Brass
Construction: Movin' & Changin' [Best of] - 1993
Label: EMI
Produced by: Jeff Lane & Randy Muller
15 track basic compilation by Brooklyn based funk outfit Brass
Construction led by Randy Muller. As the title indicates it includes
both the tracks "Movin'" and "Changin'" from the 1975 "Brass
Construction I". For more of the Randy Muller sound, check Skyy
"Greatest Hits" on Salsoul Records 1996.
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Brick: Summer Heat - 1981 [Jap. rel. only]
Label: Bang Records
Produced by: Ray Parker Jr. & Brick
I would really like to get my hands on their 1979 release "Stoneheart"
on CD, but still no luck. In the meantime enjoy Brick's 1981 "Summer
Heat". Led by saxophonist/flutist Jimmy Brown, they "invented" the term
Dazz - danceable jazz. Summer Heat" do has the "dazz" sound, but with a
touch of the easily recognizable Ray Parker/Raydio sound thrown in. You
could also go for the 1995 "Best Of". Although this has all their
biggest hits, there are several excellent tracks missing, -especially
from "Stoneheart".
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B.T.
Express: 1980 - 1980
[Jap. rel. only]
Label: Columbia
Produced by: Morrie Brown
Originally formed in 1972 as the King Davis House Rockers, the
Brooklyn-based group went through several name changes, including the
Madison Street Express and the Brooklyn Trucking, before settling on
B.T. Express. Although they somehow lost much of their 70's identity on
this release, it brings back very good memories with favorite cuts like
"Give Up the Funk", "Have Some Fun" and "Does It Feel Good".
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Brothers Johnson: Light Up
The Night - 1980
Label: A&M
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Classic 80's Quincy Jones production featuring most of the LA
studio mafia, and Louis Johnson's excellent bass work. Be sure
to also check out the very good "Blam!"
from 1978.
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Chuck Brown & The
Soul Searchers: Bustin' Loose - 1979
Label: Valley Vue - V2 53903
Produced by: James Purdie
Washington D.C. bandleader, performer and songwriter Chuck Brown
was a prominent figure on the city's go-go scene since the late
'70s and one of the rare go-go acts to gain US national
attention outside D.C. They got into the spotlight with "Bustin'
Loose", the top R&B single for 4 consecutive weeks at the end
of 1978. Its fabulous arrangement and horn work made the band
momentary celebrities. But the follow-up, "Game Seven" flopped,
and they were soon back on the go-go circuit. The track "I
Gotcha Now"
is one of my all time favorite funk tracks. The "Bustin'
Loose" album was originally released on the Washington go-go label Source in 1979
and reissued on CD on the Valley Vue label in 1992.
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Keni Burke:
You're The Best -
1981 [Jap. CD release only/24 bit remastering]
Keni Burke:
Changes -
1982
Label: RCA
Produced by: Kenneth M. Burke
Great bass player who never
really got the recognition he very well deserves. Born Kenneth M. Burke
in 1953 in Chicago, he first
started out as a teen member of the family group The Five Stairsteps. Burke's self-produced debut album, "Keni Burke" was released in
1977 (never released on CD and extremely hard to find even on
LP). Some tracks from that album was issued as a RCA CD (PD
90682) as "The Wonderful World Of Keni". Becoming an in-demand session bass player he can be heard on everyone from Sly & The Family Stone, Natalie Cole, Billy Preston,
The Emotions, Stargard, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Narada Michael Walden, Ramsey Lewis,
Diana Ross and Gladys Knight.
The
self produced 1981 album "You're The Best" included the singles "Let Somebody Love You", and the title track "You're The Best". Both became post-release
12" collectables. Other album highlights were a cover of Todd Rundgren's "Love Is The
Answer" and the sweet ballad "Gotta Find My Way Back In Your Heart", co-written by Burke and Bill Withers.
1982's "Changes" yielded his biggest solo hit. Though the
now classic "Risin' To The Top" peaked at #63 R&B in 1982, it was a huge hit in his native Chicago and has been sampled
by a myriad of hip-hop/rap and urban artists. (Doug E. Fresh: "Keep Risin' To The Top",
Mary J. Blige: "Love No Limit", Ali: "Feelin'
You"). Burke worked as a
writer/producer with The O'Jays, The Jones Girls, The Whispers, Keith Sweat, George Howard, Peabo Bryson,
Bill Withers, among others.
In 1997 Burke signed with Sony-distributed UK label Expansion
Records, and released the album
"Nothin' But Love" in 1998. Check www.homdrum.net/burke
for more info.
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Chic:
C'est Chic - 1978
Chic:
The Definite Collection - 2006
Label: Atlantic/Rhino
Produced by: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Containing dance classics like "Le Freak" and "I Want Your
Love", this is probably the ultimate dance/funk album. The production is
excellent with Edwards & Rodgers stripping disco down to it's basic
funky groove elements. The rhythm section is extremely tight and
Rodgers' guitar work is outstanding. For more of the same check their
1979 album "Risque", Diana Ross' "Diana" or Sister Sledge "We
Are Family". For a greater Chic overview you should go for the
excellent 2006 Rhino 30 track double set The Definite Groove
Collection.
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Cold Fire:
Too Cold -
1981
Label: Capitol
Produced by: Dr. Cecil Hale
Led by father and son Ray Towns Sr. & Jr. this is Cold Fire's
only album. The opening cut, the funky H.F.R.S. (Hustlin', Freakin',
Rockin', Streakin') is a killer track and the main reason for it being
on this list. The album also includes Patrice Rushen on keyboards,
Nathan East on bass and once Crusaders drummer Ndugu Chancler.
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ConFunkShun:
Best of
Vol.1 & 2 - 1993 & 1996
Label: Mercury
Produced by: Skip Scarborough and others
Two great 17 and 16 track CD compilations. Vol 1. is maybe the
strongest of the two. They had a killer combination with Michael
Cooper's vocals and Felton Pilate's guitar (and vocals). Listen especially to
the ultra strong ballads. The mellow "By Your Side"
is still on my all-time top-10 list some 20 years after it was
first released. Alternatively you could go for the
remastered "Ballads Collection" on PolyGram.
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Double Exposure:
The Anthology - 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss'd (UK)
Produced by: Baker, Harris & Young
Philly harmony quartet Double Exposure were one of the greatest
groups to record in the Sigma Sound Studios. Although working on the
clubby Salsoul label, they have a depth that matches any of the best
male soul groups of the 70s, and equally well-suited to mellow tracks as
well as uptempo ones. And although the group are best remembered for
their big disco singles of the late 70s, this 2CD collection also
includes all of their great ballads -- the complete set list from the
albums Ten Percent, Fourplay, and Locker Room.
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Earth, Wind & Fire:
The Essential - 2002 [2-CD set]
Label: Columbia
Produced by: Maurice White
A must in every Soul/Funk collection! 34 remastered classics,
but be sure to get the US and not the EU version of this. Both are 2-CD
sets, but disc 2 in the EU version contains newly remixed versions and
not the original tracks. If you wanna go all the way, check out the 1992
"The Eternal Dance". A 3 disc box set containing 54 tracks including
alternate versions and prev. unreleased tracks. Check
www.homdrum.net/ewf
for more info.
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Fatback:
Hustle! - The Ultimate Fatback 1969-84 - 2006
Label: Southbound (UK)
Produced by: Fatback
A glittering collection of groovy soulful gems -- 31 tracks by
the legendary Fatback -- featuring work from the group's first few years
as a funk band through their 70s transformation into one of the tightest
club acts around. Incl all the group's tastiest cuts, and includes a
massive amount of dancefloor grooves like "Spanish Hustle", "I Found
Loving", "Backstrokin", "I Like Girls", "King Tim III (Personality
Jock)", "The Girl Is Fine (So Fine)" and "Wicki Wacky".
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First Choice:
The Anthology - 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss'd (UK)
Produced by: Various
A massive collection of work by one of the greatest female acts
to come out of Philly in the 70s, whose work had a huge influence on
disco and club into the 80s! First Choice got their start doing more
pop-oriented work for the Philly Groove label -- but by the end of the
70s, they'd hooked up with Salsoul. This 2CD set features all 3 of the
group's albums for Salsoul -- Delusions, Hold Your Horses, and
Breakaway.
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Gap Band:
I - 1978
Gap Band:
II - 1979
Gap Band:
III - 1980
Gap Band: IV - 1982
Label: Total Experience/Mercury
Produced by: Lonnie Simmons
Four great funk albums. The name "Gap" comes from 3 streets in
their home town Tulsa, - Greenwood, Archer and Pine. They were known for
using a special guitar that sounds like a cross between a Spanish guitar
and a mandolin, - built like a French ukulele with 6 strings. [Gap Band
I is actually not their first effort. They also released an album on
Tattoo Records in 1977].
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G.Q.:
Disco Nights [Best of] - 1999
Label: BMG (UK)
Produced by: Jimmy Simpson
15 track disco/funk compilation with all of G.Q.'s (Gentlemen's
Quartet) biggest hits between 1979 and 1981. Remember "Disco Nights
(Rock Freak)", "I Do Love You", "Standing Ovation", "Don't Stop This
Feeling", "Is It Cool?" (with it's excellent heavy piano arrangement),
and their version of Taste of Honey's "Boogie Oogie Oogie".
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Heatwave:
Best Of - 2007
Label: Mastercuts UK
Produced by: Various
Among all the Heatwave compilations, this one is definitely the best.
Double disc set with 20 tracks, most of
them penned by the excellent songwriter Rod Temperton,
responsible for many hits by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson
among others. Close harmony singing and great arrangements.
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Incognito:
Adventures In Black Sunshine - 2004
Label: Dome
Produced by: Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick
UK based Incognito are celebrating their 25th anniversary with
the 14 track Adventures In Black Sunshine. The album oozes 70's
soul/jazz/funk and is in my opinion their overall strongest. This is
also a return for vocalist Maysa Leak (on 7 tracks) plus a special cameo
keyboard performance from George Duke. The instrumental tracks "The 25th
Chapter" and "Mindin' My Business" [8:13!] are both killer 70's old
school jazz/funk.
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Instant Funk:
Instant
Funk - 1981
Label: Salsoul
Produced by: Bunny Sigler
Salsoul Records in-house band's first release. Featuring the
classic "Got My Mind Made Up". Also check out another of
Salsoul's and production team Baker, Harris & Young's finest acts;
Double Exposure.
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Rick James:
Street Songs - 1981
Label: Motown
Produced by: Rick James
A classic album from the master of punk-funk. Including the
much sampled "Super Freak". Be sure to check out the
2001 two-CD set version "Street Songs – 20th
Anniversary Deluxe Edition" CD 1 contains the original
studio album plus both sides of the rare, extended 12"
remixes of "Super Freak" and "Give It To Me
Baby" - all digitally remastered from the original
analog master. CD 2: In the summer of 1982 Rick was performing
live in Long Beach Arena in California accompanied by his
Stone City Band, Punk Funk Horns, Teena Marie and background
singers Mary Jane Girls. However, a live album was never
released, - until now. Mixed and mastered from the original
24-track reels, the performance includes live versions of
"Love Gun", "Mary Jane", "You And I",
"Super Freak", "Give It To Me Baby" and
"Ghetto Life". Teena Marie contributes - in her
first-ever live recording – with her own "Square Biz"
and "I’m A Sucker For Love". The package comes
with a 28-page booklet with original lyrics and cover art.
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Quincy Jones:
The Dude
- 1981
Label: A&M
Produced by: Quincy Jones
This dude probably needs no introduction. Classic 80's production by the man himself.
Featuring an all-star line-up including James Ingram and Patti Austin on vocals.
Several songs penned by
ex-Heatwave
member Rod Temperton.
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Chaka Khan: Naughty - 1980
Chaka Khan: What Cha' Gonna Do For Me - 1981
Produced by: Arif Mardin
Label: Atlantic
Chaka's second album "Naughty" is by far her best
album ever, with
"What Cha'..." following right behind. Tight production from
Mardin, although I find the drum sound a bit "thin".
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Kleeer: The Very Best Of - 1998
Label: Rhino/Atlantic
Produced by: Dennis King & Kleeer
13 track compilation of hard quality funk by N.Y. based Kleeer.
Led by drummer/vocalist Woody Cunningham this is as tight as it gets.
All cuts are excellent remastered and original full-length album
versions. Also check out Woody Cunningham's fine solo album "Never Say
Never" released on UK Expansion Records in 1997. The Kleeer sound is
easily recognizable although this album is more mellow than the average
Kleeer track.
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Kool & The Gang: Gangthology - 2003
Label: Universal/Mercury UK
Produced by: Various
When Samuel L. Jackson said "it's cool...and the motherfucking
gang" in Pulp Fiction, he was definitely talking about Robert 'Kool' Bell
and his gang prior to their Deodato-produced albums from 1979 and
onwards. Although Deodato took the gang to a commercial height with the
1979 "Ladies Night" and the albums to follow in the early 80's, it's
really their 70's offerings that are most interesting. This superb 33
track double CD-set is mainly concentrating on the 70's with a couple of
their biggest Deodato-hits thrown in. Disc 1 entitled "Wild" incl.
classic funk like "Jungle Boogie" and "Funky Stuff", while disc 2 -
entitled "Peaceful" - offers mellow summer grooves like "Wild &
Peaceful", "Breeze & Soul", "Summer Madness" and "Winter Sadness".
Superb!
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L.T.D.:
Love To
The World - 1976
Label: A&M
Produced by: Larry & Fonce Mizell
Vocalist Jeffrey Osborne's old band. This album was finally
released on CD in 1995 and contains the classic "Love Ballad", also done by George Benson in an upbeat version. Also check
out the 15 track "Greatest Hits" on A&M. This has most of the tracks you need.
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Ohio Players:
Skin
Tight - 1974
Ohio Players: Fire - 1975
Ohio Players: Honey - 1975
Ohio Players: Contradiction - 1976
Ohio Players: Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee - 1978
Label: Mercury
Produced by: Ohio Players
Classic jazz/funk CD's with the original cover artwork. (For those of you knowing what I'm
talking about :-). Excellent sound, even though these 5 OP albums was produced
30 years ago. Listen specially to the killer horn arrangements and the drum sound.
Featuring the special and easy recognizable singing style by Sugar. This style was also to
some extent, done by Michael Cooper of ConFunkShun, Larry Blackmon of Cameo and Larry
Dodson of The Bar-Keys. Beware of several not-so-good "best of" CDs
out there, but the "Funk On Fire" dbl remastered compilation
is excellent and has most of
the tracks you need.
If you've got a surround system with DTS, "Honey"
has been remixed in 5.1 DTS sound, and it sounds great!
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Parliament: Give Up the Funk [Best of] - 1995
Label: Mercury
Produced by: George Clinton
George Clinton forged two bands, Parliament and Funkadelic, out
of what had just been one. Being the more commercially viable of
his insane clown posses, most Parliament tracks made it to radio
and their all here. "Flashlight", "Give up the Funk (Tear the
Roof of the Sucker)", "Up for the Down Stroke" and "P-Funk
(Wants to Get Funked Up)". Do yourself a favour, get this and get down to some serious P-Funk!
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Passage: Passage - 1981
Label: A&M
Produced by: Louis Johnson
Great gospel/funk album by one half of Brothers Johnson together
with his wife and cousin(?). This saw limited CD release on French label
Funk Records a while back but is now deleted and very hard to find. Passage
not to be confused with UK jazz/fusion group by the
same name.
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Pockets:
Come Go With
Us - 1977
Pockets: Take It On Up - 1978
Label: Sony Japan/Columbia
Produced by: Verdine White & Robert Wright
The Baltimore based outfit The Pockets teamed up with Verdine
White of Earth, Wind & Fire and delivered an excellent performance on
their first two albums. Very good EW&F-like sound and highly recommended
Japan only CD releases. Also available are the "Golden Classics" (US Collectables Records
5811) containing most of the tracks from both "Come Go With Us" and "Take
It On Up" plus a couple of tracks from from their last release "So
Delicious" from 1979.
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Diana
Ross: Diana - 1980
Label: Motown
Produced by: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers (Chic)
Another classic Chic production and Diana's best selling album
ever! Including "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out". Go for the 2 CD-set
Deluxe Edition which also contains Edwards & Rodgers original mix of the
complete album plus several 12" disco remixes of other Diana songs. Also check out
her 1978 album "The Boss" produced by Ashford & Simpson.
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Rufus & Chaka Khan:
Masterjam - 1979
Label: MCA
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Another Quincy Jones production. Featuring the Seawind Horns together with some the best
studio musicians at the time. Be sure to also check out the
excellent live album "Stompin' at the Savoy" from
1982 with 5 studio bonus tracks including the classic "Aint'
Nobody".
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Salsoul Orchestra:
Anthology - 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss'd (UK)
Produced by: Vince Montana ++
Vibes, strings, keyboards, and vocals -- the heavenly sound of Vince
Montana's large disco orchestra, The Salsoul Orchestra, one of the
greatest disco/soul/funk outfits of the 70s! Amazing how great these
tunes still sound after all these years -- still tight, right, and funky
at the best places -- gliding along with a sound that's classy yet
soulful at the same time. Of all the Salsoul Orchestra compilations,
this 27 track 2 CD set is by far the best!
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Marlena Shaw: Go Way Little Boy - The Sass & Soul Of..
[Best of] -
1999
Label: Sony
Produced by: Various
After a few years with Blue Note in the early 70's (first female
signed to that label), Marlena moved to CBS in 1977 releasing 3 albums
containing more R&B/soul (and a little disco) than her jazzy Blue Note
years. This 14 track compilation covers her CBS years and is very
stylish all the way from her signature ballad "Go Away Little Boy" to
the disco rendition of "Touch Me In The Morning" (12" remix and hard to find).
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Sister Sledge: We
Are Family - 1979
Sister
Sledge: Love Somebody Today - 1980
Label: Atlantic
Produced by: Nile Rogers & Bernard Edwards (Chic)
Classic production and session work by Edwards & Rodgers of Chic. Is this
a tight rhythm
section, or what?! We Are Family are probably the best of the 2,
but Love Somebody Today also features some great Chic grooves. For a Sister Sledge
overview you could go for the 2006 remastered Rhino 30 track
double set The Definite Groove Collection.
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Slave: The
Definite Groove Collection - 2006
Label: Atlantic/Rhino
Produced by: Various
Excellent 30 track double set of remastered heavy funk.
Including 6 tracks from Steve Arrington's solo albums.
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Lisa
Stansfield: Affection - 1989
Label: Arista
Produced by: Ian Devaney & Andy Morris
Actually a bit before it's time, Lisa released "Affection" in
1990, years before 70' dance music was once again hot. Classic Barry
White-like string arrangements and Philly soul production. For more of
the same you can go for all her albums -- except 2006 The Moment which
is pure pop produced by Trevor Horn -- since they are pretty much more
of the same.
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Bobby Thurston:
You
Got What It Takes - 1980
Label: Prelude
Produced by: Willie Lester & Rodney Brown
Classic Prelude production. Perfectly arranged funky disco with
an extremely fat yet crisp sound (My JBL's really loves this :-) This is
how a dance record should sound like.... period! Long running songs with
plenty of room for piano and guitar solos. A fat and funky/jazzy
piano, massive rhythm guitars and real horns & strings perfectly
arranged. All on top of a really fat bass line, this rhythm section is
as tight as can be. Go get this I say! Also check out another of Prelude's finest, Sharon Redd.
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The
Trammps: Where the Happy People Go - 1976
Label: Atlantic/Collectables
Trammps:
This Is Where
the Happy People Go [Best of] - 1994
Label: Atlantic/Rhino
Produced by: Ron Baker/Norman Harris/Earl Young
The Trammps were making some excellent dance music years before disco
became a dirty word. Their 1976 offering "Where The Happy People Go"
(not to be confused with the compilation "THIS IS Where The Happy..) is
truly a classic in my book since it was the album that really got me
hooked on Black Music. (How appropriate that one of the tracks is
entitled Hooked For Life :-) It was finally reissued on CD by
Collectables Records in the US in February 2006!
For an overall look into the Trammps, check out the very good 18 track
Rhino compilation "This Is Where The Happy People Go" from 1994.
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Luther
Vandross:
Never
Too Much - 1981
Label: Epic
Produced by: Luther Vandross
Luther's 3rd and breakthrough album. High quality production
featuring Marcus Miller on bass. Also available on high quality SACD.
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Various: Classic
Salsoul
Mastercuts Vol.1 & 2
Label: Beechwood Music (UK)
Highly recommended CD compilation series from this UK based label. Including
12" versions - if available - of classic Salsoul Records
acts. Featuring First Choice, Double Exposure, Loleatta Holloway,
Ripple, Instant Funk and The Salsoul Orchestra among others.
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Various: Can You Dig It? - 2001 [6 CD box set]
Label: Rhino
If you want to go all the way, this is probably the ultimate 70's
R&B box set. 6 CD's with a total of 136 tracks, 65 which hit #1. It
represents a who's who of stars, with some hard-to-find tracks thrown
in. Sure, the hard-core fan with an extensive 70's soul CD collection
will probably wish for more obscurities, but anyone wanting an at-home
jukebox loaded with classic R&B will certainly dig this...
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Various Artists:
Sugarhill Records Definite Groove Collection - 2006
Label: Sugarhill/Rhino
Produced by: Various
Compiling 24 of the old-school rap label's best cuts and
sequencing them chronologically, the compilation is practically
definitive: all of the key songs are here, from the long version of
"Rapper's Delight" to Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five classics like
"The Message" and "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)," and so are a number
of more obscure label highlights, like the long version of Trouble
Funk's "Hey Fellas" and the Rick James interpolation "All Night Long
(Waterbed)" by Kevie Kev.
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Johnny Guitar Watson:
Ain't That a Bitch - 1976
Johnny Guitar Watson:
A Real Mother - 1977
Johnny Guitar Watson:
What The Hell is This? - 1979
Label: DJM
Produced by: Johnny Guitar Watson
Johnny Guitar Watson, a multi-talented performer who was one of the hottest blues axemen
on the West Coast during the 50's. He first started out as a piano player, but by 1954,
when he dreamed up the absolutely astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar" (not
even 17 years old), he had switched to guitar. "Space Guitar" ranks with the
greatest achievements of its era, - Watson's blistering rapid-fire attack, done without
the aid of a pick, contained futuristic effects that rock guitarists still hadn't mastered
15 years later. He totally changed his image to a pimp-styled funkster with the mid 70's
down-and-dirty R&B releases "A Real Mother", "What the Hell is
This" and "Ain't
That a Bitch" on DJM Records.
After "Strike on Computers" in 1984, Watson seemed to disappear, but his 1994
album for Bellmark, returned him to prominence and earned him a Grammy nomination for best
contemporary blues album, even though its contents were pure old-school funk. Sadly, in
the midst of a truly heartwarming comeback tour, Watson passed away while touring Japan in
1996.
If you completely missed the 70's and want a taste of Johnny Guitar, start off with the
31 track 2 CD set compilation "The Funk Anthology".
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Norma Jean
Wright: Norma Jean - 1978
Label: Bearsville/Atlantic
Produced by: Nile Rogers & Bernard Edwards
Chic lead singer Norma Jean Wright also recorded both under her
own name and as Norma Jean (not to be confused with the same-named
country singer). Her self-titled 1978 album was produced by Rodgers &
Edwards and could easily have been the second Chic album. "Norma Jean"
saw limited release on CD a while back but is now deleted and very hard
to find. Copies are changing hands for $400!
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