Formed in 2016, Chicago’s The Devonns (Pronounced The De Vaughans) are a four piece band that are hugely influenced by The Impressions, Leroy Hutson and Leon Ware as well as contemporaries such as Raphael Saadiq and Jamie Lidell. The beautiful, laid back ‘I Think I’m Falling In Love’ is a highlight with it’s lazy tempo offset by soaring strings and economical horns, Lidell’s ‘Green Light’ is covered and sent through a late 60s filter while the swampy blues of ‘Ain’t That A Man For You’ shows another side. ‘I Know’ is a lovely slab of deep-with-a-beat while ‘Blood Red Blues’...
Quite simply James finest album, a double vinyl recorded just after the death of his son in 1973, every track is worthy of its place. The hypnotic funk anthem title track with its driving bass line and funky guitar riffs has been sampled many times as is regarded as a classic. The punchy shuffling 10 min epic ‘Stone To The Bone’, the social consciousness of the 12 min ‘Mind Power’ another funk anthem. The horn backed super funky semi instrumentals ‘Shoot Your Shot’ and ‘Time Is Running Out Fast’ are essentially JB’s tracks. The ballads ‘Doin The Best I Can’...
This classic album from 1974 is the only album that singer songwriter Sam Dees recorded in the 70’s. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in December 1945 to a large family, Sam formed his first group - The Bossanovians - before he was aged 10. Something of a musical prodigy, he was writing poetry and songs at an age when most of his friends were out playing. Often described as a prolific songwriter and occasional performer, Sam has written nearly four-hundred songs but in a career stretching over 50 years incredibly he's released only three albums! The Social commentary tracks ‘Child of...
Gil Scott Heron’s brilliant 1971 Flying Dutchman album ‘Pieces Of A Man’ was his debut studio album coming a year after the live ‘Small Talk On 125th And Lennox’ and marked a shift from the spoken word format of that record into more song based work. Gil’s observations of life and the melodies he creates are thought provoking and breathtaking, and are matched by incredible musicianship, delivered by an unbeatable line-up. When you have legendary bassist Ron Carter, drummer Bernard Purdie, Burt Jones on guitar and Hubert Laws on Flute (as well as long-time collaborator Brian Jackson on keys) you...
Arguably the greatest soul album ever recorded, this 1971 classic was a commercial and critical success upon release and has rightly remained high in the lists of 'best ever albums'. It was Gaye's for first album to bear his name as a producer and the first to credit Motown's in-house band The Funk Brothers as musicians. The album was conceived as a concept with many of the tracks seguing into each other – the unforgettable opening title track drifts into its twin brother, with both standing as a powerful anti-war protest as well as an incisive observation of social and...
Keyboard wizard Bobby Lyle’s Classic Jazz funk album 'The Genie' from 1977 was the first of a trio of strong Jazz Funk albums recorded in the latter half of the decade and includes the brilliant inventive title track ‘The Genie’, an all time classic, that goes through many changes but retains its groove throughout. His version of his own beautiful track ‘Night Breeze’ previously recorded by Ronnie Laws is another highlight. ‘Mother Nile’ is a mystical track with a deep rhythm structure, and ‘Pieces’ is a lovely dreamy mid tempo track. The more up tempo ‘Magic Ride’ and atmosphere’ You...
Great 1974 Barbara mason album recorded at Sigma sound, ‘Transition’ has all the hallmarks of a classic Philly album, with arrangements from Norman Harris, Richard Rome and Bobby Eli. It contains 9 songs with a social commentary and message. The classic ‘World in a Crisis’ and ‘Miracle man’ are Philly /Modern soul dancers. ‘Half Sister Half Brother’, and ‘Devil is Busy’ are also good uptempo tracks, ‘Trigger happy people’ and ‘Sunday Saint (Weekday Sinner)’also have that Philly sound to them. Strong album. CD See all by Barbara Mason here Listen to tracks Half Sister, Half Brother World...
‘Expansions’ from 1975 was Lonnie Liston Smith’s big crossover album that helped the keyboardist reach a wider audience. It is one of the all time greatest Jazz Funk albums. The title track ‘Expansions’ is one of those really special tracks that still sounds fresh even after 1000’s of plays and is totally engaging from the introduction triangle right to the last bar, pure magic if you are listening or dancing to it. Lonnie’s brother Donald Smith sings the positive lyrics with his distinctive voice. Every track on this album is special from pulsating ‘Voodoo Woman’ to the mystical ‘Shadows’, and...
1972 debut album originally cut for the Paula label from Dallas, Texas soul man Bobby Patterson that includes the huge crossover favourite 'I Get My Groove From You' as well as a raft of other killer funky soul and southern flavoured cuts. Check out the galloping rhythm of 'Make Sure You Can Handle It', the skipping tempo of 'Everything Good To You (Don't Have To Be Good For You)' the sumptuous Southern 'She Don' Have To See You (To See Through You)' the rasping funker 'Right On Jody' and the deep-with-a-beat 'One Ounce Of Prevention'. Bobby's voice is strong and...
Two years in the making, The Haggis Horns return with their 5th album in the shape of ‘Stand Up For Love’. Horn man Malcolm Strachan impressed s with his superb solo album a few months back and he’s back with the band for this tough nine-track soul/funk album. John McCallum returns on vocal duties on a set heavily influenced by the likes of Kool & The Gang, Fred Wesley & The JB’s, The Blackbyrds, The Fatback Band, and more. The instrumental burner ‘Haggis Express’ is a killer with wiry keys, sharp horns and a driving groove, ‘Suzy Traffic’ bounces while...
