***The following all came from the 10 cent bin of 45s at Independent (Jul):
Jean Knight - Do Me / Save the Last Kiss For Me. 1972 Stax (SP). 'Do Me' has a big fat beat, but is still mostly female sung soul music. The B side is even more geared that way. Average to good for the style I'd rate. Both tracks are non-LP.
Willie Hutch - Theme of Foxy Brown. 1974 Motown promo mono/stereo (SP). This is one of those promo 45s with one track, each in stereo and mono. Wah wah rhythms and soaring strings, with Hutch crooning on top. It's the Isaac Hayes / Marvin Gaye formula. Not bad, but at 2:25, you're left wanting more. There's a full album of this from the movie, and I'll have to hear it at some point.
Chakachas - African Yama (Vocal/Instrumental). 1974 Janus promo (SP). I know of this Belgian band Chakachas, but haven't heard too much beyond a sample or two. This one has a really nice groove to it, with fine wah and horns. The vocal part lives up to its African heritage, but overall it's a bit dull for repeated listening. Sounds more like incidental TV music. Both of these versions can be found on a very obscure Brazilian release known as Vendo Mango. To the best of my knowledge, despite the US single, the album was never released here domestically.
***end of sale
Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band - Evolution. 1971 Sussex (LP). Thrift shop find (Jul). I had been tipped that this album was a strong instrumental heavy funk album with wah wah guitar. Which is mostly true, except it's not particularly heavy or overly funky. There's a three guitar attack here, and a couple of the tracks are really great. But mostly it flies by as background music. Reminds me of another obscuro I once owned from Memphis called Washrag. Good on the whole, but not necessary.
King Errisson - The Magic Man. 1976 Westbound (LP). This was next to the above album in the thrift (Jul). And now I know why. Dennis Coffey is the guitar player! And I'm certainly not going to pass up anything on the Westbound label anyway. When the needle first hit I thought I was in for some monster funk grooves. But not so. It's more ear friendly, with some references to Errisson's Caribbean upbringing. There's some cover tracks and steel drums here and there. Good on the whole, and one for Westbound and funk deep divers, but it was all way too above the surface for me to keep.
Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker - I've Got the Music In Me. 1975 Sheffield Lab (LP). From Independent (Jul). Thelma Houston went on to become a soul megastar in the late 70s, but right before that, she released this one album on the well respected audiophile label Sheffield Lab. Houston sings on half the album, and mostly it's standard soul music. The other half are instrumentals by the band Pressure Cooker (who of course provide the music for Houston as well). Their tunes are wide ranging from reggae to Dixieland to jazz to horn rock. The latter track is titled after the band, and is the clear highlight. A good album on the whole, though not something I'll need to keep. Comes in a fine gatefold cover.
*Hidden Strength. 1975 United Artists (Canada) (LP). From an estate sale (Jul). I never heard of Hidden Strength before, but a quick lookup demonstrated this was sought after funk, so I definitely want to hear it. Yea, this has the right sound for sure. 'It Didn't Have to be This Way' starts off perfectly with a killer funk groove, wah wah guitar, harmony vocals, and various soloing. And it doesn't stop from there with Robin Kenyatta guesting on flute for 'Happy Song' along with some great Moog on the dance floor 'Hustle on Up', which has two versions, one on each side. 'Angel of Love' is the only crybaby soul ballad here, and I can live without that. I can always live without those. But for the rest, yea it's supreme stuff. The album was originally released as a private pressing, with only one version of 'Hustle on Up' (and titled 'Karate' there). Comparisons to Earth Wind & Fire are compulsory, but it reminded me more of a Philly obscuro in my collection by the name of Yellow Sunshine. Speaking of origin, I had a hard time figuring that out. Best clue I have is that the private release was managed by a company in New York City, so we'll go with that for now.
MFSB - Love is the Message. 1973 Philadelphia International (LP). From Independent (Jul). I had the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on my mind (which I recently posted on), and tend to forget that MFSB is very affordable. They had a perfect mint one (in shrink with hype stickers too) for $5, so it's a deal regardless. I'd heard this album before and placed a "good" rating on it (they have another album that I rate "excellent"). Well, I'm afraid to say, my original rating is correct. It's amazing just how "corporate" this sounds. This isn't edgy Philly ghetto music that's for sure (if you do want that, definitely seek out Del Jones' Positive Vibes). Honestly these guys aren't that far removed from what Andre Kostelanetz or Bert Kaempfert were doing in those days. All instrumental easy listening music I would submit. Though for sure MFSB is a better name than Gamble-Huff and their Orchestra. The album has its moments, in particular the closer 'Bitter Sweet'. But, yea, this was an unnecessary pickup for sure.
*Saturday Night Fever. 1977 RSO (2xLP). From an estate sale (Jun). I forget how I first obtained this album, but it was sometime in the early 90s. It survived until my final LP purge in the mid 2000s. Most of what I was ditching then were iffy LP reissues, and I'm really glad I got rid of them. But I should have kept this one. However every time I find one, it's trashed. Sometimes it will have only one LP, or the cover has been run over by a truck or ripped in half, and the vinyl is even worse. But this copy is pristine, similar to the one I used to have. It took 2 years to find a decent copy. This album, for a lot of people, represents disco music and the years of 1977/78. It's really a phenomenal gathering of songs. The Bee Gees will likely be vilified for all of their remaining lives, and from those who came of age during this time (like me), but it's highly unfair. They banged in no less than FOUR platinum best sellers - and that's just the opening of the album! Every one of them is iconic. It's not easy to write songs like this, and their mastery of harmony went a long way to mega seller success. This is followed by Yvonne Elliman, whose contribution was also a major hit. Side 2 opens with Walter Murphy's Fifth of Beethoven from one year earlier, which is a heck of a lot of fun. I remember liking this song when I was 11. I still do. Tavares then does a cover of one of the Bee Gees hits on Side 1. And it was a hit too! Then we get our first David Shire instrumental. He's the true soundtrack guy, and represents "the suit" as it were. 'Manhattan Skyline' is an uplifting track. I remember playing this song in our high school marching band. For some reason I never put the two together until last night. The final track on album #1 is Ralph McDonald's lengthy 'Calypso Breakdown', which has an air of respectability, but I don't care for it personally. Shire opens disc 2 with 'Night on Disco Mountain', his homage to Murphy's Beethoven track no doubt. I'm sure they had a lot of fun with this. I like it too. 'Open Sesame' reminds me that I really need to investigate Kool & the Gang further. I never have found their albums in the wild (except for the 80s stuff), and they go for decent coin online (9/17/24 ED: Still haven't!). This is followed by two earlier Bee Gees hits 'Jive Talkin' and 'You Should be Dancing' both just as good as the '77 compositions. While I do like some KC & The Sunshine Band, I'm not a fan of 'Boogie Shoes', probably the weakest track here, and not a good representative of the group. Shire's final instrumental 'Salsation' is an excellent disco rendition of a serious dance step. After all, the movie is about dancing, and the choreography is brilliant throughout. For my tastes, the best track here is 'K-Jee' which is often forgotten about. I think its placement towards the end of the album is why no one really talks about it. MFSB *is* the Philly Sound. It's a killer track, one that could have been a funk classic too had they altered the beat a bit. And finally that leads to the 11+ minute 'Disco Inferno' by The Trammps. It's too long for sit down listening, but it's the right length if you just want to get down and boogie. Overall, Saturday Night Fever is as good as it gets for the style. For some, that style is abhorrent. But try to look past the beats and strings, and there's a lot underneath to savor.
Paul Anka - Anka. 1974 United Artists (LP). Probably doesn't belong in this category, but there's really nowhere else to put this. Got this LP from a neighbor's collection about eight years ago (2013). Since I'm thinning the herd, this was an easy target. Like going deer hunting, but decided to shoot a cow instead. Only because it's just standing there, all fat and happy. I kept it because it has quite a bit of mellotron (think about that), and the album's first track 'Bring the Wine' has an eerie PFM feel about it. But... there's also 'One Man Woman / One Woman Man' to endure. You'd think maybe he was predicting a transgendered future. But nope, he's just another 70s sleazeball "But I'm a Two Timin' man...". Nice. And, of course, who could miss '(You're) Having My Baby'. Sooo... is that an observation, a guess, or... a command! Dammit, you're having my baby... baby. And why is You're listed as (You're). I have a lot of questions here for ol' Paulie while I watch this sail to the dollar bin. (Jun)
James Walsh Gypsy Band. 1978 RCA (LP). From an estate sale (Jun). This is the Minneapolis based Gypsy band whose first couple of albums are collectable in the hard rock world. James Walsh was one of the members, and he clearly usurped the name and logo for himself. Looking at the eight pasty *very white* looking guys on the back cover, does not indicate this will be a soul disco album. But that's mostly what it is. First couple of tracks aren't too bad, but then it becomes somewhat tedious. Side 2 is where you'll want to direct your compass. 'Gray Tears' is super, very much a throwback to the early Chicago horn rock days. Superb lead guitar and brass charts. 'My Star' is a weird little electronic rock number that recalls Stardrive of all things. Then it goes back to soul and disco. These two tracks were almost enough to have me keep this. Almost.
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