--==> OufAr KhAn <==--

All Good Things...

2012-01-01T02:54:00.001-08:00

...come to an end, including my humble postings on this blog!
Naturally all credit and gratitude should go first to each artist involved in the creation of such magnificent albums. Please remember this blog was always meant to spread the word about unduly forgotten LPs, not as a subsitute for the real records!
Many thanks also to all of you who left comments — you kept the community spirit of this blog alive. And last but not least, thanks to the mighty Oufar Khan who created this blog in the first place! I did nothing but keep the fire burning for some time.
I hope you have enjoyed the music we posted here, and that you will cherish some of the discoveries you might have made for a long time. Feel free to dig into the archives, and ask for re-ups if necessary...
Music is our precious sunshine and love, it is, as Albert Ayler had it, the 'healing force of the Universe'.
Cheers!
Greg

The Janet Lawson Quintet - The Janet Lawson Quintet (1980)

2011-12-31T07:24:00.001-08:00

My last post will be what is, in my opinion, a truly sublime album, as Janet Lawson may well be one of my favorite jazz singers. She's got a free scatting style that's reminiscent of 70s work by singers like Flora Purim, Jackie Cain, or Monika Linges: very breezy, in a mode that works perfectly with her loosely swinging combo —which has a definite fusion bent!
The record's really great all the way through – with piano modally grooving along with Janet's vocals – sax and flute twisting into the mix, inflecting the lyrics with just the right hint of jazzy riffing. Titles include the airy "Sunday Afternoon", "So High", "Nothing Like You", "You Promised", and a great reading of Chick Corea's "Shazam".
Don't miss this one guys!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Burton Inc. - L.A. Will Make You Pay $$$ (1977)

2011-12-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hey, crisis or not, I guess we would be happy to pay if LA's always this funky! Burton Inc step out here with a wealth of great underground club tracks and deep modern soul – one that's equal part dancefloor groove, uptempo funk, and soulful singing – electric keys dancing underneath righteous female vocals – and a sound that's slightly more righteous than most grooves from the time!
Tracks include the eponymous track, the moving 'Groovin' At The Nightclub', the snapping number 'Who You Gonna Get' and the mighty 'See What You Made Me Do'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Eddie Gale - Black Rhythm Happening (1969)

2011-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Quoted from AMG: Trumpeter Eddie Gale's second Blue Note outing as a leader is one of the most adventurous recordings to come out of the 1960s. 'Black Rhythm Happening' picks up where 'Ghetto Music'left off, in that it takes the soul and free jazz elements of his debut and adds to them the sound of the church in all its guises -- from joyous call and response celebration on the title track (and album opener), to the mournful funeral sounds of "Song of Will," — all thanks to the Eddie Gale Singers. Elsewhere, wild smatterings of hard and post-bop ("Ghetto Love Night") and angular modal music ("Ghetto Summertime"), turn the jazz paradigm of the era inside out, simultaneously admitting everything in a coherent, wonderfully ambitious whole. The album closes with "Look at Teyonda," a sprawling exercise in the deep melding of African and Latin folk musics with the folk-blues, flamenco, and jazz rhythms. 'Black Rhythm Happening' is a timeless, breathtaking recording, one that sounds as forward-thinking and militant in the 21st century as it did in 1969.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Cesar Mariano & CIA - Sao Paulo, Brasil (1977)

2011-12-28T11:15:00.000-08:00

A fantastic bit of funky fusion from Brazil — Keyboardist Cesar Mariano leads the group through a set of tight choppy electric tunes that easily rank with the best work on American 70s labels, like CTI or Kudu, but with some excellent additional touches that take the work to a whole new level!
Electric keyboards mix with acoustic bass and piano – for a groove that's both funky, but also touched with strong elements of Brazilian jazz. Includes the cool funky track "Metropole", the break cut "Fabrica", and the mellow groover "Imigrantes" – as well as the tunes "Metro", "Litoral", and the uniquely growing number "Futebol De Bar".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love (1981)

2011-12-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

Amazing! This lost Roy Ayers-produced gem from the early 80s has not only been one of the biggest sample records of all time, but it's also become one of the holy grails of the groovy record collecting scene! It's a stellar bit of jazzy soul tracks with the same production vibe that's characterized Roy's best work, but it's made all the more sublime thanks to Sylvia Striplin's beautifully fragile and soulful vocals, which sound a bit like Minnie Riperton's.
The record's got arrangements by Sylvia, Roy, and James Bedford (who also recorded for Uno Melodic), and it includes classics like "Give Me Your Love", "You Can't Turn Me Away", "Look Towards The Sky", "All Alone", and a great cover of Roy Ayers' "Searchin".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Charles Sherell - For Sweet People From Sweet Charles (1974)

2011-12-26T03:43:00.000-08:00

A supremely fantastic album, and one that's always woefully overlooked in discussions of James Brown's incredible People label! Sweet Charles, Charles Sherell, was a great lost soul vocalist who had a voice that was warm and mellow, with a sweetness that was often missing from James' singing – but which sounded great with his arrangements and production. Fred Wesley and Dave Matthews arranged this one and only album, and the record's a great blend of sweet soul tracks, funky numbers, and other stellar grooves. There's a killer version of "Soul Man", that begins with a very tasty break; the monster "Yes, It's You", which has a sweetly sliding intro that's ripe for sampling; the righteous political "Why Can't I Be Treated Like A Man"'; and lots of other nice ones too!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Uhuru (1971)

2011-12-25T06:29:00.001-08:00

An essential record from Gary Bartz – one of two albums he cut with Andy Bey, and the killer group he was calling his NTU Troop! Andy's vocals are incredible – light years ahead of anything he did with his sisters, and similar to those he laid down on his own solo album for Atlantic, and on Blue Note sides with Horace Silver – a righteous mix of jazz and soul, with a burning intensity that makes the political themes of the tracks come out strongly. The album includes one of Andy's all time classics – the original 7 minute version of "Celestial Blues", plus the fantastically grooving "Uhuru Sasa" – as well as the cuts "The Planets", and "Blue (A Folk Tale)". And Gary Bartz is of course pretty great too – dropping in these angular reed lines that really give the record an edge, and which sound totally great next to Bey's vocals!

Enjoy it!
And Merry Christmas to you all!
Greg

Manzel - Midnight Theme (1977)

2011-12-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

The never-before released full album from keyboardist Manzel Bush – the legendary 70s funk figure well-remembered for his classic break tracks! As a whole, the album's a masterpiece of spacey keyboards and funky drums – funkier than just about any other record one can think of from the late 70s!
The set was recently put together by Manzel in collaboration with Kenny Dope, and many of the tracks feature new mixes by Kenny & The Undercover Brother – done in such a way that really respects the original grooves of the tunes, and which only sweetens them a bit in the right places, or brings out the funky drums even more. Every cut is a stone monster – and the quality of the set is amazing – with obscure cuts that sound every bit as wonderful as the more famous sample tracks like "Space Funk" or "Midnight Theme". Titles include "Jump Street", "Sugar Dreams", "Long Way Home", "Just For You", "It's Over Now", "The Party", "Vera Cruz", "Space Funk", "Midnight Theme", and "Evil Wicked Mean & Nasty".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Fathers' Children - Father's Children (1979)

2011-12-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

The Wayne Henderson-produced self-titled LP by this little-kown LA band is like a lost soul album from the height of Fantasy Records —think Side Effect, Pleasure, or Sweet Talks. It features a tight keyboard and brass-driven streak of songs, at the crossroads between jazzy late 70s soul and the early iterations of 80s Funk.
It is most remembered by groovers worlwide for the rare groove anthem 'You Can Get It' and the mellower 'Hollywood Dreaming', but it also includes other tasty nuggets such as 'Dance To It' or 'Shine On'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Raices - Raices (1975)

2011-12-22T10:27:00.001-08:00

Hailed by Mister Gilles Peterson as one of the best latin fusion albums of all-time, this 1975 release by Raices is indeed a killer batch of spiritual and funky latin-jazz that deserves a high praise. Mixing strong jazzy playing, a great New York-produced sound, and a gift for energetic shifts within the compositions, it stands as one of the better lost gems of the era —with that disrespect for fixed categories which makes adventurous music so fantastic.
Includes the self-explicit 'Bluegarian Funk Dance', the great 'Lenguas', 'Bamboo' and the soulful 'Parallax'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Johnny Robinson - Memphis High (1970)

2011-12-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

An under-recognised output of the legendary Hi Studios in Memphis, produced by Willie Mitchell, this album is a real gem of firing southern soul. Johnny Robinson, an Alabama native, made the switch to secular singing a few years prior to this recording, and echoes of the very best soul singers of this era can be heard in his extremely heartfelt, passionate singing. The production has this typical southern raw and soulful quality, and be it swinging ballads such as 'We Are Going To Make It' or 'Slip Away', or groovy numbers such as 'Kansas City' or 'Funky Feet', you're in for a treat.
What a cover, too!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Linda Williams - City Living (1979)

2011-12-20T11:15:00.001-08:00

A killer bit of modern soul – one of the standout classics from the best years of Arista! Richard Evans produced and arranged this excellent set of smooth soul grooves for Linda Williams. Linda plays keyboards and sings, and the album was recorded in 2 different sessions – one in LA, and one in Chicago. The album's got a nice jazzy sound, with a similar feel to the Breakwater LPs on Arista at the time. Linda's voice is as wonderful on this set as on anything we've heard from her, and with her depth of talents on the piano & keys, and on the songwriting tip, she's a real creative force at the top of her game here! Tracks include "No Love, No Where, Without You", "Oh Honey", "Loving You Forever", and the great groover "Elevate Our Minds", which is worth the price of the record alone!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Brother Jack McDuff and David Newman - Double Barrelled Soul (1968)

2011-12-20T02:23:00.000-08:00

One of the more open-ended sessions that Brother Jack cut for Atlantic – with less of the tight larger soul arrangements that the label usually saddled him with, and that makes for a great, groovy LP! David Newman plays a variety of saxes, and the group also includes a young Melvin Sparks on guitar. Tracks are longish, and the album includes the magnificent originals "Duffin 'Round", "Esperanto", and "More Head" – as well as stunning versions of "Sunny" and "But It's Alright"!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Don Thompson - Fanny Brown (1977)

2011-12-19T11:32:00.001-08:00

Don Thompson's only known LP on Brunswick is a rather unique funky ode to love and booty-shaking, with a sense of the beat that's totally compelling. Don's sound is rich and full, with fuzzy keyboards and clean drums, horn breaks so funky that they have to be heard. His raw masculine voice does the rest on this essential LP of late 1970s funky soul. Most noteworthy are the joyful floorfillers 'Hang Loose' and the title track, as well as the great 'Please Don't Make Yourself At Home'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Lee Fields - Let's Talk It Over (1977)

2011-10-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

Lee Fields, one of the great criminally under appreciated funky geniuses of the 70s carved this pounding, raw funk classic that finds the man at the peak of his powers! Lee is absolutely on fire on all these tracks, with a Godfather like delivery that will knock you out of your chair, whether with a fiery funk howl, or a smooth, soulful glide on the occasional ballad. His backing musicians perform tons of hot drums, propulsive percussion, and some driving conga work that steers things into an afro funk groove on several of the tunes.
Includes the titles 'Let's Dance', 'Mighty Mighty Love', and the 2-parts number 'Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Mandrake Som - O...,Amigo (1977)

2011-10-30T08:41:00.001-07:00

One of Brazil's finest percussionist, Mandrake Som, released this rare Italian-only album in 1977. It is a perfect follow-up to his previous bossa-jazz killer 'Sombossa', bringing even further the fusion between brazilian percussion-heavy music and jazz.
All in all it is a real groovy gem that deserves to be better known, and it includes great covers of 'Mulher Rendeira' or the timeless 'Dindi', plus original compositions such as the title track, 'Estrada do Sol' or 'Disparada'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Azar Lawrence - People Moving (1976)

2011-10-29T06:08:00.001-07:00

An excellent bit of spacey funky jazz from sax player Azar Lawrence, and one of the great earlier productions by Skip Scarborough, with a feel that's very similar to Gary Bartz's work with Larry Mizell! Azar plays a mix of funk and spiritual soul jazz – and he's got some great electric backing by Patrice Rushen, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Mtume, and Lee Ritenour.
The whole thing's got a great Fantasy Records funk groove – and includes many nice titles like "Theme For A New Day", "Kickin Back", "Canticle For The Universe", "Gratitude" and a great take on Scarborough's "Can't Hide Love".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Vince Andrews - Love Oh Love (1982)

2011-10-28T03:03:00.001-07:00

Although 1980s jazz is usually not my cup of tea, this firing session by Vince Andrews is a noteworthy exception. Singer Jeannette Williams truly shines on the numbers she's featured in, and the polished sound doesn't go in the way of the progressive approach, with a lot of groovy playing going on, and a snapping jazzy organ to back things up.
The leader and writer of most of the tunes is saxophonist Vince Andrews, who plays with ease and is heard in fine form on 'The One Who Needs You' or 'Vibrating with Vince'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Rhythm Machine - Rhythm Machine (1976)

2011-10-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

A fantastic independent LP of funky soul, this self-titled album by Rhythm Machine is fulled of little nuggets that will tickle your groove-loving ears. Hailing from Indianapolis, the group was made of members Meride Williams and Donald Harris on saxophones, Hopie Bronson on keyboards, James Boone (bass guitar/lead vocals), Robert Dycus (drums), Maurice Puckett (guitar), and Dennis McNeil on conga.
The collective writing and arrangements have a great mid-70s feel, with lots of space, and a great warm sound that's a perfect balance between fully organic sound and the right bits of electric keyboards in the mix.
Includes 'You Got Action, You Got Me", 'Everybody's Chippin' and the great longer piece 'Thought My Love Was Fine'.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Joe Bataan - Afrofilipino (1975)

2011-09-30T01:40:00.001-07:00

A key piece of latin funk, though not such a famous piece of Mr Bataan's discography, 'Afrofilipino' pays tribute to his origins while pushing ahead the boogaloo/soul formula that made his breakthrough with Fania in the 1960s.
Bataan's first album on the newly-formed Salsoul label (a phrase he was instrumental in coining), this record contains a healthy dose of organ/keyboard- filled latin funk, with a rather unique sound. The hit single back in the days was his great pre-disco cover of Gil Scott-Heron 'The Bottle' (re-titled 'La Botella'), while the title track, 'Women Don't Want To Love Me' and the epic 2-part song 'What Good Is A Castle' are all high points of the genre.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Tyrone Thomas & The Whole Darn Family - Has Arrived (1976)

2011-09-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

For those still unaware, this is one of the classic independent underground funk LPs of the 1970s! The Whole Darn Family were a seven-piece band (augmented by a six-piece horn section) from Richmond, Virginia, featuring the production and writing skills of August Moon and lead vocalist Tyrone Thomas.
The tunes here range from driving soul sounds as in "You Know That You Lied" to more complex numbers like "Fly Away Love Bird," which exhibits Joel Smither's lovely flute. The oft-sampled, seven-minute instrumental "Seven Minutes of Funk" is funk-fused with jazz elements, accented by Steve Carey's synthesizer, Woody Hughes' emphatic bass playing, Tommy Bryant and Kenny Mimms' sweet guitar licks, and Thomas' steady drumming. A funky "Ain't Nothing to Do," unleashes a rock guitar punctuated by O. T. Young's conga beats and keyboardist Clinton Smith's solid playing, while the teary "I'm Hurt" has a strong Al Green/Otis Redding vibe.

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Frank Strazzeri - After The Rain (1977)

2011-09-19T02:14:00.001-07:00

Funky keyboard work from Frank Strazzeri– a player who's really stretching out here in the 70s, with a massively cosmic vibe you'd never have guessed from his earlier work! Strazzeri had recorded and played heavily around the LA scene by the time of this mid 70s release – but none of his other work was as wonderfully soulful as this!
Frank's working here on moog and electric piano – in a group that includes Sam Most on tenor, Bobby Shew on trumpet, and Don Alias on percussion – grooving with Frank in a gently funky way that's got a heck of a lot of soul, and which makes for some nice extended tunes with an amazing sonic architecture. Titles include "After The Rain", "Rush Hour", "Philadelphia Flyer", the splendid "Cloudburst", and "The Third Eye".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Kellee Patterson - Kellee (1977)

2011-09-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Kellee Patterson's amazing first album for the Shadybrook label – a total killer all the way through, and much harder and heavier than any of her later sides for the label! The record's got a nice jazzy vibe that's a good bridge between her earlier work on Black Jazz, and her later, straighter soul material – a dose of funk in all the right places, and a touch of spiritual leanings too – really put together with a wonderful feel that sets the album apart from much other work of the time.
Includes a sublime breakbeat version of "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" – with killer drums, and an excellent monologue at the beginning – plus a great cover of Grover Washington's "Mister Magic", with some interesting vocals. Other titles include "Time To Space", "What You Don't Know", and "I Love Music". Gene Russell handled production and arrangements, too!

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Viva Brasil - Viva Brasil (1980)

2011-09-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

A killer album of breezy bossa-fied jazz from the West Coast! Viva Brasil worked for many years as part of the underground Brazilian scene in San Francisco - home to smaller combos similar to themseves, and bigger names who often recorded on Fantasy Records.
There's a full album's worth of great cuts here, all with the cool breezy west coast Brazilian feel that was the group's trademark style, including the massive club track "Skindo-Le-Le".
Whilst partly electric, the core sound is like a floating acoustic one with jazzy influences, often with Ruben Moura's vocals to the fore. Joe Henderson guest stars on the track "Iemanja", and the LP includes the tracks "O Bode", Jocafi's evergreen "Voce Abusou", Bosco and Blanc's brilliant "Ronco Da Cuica" and "Menina Danada".

Enjoy it!
Greg

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Stone Alliance - Stone Alliance (1976)

2011-08-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

The first album by Stone Alliance, in their most famous line-up, the one that featured the great saxophonist Steve Grossman alongside historic members Don Alias and Gene Perla; and it's a treasure of quite adventurous yet surprisingly accessible music.

The unusual trio setting makes for an innovative use of the instruments, and bold compositions by the group, mixing hard funky jazz, latin and afro elements, with a minimal sense of the groove that transcends musical barriers.

The record also includes a killer version of a Stevie Wonder-penned favorite, 'Creepin', that is well worth a listen.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Chocolate Milk - Chocolate Milk (1976)

2011-08-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

The second album of hard funky soul by this great New Orleans band – and it's one of their best! The record's got great production by Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn, and a nice rolling funk groove that never lets up.

Loads of great deep funky cuts, including "Never Ever Do Without You", "Running Away", "Pluck It", and the slowjam 'How About Love'. One of their two truly great LPs!

Enjoy it!

Greg

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West Coast Revival - West Coast Revival (1973)

2011-08-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

Let me make up for that (too) long absence with a rare gem of an album, the self-titled effort from Cali-based 'West Coast Revival'. Not much is known about this great vocal trio apart from the musical legacy they carved on this LP, a blend of fantastic vocal harmonies and raw, sunshine-drenched soul, sometimes not unlike their Chicago contemporaries Rasputin's Stash.

The arrangements are especially worth a close listen with a very strong interplay between the singers themselves, and the band. Includes the indie soul masterpiece 'My Mind Is At Ease', plus 'Feelin' Alright' and 'Familiar Places'. A killer!

As usual, the link is in the comments...

Enjoy it!

Greg

Genie Brown - A Woman Alone (1973)

2011-04-29T10:21:00.001-07:00

2011-02-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

A great electric album that David 'Fathead' Newman cut with Roy Ayers, still at Atlantic studios, and a record with a smooth 70's funky sound that works better than some of his 60's recordings.

Newman is heard both on tenor and flute, and Roy Ayers contributes with his soulful vibraphone and some touches of keyboard, backed up by Bags Costello on organ and piano and Cornell Dupree on guitar. Tracks include Roy Ayers' great tunes "Fuzz" and "Fire Weaver", plus "3/4 Of The Time", "Symphonette", and the title cut.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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2010-10-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

2010-06-11T14:02:00.001-07:00

A lost bit of modern soul from New Jersey -- sweet, mellow, and with a groove that's very much in the Philly indie mode of the late 70s! Not much is known about Lee, but the album's got that laidback, late nite groove that makes indie soul so great -- professional in intent, but handled with an honest simplicity that makes the record a bit more compelling than most of its contemporaries. Contains a version of "We've Only Just Begun" that's so great it's got to be heard to be believed -- completely different than the original, done with jazzy conga flourishes that really open up the groove. Other tracks include the great Northern Soul track "I'll do anything for you", "Gotta Get Home", "Sweet Magic", "Slow Down", "Let's Play Luck", and "Show Me".

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Kimiko Kasai with Herbie Hancock - Butterfly (1979)

2010-06-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

A great album of soulful jazzy tracks from Japanese singer Kimiko Kasai -- with keyboards from Herbie Hancock and Webster Lewis -- incredible and unjustly overlooked!

Backed by Paul Jackson, Bennie Maupin, Bill Summers et al, Kimiko sings in English, and the record's got a nice smooth fusion groove with funky moments, post Headhunters. It's almost in the mode of Herbie's work in the late 70s! The only forgettable tune is (to my opinion) a dreadful version of Stevie Wonder's 'As', but above all it features some really great versions of the most exquisite Herbie Hancock tunes -- including "Maiden Voyage", "Sunlight", "Butterfly", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Harvest Time" -- and the funk steeped opener "I Thought It Was You". All of this featuring the man himself on keyboards!

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Clarence Reid - Running Water (1973)

2010-05-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

A sweet southern soul album on the Alston imprint by the singer who would later be better known as the kinky Blowfly, but here, Clarence Reid is fully dedicated to a sensitive, soulful yet rawer kind of music. At that time when he was also writing most of Betty Wright best-known tracks for TK, he took the time to co-write his entire album, and some of the tracks here are quite memorable.

Of course, you might know the title track, an 8-minute tour de force that's been covered over and over through the years; but Clarence also shines on deep soul tracks like 'The Truth' and 'New York City'.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Del Jones - Positive Vibes (1973)

2010-05-16T12:13:00.003-07:00

A righteous underground soul classic from Del Jones -- message-oriented funk at its best! Jones is working here in the spirit of some of the best locally-crafted indie outings of the time -- like work by Mike James Kirkland, Oneness Of Juju, The Pharaohs, and other important righteous regional acts of the 70s.

The lyrics are extremely progressive, and deal with hard themes of African-American life at the time -- stated clearly enough by titles that include "Soul of Black Folks", "Court Is Closed", "Prelude Ta Hell", "Needle N Spoon", and "Inside Black America" -- and backed up by some great arrangements that throw a lot of fuzzy funky guitars into some tight, jazzed-up grooving. The album also includes the massive "Vibe-Ing Theme" -- and the whole thing's a treasure that should be ranked with the best of its sort!

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Bobby Vince Paunetto - Commit To Memory (1976)

2010-05-13T02:26:00.001-07:00

Here is the other masterpiece of forward-thinking music created by Bobby Paunetto and his band, the Commit To Memory band, mixing latin elements with jazz and funk into complex compositions that have rarely, if ever, been matched. Bobby handles the vibe section, and his guests include Manny Oquendo, Jerry Gonzalez, Justo Almario and Milton Cardona. This is the kind of LP that gets better and deeper each time you hear it, the whole band being so tight and playing so openly at the same time. This killer album includes titles such as 'Spanish Maiden', 'Taz' or 'Little Rico's Theme'.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Bobby Vince Paunetto - Paunetto's Point (1975)

2010-05-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

A landmark in 70s jazz and Latin -- one of 2 legendary sets cut during the decade by composer/arranger Bobby Vince Paunetto -- easily one of the most unique voices of his generation! Bobby's got an approach to melody that's all tied up in the rhythms -- one that has most of the instruments in the group vamping along with the grooves, while solos take off in wonderful flights that soar to the skies on waves of sound and soul -- echoing a sense of joy and life that few other albums of the period can match, and hitting a groove that's complex, yet instantly moving and deeply personal.

Players include Tom Harrell on trumpet, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, Billy Drewes on soprano sax, and Bobby himself on vibes -- sounding wonderful throughout the album, matching the 70s brilliance of Roy Ayers or Bobby Hutcherson! Also features percussion by Manny Oquendo, Jerry Gonzalez, and Milton Cardona -- and titles include "Osiris", "Fenway Funk", "In Time's Time", "Spanish Maiden" and "Brother Will". Essential!

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Syreeta - One To One (1977)

2010-05-08T05:47:00.001-07:00

2010-02-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

The acknowledged godfather of Afro-beat, Sierra Leone native Geraldo Pino laid the foundation for the West African soul and funk revolution of the 1970s. As his group 'The Heartbeats' evolved, its music absorbed the growing influence of American soul label Motown Records, although the seminal inspiration on Pino's vocals, songwriting, and public image proved to be R&B icon James Brown, whose relentless funk grooves and jaw-dropping showmanship directly shaped Pino's most celebrated efforts.
The Heartbeats toured West Africa almost continuously between 1965 and 1967, and the experience vaulted Pino to fame across the continent. The group's live show became the stuff of legend: "I was playing highlife jazz when Geraldo Pino came to town in '66 or a bit earlier with soul -- that's what upset everything, man," Afro-beat legend Fela Kuti later recalled. "He came to town with James Brown's music, singing 'Hey, hey, I feel all right, ta ta ta ta....' And with such equipment you've never seen, man. This man was tearing Lagos to pieces. After seeing this Pino, I knew I had to get my shit together. And quick!" Hits like "Power to the People," "Give Me Ganja," "Let Them Talk," and "Make Me Feel Good" further bolstered Pino's celebrity, before the commercial ascendance of Kuti and other Afro-beat pioneers further overshadowed Pino's latter-day music.

Many tunes have skittish electric piano and organ riffing along with heavier percussion and guitar -- in a way that creates a really unusual groove, and one that will grab your ears instantly! This first album contains 'Power To The People', 'African Must Unite' and 'Heavy Heavy Heavy'.

Enjoy It!

Greg

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Eddie Russ - Take A Look At Yourself (1978)

2010-02-19T03:30:00.000-08:00

Yet another jazz-funk banger! Take A Look At Yourself has Russ working at a level that's right up there with keyboard giants like Weldon Irvine, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Bobby Lyle -- a wonderful fusion of jazz and soul that's carried off perfectly throughout the entire set.

The backings are sublime -- rich and full, but never sleepy -- and with a strength that really moves past even Eddie's great work on other albums. The keyboards soar over the top of the tunes mightily -- supported by some great horn parts, and just a bit of chorus vocals on a few cuts. Eddie's playing Arp, electric piano, and a bit of un-named synth on the set -- and titles include the great title track, "I Want To Be Somebody", "Tea Leaves", "Lay Back", "Feelin Fine", and a version of "Don't Ask My Neighbors".

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Eddie Russ - See The Light (1976)

2010-02-15T07:16:00.000-08:00

A beautiful album of spacey jazz funk! Eddie Russ was a 70s keyboard genius -- right up there with Lonnie Liston Smith and Herbie Hancock, although he never reached the fame of either of those players.

'See The Light' is one of Eddie's best albums -- and it's got a smoothly produced soul jazz sound that's almost a takeoff on the style of Smith's excellent records for Flying Dutchman -- but a bit cooler overall, and with a great feel that links back to Russ' years in the Detroit scene.

Tracks are uptempo and jazzy, with a strongly soulful vibe that features lots of electric keyboard work over the top of fast dancing rhythms. A few cuts have sweet female soul backup vocals, and additional instrumentation includes trumpet, sax, and guitar. Tracks include the classic "Zaius", "Salem Avenue", "Poko Nose", and the proto-electro "See The Light".

Enjoy it! It's a great one!

Greg

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Tommie Young - Do You Still Feel The Same Way? (1973)

2010-02-11T01:55:00.000-08:00

This is absolute manna from Southern soul heaven! On the strength of this 1973 LP, Tommie Young can stake a claim as perhaps the finest neo-Aretha Franklin stylist among the slew of early-'70s soul sisters. But she was a meteor flare, almost immediately retreating back to the gospel scene that nurtured her. Granted, her vocal tone is lighter; but the sensational, effortless, melodic leaps on the commanding title track does nothing to dispel the Franklin impression. "Do We Have a Future?" is punchier and might be rushed for a singer lacking Young's immaculate phrasing; she's simply a natural-born singer with the same appealing forthrightness as Irma Thomas.

The liner notes say producer Bobby Patterson cut backing tracks to O.V. Wright's "That's How Strong My Love Is" and Percy Sledge's "Take Time to Know Her" (gender-switched here) for her first session and Young just walked in and nailed 'em in one take -- and it ain't hard to believe at all. "You Came Just in Time" finds Young fighting through backing vocal clutter, but the ballads "She Don't Have to See You (to See Through You)" and "You Brought It All on Yourself" thankfully free her voice back to unadorned basics, with great command of dynamics and phrasing on the latter. Brilliant phrasing also marks the very strong "You Can Only Do Wrong So Long" and she shines again on the more down-home funky "You Can't Have Your Cake" with some Ann Peebles vocal sass in her delivery. In addition, "Everybody's Got a Little Devil in Their Soul" is just absolutely marvelous, a funk groove with a second-line, jump-up snap in the drums and nice horns -- no real melodic changes, but who needs 'em with a wondrous singer testifying in neo-Aretha mode over a killer groove? Tommie Young was singing straight-up soul from a woman's perspective as well as or better than any other '70s soul woman at that level one step down from Queen Aretha.

2009-11-21T05:54:00.000-08:00

For once, a compilation, but an amazing one —that of recordings by an under-appreciated Afro-Funk master, Segun Bucknor and his bands (the Assembly and the Revolution) between 1969 and 1975. Bucknor was a contemporary of Fela, and hugely popular in the country. Of course, a lot of this sounds like the man himself — it would be asking a lot not to be influenced by that sound. But the progression of the songs here is more rhythmic and more circular — not a march toward the abyss, but a march around your head. The first and most important thing Bucknor wants to do is to make you dance. The lyrics are strong and mostly political, but the groove is the thing here. These tunes are drenched in sweat, played with the hard-edged precision of men who could and often did play for hours. Fans of the sound will love this. Anyone who's fond of funky music or who loves the sound of Memphis and Muscle Shoals and Detroit but hates the time limitations of the 7" groove will dig this severely.

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Oliver Nelson- Skull Session (1975)

2009-11-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

A beautiful bit of funky jazz -- and one of the unsung gems in the early 70s Flying Dutchman catalog! Oliver Nelson leads a number of different groups that are filled with funky electric players -- like Mike Wofford, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Denis Budimir -- and the record's filled with cool moog, arp, and keyboard grooves that are unlike anything you'll find on any other of Nelson's albums. Some cuts are more big band oriented, but the best ones are nice and funky. Titles include "Skull Session", "125th And 7th Ave", "Flight For Freedom", "Baja Bossa", and "Dumpy Mama".

Enjoy it!

Greg

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Ana Mazzotti- Ana Mazzotti (1974)

2009-11-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

An amazing album of icy Brazilian jazz and sweet electric funk! Singer Ana Mazzotti is at the head of the session -- singing with this breezy style that's at once cold and warm, cool and emotive -- and she's backed by a small jazz combo with some incredible moog, Arp, and organ from Jose Roberto!

The record's got a bucketful of groove-heavy tracks that feel like CTI meeting up with Joao Donato -- and the album's a treasure that should be in the collection of any fan of 70s Brazilian funk! Titles include "Cordao", "Soul", "Bairro Negro", "Eu Sou Mai Eu", "Roda Mundo", "Sou", and "Agora Ou Nunca Mais" -- plus an incredible version of "Feel Like Making Love"!

Enjoy it!

Greg

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