VA - Royal Grooves Funk & Groovy Soul From The King Records Vault [2012]

SOUL

VA - Royal Grooves Funk & Groovy Soul From The King Records Vault [2012]

Royal Grooves: Funk & Groovy Soul from the King Records Vault, released in 2012 by BGP Records, is a deep and delicious excavation of the Cincinnati label’s lesser-known gems. While King Records is often synonymous with James Brown’s explosive funk, this 23-track compilation digs into the label’s shadowy corners to reveal a vibrant network of artists—many unsung, all undeniable.

Compiled by Dean Rudland, the collection features rare 45s and soul-funk burners from across the King family tree. From Kastle’s blazing opener “Getting Down (With Hoss)” to Bonnie & Sheila’s fuzz-soaked “You Keep Me Hanging On,” each track pulses with rhythm and spirit. Highlights like Barbara Burton & The Messengers’ “Love’s Sweet Water,” Clay Tyson’s talk-funk “Man on the Moon,” and Hank Ballard’s propulsive “Unwind Yourself” show that the King vaults were overflowing with untapped energy and invention.

There’s gospel grit (Kay Robinson), dancefloor dynamite (The Brownettes, The Presidents), and even psychedelic soul (Wendy Lynn) stitched seamlessly throughout. The remastering is crisp, the sequencing electric, and the vibe unmistakably underground.

In short, Royal Grooves doesn’t just dig deep, it brings the heat back to the surface. A must-spin for funk purists, crate-diggers, and soul heads alike. (B)

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Track list

01 Kastle - Getting Down (With Hoss) 3:20

02 Barbara Burton & the Messengers - Love's Sweet Water 3:35

03 Kay Robinson - The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow 3:01

04 Elaine Armstrong - Sad But True 2:01

05 Brownettes - Baby, Don't You Know 2:24

06 Albert Washington - Somewhere Down the Line 3:03

07 Presidents - Shoe Shine Part 2 1:58

08 Frank Howard & the Continentals - Do What You Wanna Do Part 1 2:55

09 Clay Tyson - Clay Tyson (Man on the Moon) 2:40

10 Leon Austin - Steal Away 2:07

11 Wendy Lynn - I Can Remember 2:36

12 Bonnie & Sheila - You Keep Me Hanging On 2:41

13 Connie Austin - Ball of Fire 2:38

14 Willy Wiley - Just Be Glad 2:58

15 Gloria Edwards - (Need Nobody to Help Me) Keep Up with the Man 2:56

16 Coasters - Cool Jerk 2:54

17 Presidents - Peter Rabbit 2:37

18 Robert Moore - Lookin' for a Woman 2:22

19 King Coleman - The Boo Boo Song 2:18

20 Hank Ballard - Unwind Yourself 2:20

21 Presidents - Shoe Shine Part 1 2:32

22 Bill Doggett - Wet and Satisfied 3:03

23 Willy Wiley - Push and Shove 2:36

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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