VA - What It Is! Funky Soul & Rare Grooves [2006] (4xCD's)

FUNKY SOUL & RARE GROOVES

VA - What It Is! Funky Soul & Rare Grooves [2006] (4 x CD's)

Too many reissue compilations are content to merely slice 'n' dice familiar catalog choices in not particularly original ways. But this four-disc, 91-track trove of obscure '70s R&B and funk from Warner-distributed labels great and small argues there's still treasures to be gleaned from studio vaults--a five-hour groove-fest that's as interested in shaking booty as in opening ears. Even the genre's groundbreaking usual suspects (Wilson Pickett, the Bar-Kays, Curtis Mayfield, Earth, Wind & Fire, et al) are represented by selections that aren't immediately familiar, while Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin serves up a radically different, previously unreleased take of "Rock Steady." Still other stars contribute their sonic touches to some of the lesser-known cuts, as witnessed by the patent trippiness of Sly Stone alter-egos 6ix and Stanga on "I'm Just Like You" and "Little Sister," respectively; the stark, party-not-so-hearty contrast of the Mayfield-written-and-produced "Hard Times" by Baby Huey & Baby Sisters; and the Meters' version of "Tampin'," released under the moniker of the Rhine Oaks.

Sequenced in rough chronological order, it's a savvy window into a musical evolution as well, with the rhythmic guitars, organ swells, and horn flourishes of traditional '60s R&B giving way to sinewy synths and increasingly chunky bass lines as the decade grooves on. While savvy hip-hoppers will note that many of the rarities here have already been repurposed by shrewd mixers, it's a revelation to hear them in their original form. A compelling deconstruction of an often clichéd and too-narrowly-defined genre, this is an anthology that showcases music that has influenced such contemporary artists as Tupac, the Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West, annotated by many of the original musicians who set the dance floor in motion. (Amazon)

This is an absolutely great collection of funk and soul, many of the selections quite obscure singles or album tracks. I've been buying music since the early 70s and consider myself pretty well versed on what's been released, but collections like this make me realize I've only heard a fraction of the great music from this period. Some really excellent eye-opening tracks to be found here. Get it and start digging it!

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Track lists

CD1

01 The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Spreadin' Honey 2:25

02 The Bar-Kays - Soul Finger 2:21

03 - The Shadow of Your Smile 3:55

04 Jimmy Norman - Gangster of Love, Pts. 1-2 4:10

05 Rufus Thomas - The Memphis Train 2:33

06 Grassella Oliphant - Get Out of My Life Woman 2:44

07 Eddie Harris - Live Right Now 2:49

08 Natural Bridge Bunch - Pig Snoots, Pt. 1 2:36

09 Wayne Henderson, Freedom Sounds - Soul Sound System 5:33

10 Clarence Carter - Snatching It Back 2:41

11 Artie Christopher - Stoned Soul 1:55

12 TSU Tornadoes - Getting the Corners 2:27

13 Tony Alvon & The Belairs - Sexy Coffee Pot 2:28

14 Mark Putney - Don't Come Around Here Anymore 2:43

15 The Commodores - Keep on Dancing 2:38

16 South Shore Commission - Right on Brother, Pt. 1 2:37

17 Eldridge Holmes - Pop, Popcorn Children 2:53

18 Cold Grits - It's Your Thing 2:52

19 Soul Angels - It's All in Your Mind 2:49

20 Johnny Cameron & The Camerons - Funky John 2:48

21 Joyce Jones - Help Me Make Up My Mind 2:45

22 Lou Johnson - Rock Me Baby 2:15

23 Noble Knights - Sing a Simple Song 2:57

24 Titus Turner - Do You Dig It 2:13

25 Phil Moore, Jr. - Funky Canyon 2:38

26 Fabulous Counts - Jan Jan 2:17

27 Rhine Oaks - Tampin 3:02

CD02

01 Cyril Neville - Gossip 2:37

02 Mighty Hannibal - Somebody in the World for You 2:53

03 Little Sister - Stanga 3:41

04 Ananda Shankar - Jumpin' Jack Flash 3:40

05 Brute Force - The Deacon 4:31

06 Don Covay - Sookie Sookie 2:48

07 Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers - Right on 4:40

08 Curtis Mayfield - (Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below We're All Going to Go 7:04

09 Johnny Harris - Stepping Stones 5:24

10 6IX - I'm Just Like You 3:08

11 Unemployed - Funky Thing, Pt. 1 3:06

12 Shirley Scott - Messie Bessie 4:19

13 Willie West - Fairchild 3:20

14 Gaturs - Cold Bear 2:55

15 Mongo Santamaria - I Can't Get Next to You 2:44

16 Lulu - Feelin' Alright 3:02

17 Memphis Horns - Soul Bowl 3:21

18 Hammer - Tuane 3:07

19 Johnny Tolbert - Take It Off, Pt. 2 3:17

20 Eddie Palmieri, Harlem River Drive, Jimmy Norman - Seeds of Life 5:15

21 Wilson Pickett - Engine Number 9 2:50

CD03

01 Baby Huey & the Baby Sitters - Hard Times 3:20

02 Houseguests - What So Never the Dance, Pts. 1-2 3:59

03 Eugene McDaniels - Headless Heroes 3:34

04 Wade Marcus - Spinning Wheel 3:57

05 Earth, Wind & Fire - Bad Tune 4:42

06 Rasputin's Stash - Mr. Cool 3:34

07 Junior Mance - Don't Cha Hear Me Callin' to Ya 4:50

08 Stovall Sisters - Hang on in There 3:16

09 Beginning of the End - Funky Nassau, Pt. 2 1:59

10 Mark Holder - Whatever's Fair 2:42

11 Ed Robinson - Face It 2:25

12 Young-Holt Unlimited - Wah Wah Man 3:47

13 Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady [Alternate Mix] 3:14

14 Black Haze Express - Won't Nobody Listen 4:17

15 Allen Toussaint - Goin' Down 2:58

16 Malo - Suavecito 3:27

17 Charles Wright - You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin' 3:58

18 Tami Lynn - Mo Jo Hanna 3:26

19 King Curtis - Ridin' Thumb 3:10

20 Macondo - Almendra 3:45

21 Little Richard - Nuki Suki 5:30

CD04

01 United 8 - Getting Uptown (To Get Down) 2:47

02 Howard Tate - 8 Days on the Road 2:40

03 LaBelle - Moon Shadow 4:25

04 Society's Bag - Let It Crawl 2:37

05 Black Heat - Wanaoh 3:54

06 Clarence Reid - If It Was Good Enough for Daddy 3:05

07 Claudia Lennear - Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky 3:44

08 Mystic Moods - Cosmic Sea 2:37

09 Cold Blood - Kissing My Love 6:06

10 Seatrain - Flute Thing 3:23

11 Meters - Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N' Shove), Pt. 2 3:26

12 Freddi & Henchi & the Soulsetters - Funky to the Bone 2:42

13 Bobby Byrd - Try It Again 3:36

14 Cornell Dupree - Teasin' 3:55

15 Dr. John - (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away 2:43

16 Oscar Brown, Jr. - Chicken Heads 2:40

17 Funk Factory - Rien Ne Va Plus 5:18

18 - Cajun Moon 3:08

19 Darrow Fletcher - Improve 2:51

20 Faze-O - Riding High 5:21

21 Fred Wesley & the Horny Horns - Four Play 3:34

22 Eddie Hazel - California Dreamin' 4:04

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