From his highly rated (and ultra rare) first album "Hang On In There", this 45 epitomises crossover soul. Mike James Kirkland was born in Yazoo City, MS, but eventually went to California where, with his brother, started Bryan Records to release his stuff.
The funkiest work ever cut by Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers -- the heaviest grooves from their two classic albums for Sussex Records! Consider the set a distillation of all that made Chuck great in the pre-GoGo years -- his incredible sense of rhythm, his fluid style of grooving, and his revolutionary approach to funk -- a sound that really set the Soul Searchers apart, even in their earliest recordings -- with a lean, clean style that almost balanced equal parts soul, funk, and jazz!
Leon Thomas possessed one of the most unique voices in jazz music. Leon had been the vocalist with Count Basie in the early sixties, and then had a spell with members of the Underground Musicians and artists association in Los Angeles. In 1969 he formed a natural alliance with Pharoah Sanders, and sung 'Prince of Peace' on Pharoah's 'Izipho Zam' album. "Love Each Other" is a great soul mid-tempo ! Very hard to find !
Shoulda been a classic -- the tune's that good! "Everyman" is an obscure soul track handled by Patrick Adams, but the cut's got a soaring groove that's right up there with best of more famous Philly at the time -- a sweetly crackling feel on the lead vocals, but a proud, bold bottom that pushes the track with a forceful current of soul on the hook. "I Need Love" is a bit sweeter, but still great too -- a mellow groover with a nicely gliding feel.
Insanely fantastic! Ananda Shankar was one of the hippest sitar players of the 60s -- an artist who was not only steeped in the strongest traditions of Indian music heard in other more mainstream players, but one who also had a keen ear for modder and funkier grooves of the time!
Centered around some soundtrack music that Herbie Hancock wrote for Bill Cosby's Fat Albert cartoon show, Fat Albert Rotunda was Hancock's first full-fledged venture into jazz-funk -- and his last until Head Hunters -- making it a prophetic release.