HARD... RAW... DEEP... FUNK: December 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010

J.B's - Food for Thought (1972)



















"The J.B.'s were the legendary supporting cast of musicians behind James Brown, earning a well-deserved reputation as the tightest, best-drilled instrumental ensemble in all of funk. The name J.B.'s is most often associated with three hornmen in particular -- saxophonists Maceo Parker and Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, and trombonist Fred Wesley, all of whom originally joined Brown's backing band at various points during the '60s. As a recording entity unto themselves, however, the J.B.'s enjoyed a distinctly defined heyday from 1970-1975, under the musical directorship of Wesley (though Brown, naturally, remained a strong presence). The J.B.'s were billed under a variety of alternate names on their own singles and albums -- Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s, Maceo and the Macks, Fred and the New J.B.'s, the James Brown Soul Train, the Last Word, the First Family, and more. The core group of personnel, despite some turnover on the periphery, remained fairly steady from 1971 on, at least until Brown's creative downturn precipitated several important defections. "
allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. J.B's - pass the peas (3:25)
2. J.B's- gimme some more (3:08)
3. J.B's - to my brother (2:34)
4. J.B's - wine spot (3:34)
5. J.B's - hot pants road (2:45)
6. J.B's - the grunt (2:47)
7. J.B's - blessed blackness (3:48)
8. J.B's - escape-ism,part 1 (3:22)
9. J.B's - escape-ism,part 2 (4:13)
10. J.B's - theme from king heroin (3:05)
11. J.B's - These Are The JB's (3:04)

J.B's -  The Grunt

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Daktaris - Soul Explosion (1998)


















            "The Daktaris were an Afro-beat group on the New York-based funk revival label Desco, recording compact, Fela Kuti-style grooves that sounded as though they'd come straight out of 1970s Nigeria. At first, Desco did nothing to discourage that perception, packaging their 1998 album Soul Explosion to look like an authentically African collector's dream, and even giving some of the band members Nigerian aliases. But in reality, the Daktaris were Brooklyn-based studio musicians, many of them white, many of whom had already been assembled by Desco heads Gabriel Roth and Phillipe Lehman as the label's house band, the Soul Providers. Besieged by inquiries about the music's origins and demand for a Daktaris tour, Roth and Lehman soon acknowledged the hoax, but given the quality of the album, the backlash wasn't enormously great. There was no follow-up to the Daktaris' initial session, but some of the members formed a new Afro-beat revivalist group called Antibalas in the spring of 1998."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. The Daktaris - Musicawa Silt (3:04)
2. The Daktaris - Musicawa Slit Part 2 (2:24)
3. The Daktaris - Quiet Man Is Dead Man (4:39)
4. The Daktaris - Modern Technology (3:58)
5. The Daktaris - Super Afro-Beat (3:45)
6. The Daktaris - Give It Up Turnit Loose (3:53)
7. The Daktaris - Eltsuhg Ibal Lasiti (5:09)
8. The Daktaris - Daktari Walk (4:53)
9. The Daktaris - Voodoo Soul Stew (4:27)
10. The Daktaris - Upside Down (4:13)

Daktaris - Super Afro-Beat

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Various Artists - Soul 7



















Tracklisting:

1. Billy Ball & the Upsetters - Popcorn 69 (2:30)
2. Billy Ball & the Upsetters - Sissy Walk (2:23)
3. Soul Seven - Mr. Chicken (3:01)
4. Soul Seven - The Cissys Thang (2:19)
5. Booker T. Averheart - Heart N Soul (2:29)
6. Booker T. Averheart - Maxi Midi (2:06)
7. Bad Medicine - Trespasser 1 (2:27)
8. Bad Medicine - Trespasser 2 (3:24)
9. Earnie & the Top Notes - Dap Walk (3:03)
10. Earnie & the Top Notes - Things Are Better (2:15)
11. Soul Commanders - Funky Soul Music 1 (2:13)
12. Soul Commanders - Funky Soul Music 2 (2:54)
13. Soul Vibrations - I've Got to Find A Way (2:23)
14. Soul Vibrations - The Dump (2:41)

Soul Vibrations - The Dump

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Propositions - Funky Disposition


















Thundering funk from the early 70s Detroit scene, and the complete work of The Propositions.

Tracklisting:
1. Propositions - You've Been Chose (2:51)
2. Propositions - Bad Seed (7:55)
3. Propositions - Free And Easy (3:45)
4. Propositions - Africana (5:31)
5. Propositions - Vamping (4:05)
6. Propositions - Sweet Lucy (3:09)
7. Propositions - Grooving For The Groove (3:28)
8. Propositions - Live Funk Session (1:28)
9. Propositions - You've Been Chose (3:25)
10. Propositions - Bad Seed (7:52)
11. Propositions - Free And Easy (3:49)
12. Propositions - Africana (5:37)
13. Propositions - Vamping (5:00)
14. Propositions - Sweet Lucy (3:05)
15. Propositions - Groovin For The Groove (3:29)
16. Propositions - Something Different (Long Edit) (4:07)
17. Propositions - Africana (Long Edit) (5:34)
18. Propositions - Do Whatever Turns You On Pt. 1 (2:27)
19. Propositions - Do Whatever Turns You On Pt. 2 (2:31)
20. Propositions - Funky Dispostion (3:01)

Propositions - Something Different (Long Edit)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Boobie Knight & the Universal Lady - Earth Creature (1974)


















Tracklisting

1. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - A Woman Will Make You Love (4:46)
2. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Ain't Nobody Betta Dan You (3:34)
3. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - April (5:23)
4. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Burn The Saturday Night Fever (3:32)
5. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Earth Creature (4:14)
6. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Feeling My Cheerios (3:19)
7. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Flaming Youth (5:04)
8. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Power Greater Than Man (6:05)
9. Somebody Touch Me (in The Right Place) (4:11)
10. Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - The Lovemaniacs (3:45)

Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Feeling My Cheerios

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - Soul Ain't No New Thing (1972)


















"Funk bandleader Boobie Knight specialized in a heavy, psychedelic-tinged, guitar-centered brand of groove, something along the lines of the proverbial stoned soul picnic. Dubbing his first outfit the Soulciety, Knight landed a deal with RCA and recorded the album Soul Ain't No New Thing in 1972; it included jam-oriented tracks like "King of the Real Good Guys," "Power to the People," and the title cut. Moving over to Brunswick, Knight reorganized the band and renamed it the Universal Lady, taking on Al Johnson as lead vocalist. 1974's Boobie Knight & the Universal Lady expanded on the trippy vibes of the debut, with key cuts including "Earth Creature" and the oft-compiled "The Lovomaniacs." Knight's two albums are now considered collector's items among die-hard funk aficionados."

allmusic.com

Tracklisting

1. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - Dear Love (7:29)
2. Boobie Knight & The Soulciety - Ego Tripping (5:12)
3. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - It's Not What You Do (5:21)
4. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - King Of The Real Good Guys (3:57)
5. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - Lettin' Hapiness In (6:35)
6. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - Power To The People (3:24)
7. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - Soul Ain't No New Thing (2:53)
8. Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - The Changing Game (3:40)

Bobbie Knight & The Soulciety - Ego Tripping