Mebusas Vol. 1 - Blood Brothers (1973)

The MEBUSAS lone LP Blood Brothers combines elements of American Soul and Funk, Psychedelic Rock, Latin/Carribean rhythms and traditional African music. Innovative arrangements, deep rhythms, and top-notch playing make this 1973 album a true classic. This is the first ever re-issue of this landmark album.

Tracklisting:

01 - Son Of Mr. Bulldog (5:26)
02 - Blood Brothers (6:20)
03 - I Wanna Do It (4:05)
04 - Return-Pada (5:48)
05 - Mr. Bulldog (5:20)
06 - Grooving Out On Life (3:47)
07 - Kwashioko (2:57)
08 - Do You Know (3:26)
09 - Good Bye Friends (3:29)

Son Of Mr. Bulldog

Third Coast Kings - West Grand Boulevard (2014)

"West Grand Boulevard is the Detroit thoroughfare that was once home to two of Michigan's most iconic businesses, Motown Records and General Motors, and Mitten State R&B revivalists the Third Coast Kings pay homage to their home state's noble heritage on their third full-length album. West Grand Boulevard is more devoted to wiry funk grooves and the richer sounds of vintage soul than the more polished approach of traditional Motown sounds, but the Third Coast Kings are clearly players who respect a song that can fill the dancefloor, regardless of its roots, and that's what West Grand Boulevard is all about, as the songs point to Memphis, New Orleans, Chicago, or New York, as well as the Motor City. The engineering by Jim Roll gives the tracks a natural, live feel, and the performances are tight and emphatic, with just enough wiggle room that they sound like human beings rather than machines, but with enough unity to come across as a single sonic entity. The band more than delivers here, especially guitarist Andy Filisko, hornmen Alec Cooper, Ryan Dolan, Brian Einstein Lassiter, and Terry Kimura, and drummer James "Gemstone" Keovongsak, and the instrumental tracks sound nearly as satisfying as the tunes with the solidly swaggering Sean Ikebehind the vocal mike. And while plenty of funk revivalists sound as if they're trying so hard to sound "right" they forgot to have fun, the Third Coast Kings deliver a dozen grooves in an old-school style that are amiable and fully satisfying, capturing the sound and feel of a show band that isn't afraid to work up a sweat to move the crowd. the Third Coast Kings are one of the best, funkiest, and most sincere acts on the funk-revival scene, and West Grand Boulevard shows they keep getting better at making their music work in the studio."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting:

1.Third Coast Kings - Ice Cream Man (4:11)
2.Third Coast Kings - Get Some, Leave Some (3:59)
3.Third Coast Kings - Moving In The Night (3:06)
4.Third Coast Kings - High Tops (2:43)
5.Third Coast Kings - Sporting Life (I'm A Man) (4:12)
6.Third Coast Kings - Turns To Sunshine (3:17)
7.Third Coast Kings - Lead Foot (2:46)
8.Third Coast Kings - Birds, Bees (4:20)
9.Third Coast Kings - Jelly Roll (3:36)
10.Third Coast Kings - Just Move (3:40)
11.Third Coast Kings - Errol Flynns (3:39)
12.Third Coast Kings - West Grand Boulevard (3:35)

Third Coast Kings - Errol Flynns

Batty Davis - Betty Davis (1973)

" 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