My favorite kind of compilation these days is those that gather up a pile of rare 45s and release them in one set, compete with historical liner notes and perspectives. And that's exactly what Midwest Funk is. As I look up each 45 (Messengers Incorporated is an album cut), they're all rare as hen's teeth - many never sold once on Discogs for example. They have the wrong technical definition of the Midwest, as they nix the Dakotas and add Oklahoma, but from a practical perspective, it makes sense what they did. And besides what do the English know about the US? lol. The time frame is the late 60s to the early 70s.
There are 23 tracks here, including at least one unreleased extended piece. The music is about 65% instrumental and is nonstop toe tapping funk. Occasionally psychedelic, but mostly what is known as deep funk. Think The J.B.'s here. Brass, sax, wah-wah rhythm guitar, organ, some flute, and a killer bass and drum backbone. How fun it must've been to see bands like this live in their prime. At some small not-up-to-code club, on the other side of the tracks, the smell of whiskey, smoke - and sweat. An air of danger, but us veteran street urchins know better - not really, safe as milk. Great - I mean great - fun here.
Ownership: CD: 2004 Jazzman / Now-Again. Recent online acquisition (2023). Jewel case release with fat booklet with a full description of each state's funk scene followed by a dissertation on each single. Brilliant.
12/15/23 (new entry)
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