "Super Slick") and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"-era Temptations in its marriage of accomplished harmonies, intricate guitar and horn arrangements, and street-smart lyrics, it's well executed. On "Brother What It Is," they get into some Rahsaan Roland Kirk-like flute and jazzy grooves, while "Just Tryin' to Make It, Pts. 1 & 2" is a slow-burn instrumental reminiscent of Booker & the MG's doing "Summertime"; "I Love You" is a beautiful minor-key soul ballad with a cha cha feel. There are also covers of chart hits by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, the Staple Singers, and the like, since Don Julian & the Larks were to have played a lounge band in the movie itself. Some of these are superfluous, but some are more enjoyable than you'd expect; the version of "The Look of Love," for instance, is smooth and spooky.

Don Julian - Super Slick

Savage! Super Soul Soundtrack finds Don Julian abandoning his doo wop roots with the Larks to construct a score for this limited-run cult blaxploitation release. While one could easily assume he was emulating the career moves of several other successful R&B producers (Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, and Willie Hutch had already started to make a name for themselves scoring blaxploitation films), Julianwas taking a more traditional approach to scoring than his colleagues. Savage! most definitely finds its strength in small segues and incidentals, rather than properly arranged songs. However, this should not deter you from listening by any means. There's an art in gaining maximum impact from a minimal amount of instruments and timbres, and Julian does it effortlessly."

allmusic.com

Don Julian - Title Theme: Savage

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The Meters - Live (1978-11-21)

2012-09-12T10:34:00.001-07:00

Tracklisting

t01 Fire on the Bayou
t02 Look-Ka Py-Py
t03 Hey Now Baby
t04 Hang 'Em High, Honky Tonk Woman
t05 The World Is a Little Bit Under the Weather
t06 I Wanna Make It With You
t07 Chug Chug Chug-a-Lug
t08 Big Chief
t09 Jungle Man
t10 It Ain't No Use
t11 Hey Pocky A-Way (fade out)

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The Meters - Fire on the Bayou

The Very Best of Southside Movement - I've Been Watching You

2012-08-29T11:20:00.002-07:00

"The Very Best of Southside Movement: I've Been Watching You is a ten-track overview of the disco band's career, containing the entirety of their original debut album, which featured the hit singles "I've Been Watching You" and "Can You Get to That." The group didn't have much beyond those two singles, and even those will be of interest primarily to disco specialists, but for those who like the hits, there are a couple of enjoyable, similar-sounding songs on the album."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Southside Movement - I've Been Watching You (3:04)
2. Southside Movement - Love Turned Me Loose (2:08)
3. Southside Movement - La Dee Da (2:54)
4. Southside Movement - Have a Little Mercy (4:53)
5. Southside Movement - Can You Get to That (3:11)
6. Southside Movement - You're Going to Lose My Love (3:25)
7. Southside Movement - Come on and Love Me (2:30)
8. Southside Movement - Everlasting Thrill (3:04)
9. Southside Movement - Superstition (4:04)
10. Southside Movement - Mud Wind (4:38)

Southside Movement - You're Going to Lose My Love

Lee Moses - Time And Place

2012-08-21T12:58:00.001-07:00

"A funky guitarist with a rough and powerful deep soul singing style, Atlanta musician Lee Moses deserved a much wider audience during his lifetime, but although he released several dynamite singles and an engaging album in the late '60s and early '70s, he is a true lost figure in the history of R&B. Moses was born on March 13, 1941, in Atlanta, GA, and attended Booker T. Washington High School, where he sang in talent shows and learned to play guitar. He formed his first band, the Showstoppers, in the 1950s, and the group was an extremely big draw in the Atlanta area. Moses met New York producer and scene hustlerJohnny Brauntly around 1965 and began working as a session guitarist for him (along with another session player, some left-handed guitarist named Jimi Hendrix) in the Big Apple. Moses cut three singles for Musicor Records in 1967, followed by a couple more for Dynamo Records and a nine-track solo LP in 1971 for Maple Records entitled Time and Place, which saw him backed by his own band, now called the Disciples, and various members of the Ohio Players. The album sold little at the time but has become a revered and highly sought-after lost treasure for deep soul fans and collectors. Moses' last known release was a version of "The Dark End of the Street," which appeared as a single on Gates Records in the early '70s. He returned to Atlanta shortly thereafter and the city remained his home base for the rest of his life. He gigged locally there but apparently did not record again. He died in Atlanta in 1997. Castle Music combined all of Moses' singles with the 1971 LP tracks in 2007 and released them as the Time and Place CD, essentially creating a long-awaited collected works anthology."

allmusic

Tracklisting

1. Lee Moses - My Adorable One (2:55)

2. Lee Moses - Diana (From N.Y.C.) (2:22)

3. Lee Moses - Reach Out I'll Be There (2:46)

4. Lee Moses - Day Tripper (2:02)

5. Lee Moses - Bad Girl (Part 1) (2:27)

6. Lee Moses - Bad Girl (Part 2) (2:20)

7. Lee Moses - I'm Sad About It (2:47)

8. Lee Moses - How Much Longer (Must I Wait?) (2:39)

9. Lee Moses - If Loving You Is A Crime (I'll (2:36)

10. Lee Moses - Never In My Life (2:42)

11. Lee Moses - Time And Place (Single Version (3:05)

12. Lee Moses - I Can't Take No Chances (2:48)

13. Lee Moses - Time And Place (Album Version) (2:58)

14. Lee Moses - Got That Will (3:01)

15. Lee Moses - What You Don't Want Me To Be

16. Lee Moses - California Dreaming

17. Lee Moses - Every Boy And Girl

18. Lee Moses - Hey Joe

19. Lee Moses - Free At Last

20. Lee Moses - Would You Give Up Everything

21. Lee Moses - Adorable One

22. Lee Moses - The Dark End Of The Street

23. Lee Moses - She's A Bad Girl

Lee Moses - Hey Joe

Maceo Parker - Maceo - Soundtrack (1994)

2012-08-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Tracklisting

1. Maceo Parker-cold sweet (9:06)
2. Maceo Parker-knock on wood (4:26)
3. Maceo Parker-new moon (7:24)
4. Maceo Parker-house party (7:36)
5. Maceo Parker-new song (5:10)
6. Maceo Parker-chameleon (10:38)
7. Maceo Parker-make it funky (15:00)
8. Maceo Parker-C jam funk (11:50)

Maceo Parker-house party

James Brown - Love Power Peace, Live At The Olympia, Paris (1971)

2012-07-09T12:55:00.003-07:00

"James Brown is featured here with the then newly formed J.B.'s -- the maestro's second great band, including Bootsy Collins, Phelps Collins, Jabo Starks, Bobby Byrd, and Fred Wesley. Live at the Apollo had caught James Brown the '50s gospel/R&B singer; Love Power Peace captures James Brown the funkster. In the early '70s Brown turned up the funk, recording such litanies for Black America as "Ain't It Funky Now," "Sex Machine," "Give It Up or Turn It Loose," "Super Bad," "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved," and "Soul Power." They're all here, along with revved-up, white-hot versions of the early- and middle-period classics. Brown had planned to release this as a triple album in 1971. When several bandmembers left shortly after it was recorded, Brown switched from King to Polydor Records, leading him to scrap it and record a new studio album instead. In 1992, Polygram decided to make the recording available for the first time."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. James Brown - Intro (1:12)
2. James Brown - Brother Rapp (3:03)
3. James Brown - Ain't It Funky Now (5:36)
4. James Brown - Georgia On My Mind (6:11)
5. James Brown - It's A New Day
6. James Brown - Bewildered
7. James Brown - Sex Machine
8. James Brown - Try Me
9. James Brown - Medley Papa's Got A Brand New Bag I Got You (I Feel Good) I Got The Feelin'
10. James Brown - Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose
11. James Brown - It's A Man's Man's Man's World
12. James Brown - Please, Please, Please
13. James Brown - Sex Machine (Reprise)
14. James Brown - Super Bad
15. James Brown - Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
16. James Brown - Soul Power
17. James Brown - Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved (Finale)

James Brown - Ain't It Funky Now

Maceo Parker - Roots And Grooves (2007)

2012-05-30T12:50:00.006-07:00

"Say the name Maceo Parker, and immediately the legendary R&B saxman's longterm association with the late, great James Brown comes to mind. Depending on how steeped one is in R&B, Parker's later work with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins might pop up. But long before the Godfather of Soul entered the saxman's life, Parker was grooving heavily on Ray Charles, who became one of the influential musical heroes of his life. The first disc of Roots and Grooves gloriously celebrates Parker's connection to these roots, his early years in North Carolina listening to early Charles tracks on the radio. The second is something of a wildly jazzy, impossibly funky jam retrospective on his best solo tracks. The hook that makes this more than simply a high energy covers date is that it teams the brilliant altoist with Germany's renowned WDR Big Band -- and from the first swinging blasts behind Parker's horn on "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "big" is the operative word. Given Parker's sense of groove invention and the evergreen emotional power of Charles' chestnuts like "Busted" and "Hit the Road Jack," anyone might have expected this to be a dream match. But it's more than that because Parker also sings with a gravelly, Charles-like perfection on these two songs, and even more poignantly on "You Don't Know Me," "Margie," and a magically moody "Georgia on My Mind." Charles may have been declared deceased in body in 2004, but he lives again through Parker in haunting yet wonderful ways. On "Getting Back to Funk" (the title of the second disc), Parker revisits his own rich catalog of classics, starting with "Uptown Up" and vibing right on through to a nearly 18-minute scorching take on "Pass the Peas." Released in early 2008, this double set was an instant classic. Charles was not the only genius who loved company --Parker, too, has a blast working with one of the hippest big bands in the world."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Maceo parker - hallelujah i love her so (6:38)
2. Maceo parker - busted (3:53)
3. Maceo parker - them that's got (6:12)
4. Maceo parker - you don't know me (6:24)
5. Maceo parker - hit the road jack (5:09)
6. Maceo parker - margie (6:01)
7. Maceo parker - georgia on my mind (6:17)
8. Maceo parker - what'd i say (9:36)
9. Maceo parker - uptown up (5:57)
10. Maceo parker - to be or not to be (6:22)
11. Maceo parker - off the hook (8:02)
12. Maceo parker - advanced funk (7:10)
13. Maceo parker - shake everything you got (7:07)
14. Maceo parker - pass the peas (17:48)

Maceo Parker - pass the peas

Jimmy McGriff - Electric Funk (1969)

2012-05-13T09:37:00.005-07:00

"The title of Electric Funk may lead you to believe that it's a set of unrepentant, rampaging hard funk, but that's not quite the case. The record is laid-back but undeniably funky, with Jimmy McGriff and electric pianist Horace Ott leading an unnamed group through a set of soul workouts. It's not jazz, it's jazzy soul, and it's among the funkiest of any soul-jazz records from the late '60s, filled with stuttering drum breaks, lite fuzz guitars, elastic bass, smoldering organ, and punchy, slightly incongruous horn charts."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Jimmy Mcgriff - Back On The Track (3:17)
2. Jimmy Mcgriff - Chris Cross (3:45)
3. Jimmy Mcgriff - Miss Poopie (3:17)
4. Jimmy Mcgriff - The Bird Wave (4:01)
5. Jimmy Mcgriff - Spear For Moondog, Part 1 (3:28)
6. Jimmy Mcgriff - Spear For Moondog, Part 2 (3:03)
7. Jimmy Mcgriff - Tight Times (3:57)
8. Jimmy Mcgriff - Spinning Wheel (3:34)
9. Jimmy Mcgriff - Funky Junk (3:44)

Jimmy Mcgriff - Funky Junk

Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can (1970)

2012-05-10T10:04:00.001-07:00

"For all but the most dedicated record collector, Lee Dorsey's terrific singles for Amy -- including the hits "Workin' in a Coalmine" and "Ride Your Pony" -- are all anybody knows about Lee Dorsey's collaboration with Allen Toussaint. Those were the recordings that were the hits, those were the recordings that were played on oldies radio, and those were the recordings that were reissued on CD, while the two albums Dorsey and Toussaint made in the '70s seemed lost, never reissued and rarely mentioned in either's discography or biography. That's not to say that the first of their '70s efforts, 1970's Yes We Can, didn't have an impact. Several of the cuts were covered by major artists throughout the decade -- the Pointer Sisters had a hit with the title track, Robert Palmer covered "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley" for the title track of his 1974 debut, Ringo Starr cut "Occapella," and the Meters' loose-limbed, eclectic groove set the pace for a lot of rock and funk for the '70s (most notably Little Feat, who did a faithful cover of Dorsey's 1971 non-LP single "On Your Way Down"). So while it was possible to hear the reverberations of this album, it was impossible to easily hear this music until it finally saw the light of day on Raven's 2005 two-fer Yes We Can/Night People (which also included "On Your Way Down" and another non-LP single, "When Can I Come Home?," as bonus tracks).

Musically, Yes We Can is closer to Toussaint's solo LPs for Warner -- collected on Rhino Handmade's excellent 2003 two-disc set The Complete Warner Recordings -- than Dorsey's '60s sides, but it's the best overall album Dorsey ever made and one of the greatest soul albums of the '70s. Here, Dorsey, Toussaint, and the estimable supporting band of the Meters are at an absolute peak. Song for song, this is Toussaint's strongest writing and it's given lively, imaginative interpretations from the Meters. Hardly just a routine collection of New Orleans funk, Yes We Can dips into rampaging Stax-Volt soul on "When the Bill's Paid," diamond-hard funk on "Gator Tail," stylish updates of Dorsey's Amy sound on "O Me-O, My-O" and "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley," smoky nighttime grooves on "Riverboat," and utterly modern protest soul on "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" while ending on the hilarious standup comedy riff of "Would You?" Not only is there a great variety of styles, sounds, and moods here, but Dorsey, Toussaint, and the Meters all make it sound easy, when it really was the most sophisticated funk and soul of its time. Maybe that sly sophistication is why the album sank commercially in 1970, maybe it's because the music was at once too earthy and elegant to compete with the sound of either Hi or Philadelphia International, maybe it just didn't get the right promotion, but the years have been nothing but kind to Yes We Can, which stands as one of the great soul albums."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Lee Dorsey - yes we can - part 1 (3:24)
2. Lee Dorsey - riverboat (2:29)
3. Lee Dorsey - tear, tears and more tears (3:11)
4. Lee Dorsey - o me-o, my-o (2:37)
5. Lee Dorsey - sneakin' salley through the alley (2:44)
6. Lee Dorsey - yes we can - part 2 (3:23)
7. Lee Dorsey - who's gonna help brother get further (3:00)
8. Lee Dorsey - games people play (3:16)
9. Lee Dorsey - when the bills paid (2:23)
10. Lee Dorsey - occapella (2:34)
11. Lee Dorsey - gator tail (2:56)
12. Lee Dorsey - would you (3:40)

Lee Dorsey - yes we can - part 1

Bootsy's Rubber Band - Live In Louisville (1978)

2012-04-15T03:56:00.005-07:00

"If Bootsy Collins is correct in his contention that faking the funk will cause one's nose to grow, he and his bandmates need not worry: This is one seriously funky live album. In fact, fans of Collins who know him only through his studio recordings will find this set revelatory. There is a ferocity here that is only hinted at on his solo efforts and his work with Parliament and Funkadelic. Collins' vocals throughout this 1978 concert recording are frighteningly powerful, and his always amazing slap bass playing is almost dizzying at points. The rest of the group aren't slouches either. Of course, this is no second-tier road band: All of the key members of the Rubber Band are on board as are most of the Horny Horns (with the obvious exception of trombonist Fred Wesley). Collins and company cover all of the obvious hits and crowd favorites, and in every instance they improve on the already impressive studio versions. Gary "Mudbone" Cooper's vocals shine throughout as do those of Robert "P Nut" Johnson. Collins' brother, guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins is strong as always, particularly on incendiary versions of "Very Yes" and "I'd Rather Be With You." The horns -- always among the highlights on the Rubber Band's studio recordings -- are particularly effective here. Check out Maceo Parker's solo spot on "Can't Stay Away" for definitive evidence of his genius. This European release may not be the easiest item in Collins' discography to locate, but it may well be the best. Well worth seeking out."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Intro Maceo (0:20)

2. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Bootsy ? (What's The Name Of This Town) (3:12)
3. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Rubber Duckie (0:53)
4. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Psychoticbumpschool (3:14)
5. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Pinnochio Theory (6:26)
6. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Hollywood Square (5:39)
7. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Roto-Rooter (3:44)
8. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Very Yes (5:28)
9. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Can't Stay Away (6:07)
10. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out (In A Rubber Band) (11:23)
11. Bootsy's Rubber Band - I'd Rather Be WIth You (10:18)
12. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Aah The Name Is Bootsy, Baby (4:25)
13. Bootsy's Rubber Band - Bootzilla (6:22)

Bootsy's Rubber Band - Psychoticbumpschool

Ohio Players - Jam (1977)

2012-04-07T00:33:00.003-07:00

"With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, the Ohio Players were among the top funk bands of the mid-'70s. Emerging from the musical hotbed of Dayton in 1959, the group was originally dubbed the Ohio Untouchables, and initially comprised singer/guitarist Robert Ward, bassist Marshall "Rock" Jones, saxophonist/guitarist Clarence "Satch" Satchell, drummer Cornelius Johnson, and trumpeter/trombonist Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks. In late 1961, a relative of Ward's founded the Detroit-based Lupine Records, and the group traveled north to the Motor City to back the Falcons on their hit "I Found a Love"; the Ohio Untouchables soon made their headlining debut with "Love Is Amazing," but when Ward subsequently exited for a solo career, the group essentially disbanded.

At Mercury, the Ohio Players enjoyed their greatest success; not only did their sound coalesce, but they became notorious for their sexually provocative LP covers, a tradition begun during their Westbound tenure. Their 1974 Mercury debut, Skin Tight, was their first unequivocal classic, launching the hit title track as well as "Jive Turkey." Its follow-up, Fire, remains the Players' masterpiece, topping the pop charts on the strength of its bone-rattling title cut, itself a number one hit; "I Want to Be Free," one of the band's few attempts at social commentary, was also highly successful. 1975's Honey -- which featured perhaps the Players' most controversial and erotic cover to date -- was another monster, generating the chart-topping masterpiece "Love Rollercoaster" in addition to the hits "Sweet Sticky Thing" and "Fopp."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Ohio Players - Merry Go Round (4:52)
2. Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster (5:57)
3. Ohio Players - Alone (8:02)
4. Ohio Players - Skin Tight (4:34)
5. Ohio Players - Fopp (4:28)
6. Ohio Players - Magic Trick (3:53)
7. Ohio Players - Good Luck Charm (7:43)
8. Ohio Players - Fire (11:00)
9. Ohio Players - O-H-I-O (3:49)
10. Ohio Players - Sugar's Blues (2:49)
11. Ohio Players - O-H-I-O (Reprise) (1:25)

Ohio Players - O-H-I-O

O'Donel Levy - Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (1973)

2012-04-03T08:16:00.001-07:00

"Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky, O'Donel Levy's follow-up to his excellent Simba, is something of a letdown in comparison. Simba featured a bunch of solid tunes, written and dynamically arranged by Manny Albam. Although both albums were produced by label head Sonny Lester, without Albam's input these sessions seem somewhat lost. The title cut is not a direct ripoff of the Allen Toussaint tune, but it is fairly derivative. The second tune is a direct ripoff. "Marbles," credited to Levy, is actually a John McLaughlin tune, from his album Devotion, and it's downhill from there. Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles" is taken at breakneck speed, and let's just say Levy is better off sticking with instrumentals. "Livin' for the City" gets a heavy wah-wah makeover, but is one of the better tracks on the album. The rest is just unremarkable. "Sideshow" shows the ballad side of Levy's playing, and the standard "Willow Weep for Me" is treated as a pretty straight blues. None of this is awful; it just lacks the great tunes and arrangements of its predecessor. Unless you simply can't get enough O'Donel Levy, skip Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky and stick with Simba."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. O'Donel Levy - Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (3:23)
2. O'Donel Levy - Marbles (6:29)
3. O'Donel Levy - Will It Got Round In Circles (3:23)
4. O'Donel Levy - Living For The City (5:03)
5. O'Donel Levy - Side Show (4:47)
6. O'Donel Levy - Willow Weep For Me (6:18)
7. O'Donel Levy - Hey, Love! (3:19)
8. O'Donel Levy - Are You Foolin' Me (3:10)

O'Donel Levy - Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky

16 Lost Heavy Funk Rarities

2012-03-14T13:27:00.002-07:00

Tracklisting

1. BILLY (Sugar Billy) GARNER - YOUR WASTING MY TIME (2:40)
2. BOBBY RUSH - JUST BE YOURSELF (2:20)
3. THE SOUL AGENTS - SHE'S BLOWING MY MIND (2:26)
4. JOHNNY STATES AND SUN - BUG-EYE (3:04)
5. L.A. BARE FAXX - THE THING'S YOU DO (2:58)
6. DURALCHA - JODY IS GONE (3:00)
7. BLACK RAIN OF KASHMERE H. S. - SPARKPLUGS (6:22)
8. LANGSTON&FRENCH - LETS' GET FUNKY (2:40)
9. ACE CANNON - SOUL FOR SALE (2:24)
10. JOHNNY JAMES - ALI SHUFFLE (3:12)
11. THE PRECISIONS - FUNKY PEOPLE (2:56)
12. BROOKLYN PEOPLE - PEACE AND LOVE (3:46)
13. ART BUTLER - SOUL BROTHER (2:16)
14. THE WOO WOO'S - OOH OOH...! (2:18)
15. THE GOLDEN TOADSTOOLS - SILLY SAVAGE (2:18)
16. THE WHATNAUTS & THE WHATNAUT BAND - DANCE TO THE MUSIC (2:50)

BLACK RAIN OF KASHMERE H. S. - SPARKPLUGS

Kool And The Gang - Live At P.J.'S (1971)

2012-03-08T00:59:00.002-08:00

"Live at P.J.'s, the third Kool & the Gang record (and second live album in a row), betters the previous Live at the Sex Machine with a committed set balancing funky workouts ("Ronnie's Groove") with more exploratory soul-jazz ("Sombrero Sam"), and occasionally trying both on the same track ("N.T."). A night-after-night schedule of concerts all over the country had given Kool & the Gang the chops to become one of the best bands of the '70s, but it also enabled them to construct tight, interesting sets (this release would've undoubtedly sounded even better had the original compilers trusted the artists themselves and reissued the show in the correct running order). The opener is a version of "N.T." (short for no title), oddly slower than it was heard on record, though the relaxed tempo allowed plenty of room for solos and stretching out. At this point, Kool & the Gang had more in common with soul-jazz units like the Crusaders than a funk band, giving nearly every member a chance to shine, but especially Dennis Thomas on flute (he has some great vocalizing on "Sombrero Sam"), Khalis Bayyan on tenor and soprano sax, and Robert "Spike" Mickens on trumpet. The only misstep is a pair of covers originally heard on Isaac Hayes' ...To Be Continued, the first a regal version of "Ike's Mood" that suddenly descends into MOR soul via a misguided attempt at "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." Mercury's CD reissue added a great bonus track, "The Penguin."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Kool And The Gang - N.T. (6:31)
2. Kool And The Gang - Ricksonata (5:41)
3. Kool And The Gang - Sombrero Sam (6:41)
4. Kool And The Gang - Ronnie's Groove (2:59)
5. Kool And The Gang - Ike's Mood/You've Lost That Loving Feeling (10:29)
6. Kool And The Gang - Lucky For Me (3:06)
7. Kool And The Gang - Dujii (6:02)
8. Kool And The Gang - The Penguin (5:26)

Kool And The Gang - Dujii

Marva Whitney - Live & Lowdown At The Apollo (1970)

2012-03-03T12:16:00.001-08:00

Tracklisting

1. Marva Whitney - Things got to get better (Pts 1&2) (3:34)
2. Marva Whitney - Foolish fool (4:25)
3. Marva Whitney - It's my thing (4:05)
4. Marva Whitney - I made a mistake (Pts 1&2) (6:42)
5. Marva Whitney - Respect (5:50)
6. Marva Whitney - You got to have a job (Pts 1&2) (8:41)

Marva Whitney - Things got to get better (Pts 1&2)

Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Country Fried Chicken (1975)

2012-02-19T08:02:00.001-08:00

"Drummer Bubbha Thomas is working here in a mode that's kind of an electrified 70s take on the Texas showband style of earlier years – a mode that has the core funky combo augmented by electric keys and moog in just the right places! The tunes on the set are all instrumentals – jamming along in a sweet little style that mixes funky jazz with some of the rougher touches of the indie 45 scene – letting the band stretch out on extended solos on most cuts, but still keeping the rhythms very tight and in the pocket! In a way, the approach almost feels like some of the funkier work on Tribe Records from Detroit, especially on tracks that have more ambitious solo work. Players include Doug Harris on flute and tenor, Ronnie Laws on tenor, John Henderson on electric piano, and a young Hugh Ragin on trombone – and titles include "Herbs Of Life", "Sweet Ray", "Famous Last Words", "Country Fried Chicken", and "Survival Song"."

http://www.dustygroove.com

Tracklisting

1. Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Country Fried Chicken (6:09)
2. Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - All In Love Is Fair (5:06)
3. Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Survival Song (6:48)
4. Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Herbs (Of Life) (4:54)
5. Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Famous Last Words (5:41)
6. Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Sweet Ray (10:33)

Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen - Sweet Ray

The Fabulous Counts - Jan, Jan (1969)

2012-02-06T13:32:00.001-08:00

"Detroit funk unit the Fabulous Counts formed in 1968, uniting keyboardist Mose Davis, guitarist Leroy Emanuel, alto saxophonist Demo Cates, tenor saxophonist Jim White, and drummer Raoul Keith Mangrum. Earning local notice as both headliners and a jack-of-all-trades backing band for national touring acts, the group eventually teamed with noted producer Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, recording the cult classic "Jan, Jan" for the Motor City label Moira in late 1968. Distinguished by Davis' banshee-wail Hammond organ, and the dueling saxophones of White and Cates, the instrumental fell just shy of the national R&B Top 40 charts in early 1969. Noted for its scorching White solo, the Fabulous Counts' sophomore effort, "Dirty Red," further solidified their edgy urban funk sound, although commercial interest was negligible. The group's third single, "Get Down People," proved their biggest hit -- complete with vocals, conga drums, and a deeply soulful Emanuel guitar solo; it spent nine weeks on the R&B charts in 1970 and highlighted the Fabulous Counts' lone LP, Jan, Jan, produced by Detroit legend Ollie McLaughlin and issued on Cotillion. They left the label the following year for local imprint Westbound, swapping out a few members and continuing as simply the Counts."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. The Fabulous Counts - It's A Man's Man's Man's World (3:51)
2. The Fabulous Counts - Simple Song (2:55)
3. The Fabulous Counts - Hey Jude (3:25)
4. The Fabulous Counts - The Bite (2:40)
5. The Fabulous Counts - Soulful Strut (2:24)
6. The Fabulous Counts - Dirty Red (2:13)
7. The Fabulous Counts - Who's Making Love (2:16)
8. The Fabulous Counts - Scrambled Eggs (2:26)
9. The Fabulous Counts - The Other Thing (2:36)
10. The Fabulous Counts - Girl From Kenya (2:51)
11. The Fabulous Counts - Jan Jan (2:11)

The Fabulous Counts - Dirty Red

Various Artists - Because You're Funky

2012-01-12T03:22:00.001-08:00

Tracklisting

1. Les Cooper & His Soul Rockers - Wakoo (2:37)
2. Soulful Two - Fi-Yi Dance (2:28)
3. Sir Stan & The Counts - Soulin' (2:31)
4. The Martells - Broadway Exit (1:59)
5. Danny Freeman & The Soul Superiors - Shang Foo Pt 1 (2:48)
6. Davy Jr & Guess Who - Party In Joe Craig's Bar (3:58)
7. Jerry & The Medicine Man - The Medicine Man Pt 2 (2:14)
8. Big Man And The Night People - Night Creeper (3:04)
9. The Four Of Clubs - Funkity (3:18)
10. US Warren - The Drop Pt 2 (3:01)
11. Curly Davis & The Uniques - Black Cobra Pt 1 (2:50)
12. The Mello Decisions - Mello Decision (2:47)
13. Soul Unlimited - Sagittarius (3:10)
14. The Dream Makers - Funky Band Instrumental (3:03)
15. Basic Sound Of Pittsburgh - Down Beat (3:10)
16. The Second Thought - Slingshot (3:42)
17. Incomparable Seven - Melting Study Pt 2 (2:53)
18. Seven From Eleven - Strawberry Snocone Pt 1 (2:44)
19. The Dynasonics - You Got It (2:14)
20. The Soul Smoochers - Black Pepper (1:45)
21. The Kinfolks - The Fly (2:17)
22. Creations Unlimited - Chrystal Illusion (3:21)
23. Burning Star - Trip Horns (3:18)
24. The Black On White Affair - A Bunch Of Changes (3:07)

Creations Unlimited - Chrystal Illusion

16 Heavy Funk Ballads

2011-12-26T08:07:00.001-08:00

Hello, my dear friends =)
This year is coming to the end and I decided to show up at last with the new comp i wanted to do a long time ago for you. So I hope you like my NY present because it was made with all my heart and soul =)

I wish you Happy New Year brothers and sisters. Hope to see ya in the next =)

Faithfully yours, FunkyBoss =)

Tracklisting

1. The Kashmere Stage Band - Ain't No Sunshine (live) (4:21)
2. The Mickey & The Soul Generation - Help (I Need Your Love) (live) (3:50)
3. The Dayton Sidewinders - Phoenix (3:25)
4. The Hot Chocolate - We Had True Love (6:13)
5. The Meters - Stormy (3:31)
6. The Equatics - Where Is Love? (4:36)
7. The Black Merda - Reality (1:58)
8. The Ebony Rhythm Band - Can I Call You Baby (The Pearls) (3:35)
9. The Innersouls - Thoughts (3:22)
10. The Darling Dears - And I Love You (3:29)
11. The Wille & The Mighty Magnificents - Sundry (2:55)
12. Fugi - Can't You Hear Me Call You, Woman (4:25)
13. The Ultimates - Progressive Movement (3:49)
14. Jhonny Cameron & The Camerons - I Love You (Yes I Do) (2:50)
15. Boobie Knight & The Soulciety - April (5:23)
16. The Black on White Affair - Auld Lang Syne (4:01)

Link in comments

The Innersouls - Thoughts

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Liberation Afro Beat (2001)

2011-12-21T03:04:00.001-08:00

"New York-based Antibalas was formed in 1998 by musicians from King Changó, the Soul Providers, and the Daktaris. Influenced by Nigerian Afro-beat, American soul, and Latin dance grooves, Antibalas started playing at clubs around New York, hosting a weekend party called Africalia, giving them the opportunity to perform their particular style based on a combination of different cultures immersed in the band. After recording Liberation Afrobeat, the live album Live in New York! Summer 1999 was released. Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 was issued in early 2001. The group returned to recording in 2004 and issued Who Is This America? on the Rope-a-Dope label, followed by Security on Anti Records in 2007."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Si, Se Puede (9:54)
2. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Dirt And Blood (8:56)
3. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Battle Of The Species (6:28)
4. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - N.E.S.T.A. (Never Ever Submit To Authority) (7:17)
5. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Musicawi Silt (Live At The Jazz Cafe, London) (9:29)
6. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Uprising (7:24)
7. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - El Machete (9:53)
8. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - World War IV (Live At The Jazz Cafe, London) (6:58)

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - El Machete