Camille Yarbrough - The Iron Pot Cooker

A great record by poet/singer Camille Yarbrough that mixes funk, jazz and soul. Camille sings, reads poerty, rhymes and talks. She's backed up by a group of five musicians; James Benjamin on bass, Cornell Dupree on guitar, Leopold Fleming on congas and percussion, Jimmy Johnson on drums and percussion and Linda Twine on Clavinet. Released on Vanguard in 1975.

1. But It Comes Out Mad
2. Dream - Panic - Sonny Boy The Rip-Off Man - Little Sally The Super Sex Star (Taking Care of Business)
3. Ain't It A Lonely Feeling
4. Take Yo' Praise
5. Can I Get A Witness
6. All Hid

http://rapidshare.com/files/386430658/Camille_Yarbrough_-_The_Iron_Pot_Cooker.rar

Rufus Thomas - Doing The Push & Pull At P.J.'s

Rufus Thomas released this funky and funny live album in 1971 on Stax records. It starts off with a 12 minute monologue where Rufus warms up the crowd, telling jokes, making them laugh. Then the music starts. It's funk with a late 60's feel, very groovy. There's also a bluesy tune and a cool version of Old McDonald Had A Farm.

1. Monologue
2. Ooh Poo Pah Doo
3. Old McDonald Had A Farm
4. Walking The Dog
5. The Preacher And The Bear
6. The Night Time Is The Right Time
7. (DoThe) Push And Pull
8. Do The Funky Chicken

http://rapidshare.com/files/139725281/Rufus_Thomas_-_Doing_The_Push___Pull_At_P.J._s.rar.html (The file was too big for mediafire so we're back to rapidshare for this one)

Secret Oyster - Vidunderlige Kaelling

Don't get thrown off by the cover, this is a nice record. And there is a quality break in here for the beatdiggers too. Secret Oyster is a fusion outfit from Denmark. This is the only record I've heard from them and, as far as I understand it, this is their funkiest record. Recorded in 1975, released on CBS in Holland. The music reminds me of Weather Report, for the most part, but the track Bellevue is pure funk (starts of with a nice long drum break).

1. Intro
2. Stjernerne Pa Gaden
3. Sirenerne
4. Astarte
5. Solitude
6. Tango-Bourgoisie
7. Bellevue
8. Valse Du Soir
9. Outro

http://www.mediafire.com/?zvxct93wqdp

Gene Ammons - My Way

Jazz-funk from saxophonist Gene Ammons, released on Prestige in 1971. The opening track is a real nice groovy number, there's also a couple of slower numbers and a nice version of What's Going On. Back in Mérida is also nice and funky. Players are Gene Ammons and Richard Landry on tenor saxes, Idris Muhammad on drums, Omar Clay on percussion, Roland Hanna on rhodes piano, Ted Dunbar or Billy Butler on guitar, Ron Carter or Chuck Rainey on bass, Robert Prado and Ernie Royal on trumpets, Garnett Brown on trombone plus some voices and strings.

1. Chicago Breakdown
2. What's Going On
3. A House Is Not a Home
4. Sack Full of Dreams
5. Back in Mérida
6. My Way

http://www.mediafire.com/?6jjjhkpae1f

Kim Weston - Kim Kim Kim

Kim Weston released this great soul album in 1970 on the Volt label. If you'd like, you could see this as a tribute post to Isaac Hayes, who recently passed away. Isaac is credited as one of three producers on this record. Great, powerful soul, with a sometimes funky edge. Kim really puts it down on this album.

1. You Just Don't Know.
2. The Love I've Been Looking For
3. What Could Be Better
4. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
5. Love Vibrations
6. Buy Myself A Man
7. Got To Get You Off My Mind
8. Soul On Fire
9. Brothers & Sisters (Get Together)
10. Penny Blues
11. The Choice Is Up To You (Walk With Me Jesus)

http://www.mediafire.com/?xdjtjmymydd

Chuck Bridges and the L.A. Happening

A soul/funk record from 1969 (I think), released on the Vault label. I don't know a whole lot about these guys, but it seems this was their only LP. It's mostly good soul music, but there is also some more funk oriented tracks. These funky tunes are my favourites along with the soul pearl Head Over Heels.

1. L.A. Happening
2. Keep Your Faith Baby
3. Payin' Your Dues
4. State of Confusion
5. Things I Didn't Do
6. Bad Sam
7. Girl Wanted
8. Makin' The Rounds
9. Head Over Heels
10. A Boy And A Girl
11. Fox Tale
12. She Don't Love Me

http://www.mediafire.com/?09cjzwjcvwx

(Rapidshare or Mediafire? what to use?)

Hank Crawford - It's A Funky Thing To Do

Saxophonist Hank Crawford released this album on Cotillion in 1971. It is funky/bluesy jazz and features the jazz-funk regulars as sidemen. Eric Gale, Cornell Dupree, Richard Tee, Ron Carter, Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie plus Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis on one of the tunes.

1. It's A Funky Thing To Do
2. If Ever I Should Leave You
3. Hills Of Love
4. Sophisticated Soul
5. You're The One
6. Parker's Mood
7. Kingsize Man

http://rapidshare.com/files/138737703/Hank_Crawford_-_It_s_A_Funky_Thing_To_Do.rar.html

Stanley Turrentine - Always Something There

Antoher late 60's soul-jazz record on Blue Note. Tenor man Stanley Turrentine recorded this album in 1968 with alot of help from Thad Jones who supplied the arrangments. Jones old drummer freind, Mel Lewis shares drumming duties with Mickey Roker, Bob Cranshaw plays bass, Herbie Hancock or Hank Jones plays piano, Kenny Burrell and Barry Gailbraith is on guitar, Jerry Dodgion and Jerome Richardson is playing saxophones, flute and clarinet, Jimmy Cleveland plays trombone, James Buffington and Dick Berg plays french horns and Burt Collins plays flugelhorn. On my first listen I couldn't really get into this one since I thought it was too pop (with two Lennon-McCartney tunes, plus a cover of Light My Fire). It has grown on me since then though, and I especially like the funky swagger of the backbeat to Little Green Apples. Stoned Soul Picnic is great aswell. On the whole, this album kinda feels like a jazz version of the Mel Brown record I posted.

1. (There's) Always Something There
2. Little Green Apples
3. When I Look Into Your Eyes
4. Light My Fire
5. Those Were The Days
6. Stoned Soul Picnic
7. Home Town
8. Song For Bonnie
9. Hey Jude
10. Fool On The Hill

http://rapidshare.com/files/138554059/Stanley_Turrentine_-_Always_Something_There.rar.html

Blue Mitchell - Blue Mitchell

First off, I just wanted to say that I appreciate the comments I've been getting, keep them coming. It makes me want to rip and post more records. Todays record by Blue Mitchell was released on the Mainstream label in 1971. It's a lot less funk than his later 70's releases, but it's a nice album no matter what. Walter Bishop Jr. is playing piano and rhodes, Jimmy Forrest is playing tenor sax, Doug Sides is on drums and Larry Gales handles the bass.

1. Soul Village
2. Blues For Thelma
3. Queen Bey
4. Are You Real
5. Mi Hermano

http://rapidshare.com/files/138445215/Blue_Mitchell_-_Blue_Mitchell.rar.html

Lou Donaldson - Say It Loud!

Released on Blue Note in 1968 (or 69, I'm not quite sure), this album has a reputation of being one of the best jazz-funk records from the era. It features great work by Lou and his band; Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Jimmy Ponder on guitar, Charles Earland on organ and Leo "Idris Muhammad" Morris on drums. Aside from the funky title track there's also two funky donaldson originals in Snake Bone and Brother Soul.

1. Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud
2. Summertime
3. Caravan
4. Snake Bone
5. Brother Soul

http://rapidshare.com/files/138220094/Lou_Donaldson_-_Say_It_Loud_.rar.html

Sun Treader - Zin-Zin

This is jazz-funk, heavy on rhythm, released on Island in 1973. Sun Treader was a project led by drummer Morris Pert who handles drums and percussion. The other members were Peter Robinson on electric pianos (there's plenty of nice rhodes playing on this one), Alyn Ross on bass and Robin Thompson plays soprano saxophone on two of the four tunes. The last song is weird but nice space-out music, while the other three tracks brings the funk.

1. Zin-Zin
2. Stardance
3. Orinoco
4. From The Region Of Capricorn

http://rapidshare.com/files/138180777/Sun_Treader_-_Zin-Zin.rar.html

Rick Laird - Soft Focus

Rick Laird, most famous for his time playing bass with The Mahavishnu Orchestra, recorded this album for the Muse/Timeless label in 1976. However, this vinyl copy of mine wasn't released until 1979, so perhaps this is a re-release, maybe someone can shed some light on this. Anyway, this is much more straight jazz than The Mahavishnu Orchestra, although there is some electric involvement. The players are Joe Henderson, who also produced the date, on tenor saxophone, Tom Grant on piano and rhodes and Ron Steen plays drums. There's some really nice and mellow moments on this one, I especially like it when the rhodes and drums stay in the background accompanying Laird and his electric bass.

1. Outer Surge
2. Now You Know
3. Thorn In A White Rose
4. I Love You
5. Soft Focus
6. Tranquility
7. We'll Be Together Again
8. Epilogue

http://rapidshare.com/files/137985027/Rick_Laird_-_Soft_Focus.rar.html

Jabula - Afrika Awake

This is Afro-Funk-Jazz-Poetry. Or something like that. Sort of like Last Poets meets Fela Kuti meets Cymande. This group is called Jabula and consists of Julian Sebothane Bahula, Madumetja

Lucky Ranku, Mike Mathome Rose, Penise Saul and Steve Scipio. Steve Scipio was actually the reason I picked this album up since I recognized his name on the back cover as the bass player from Cymande. On this album, his basslines is as bubbly as ever. My favourite track thus far is the mellow funk of Soweto My Love.

1. Afrika Awake
2. Thunder
3. Mathome
4. Sorrows
5. Soweto My Love
6. Soweto's Children
7. Sia Kala
8. I Know My Way
9. Raining In Amsterdam

http://rapidshare.com/files/137745955/Jabula_-_Afrika_Awake.rar.html

Groove Holmes - Night Glider

For my second post of the day; organ jazz-funk from Richard "Groove" Holmes. Released on the Groove Merchant label in 1973. Players are Garnett Brown on trombone, Seldon Powell on tenor saxophone, Lloyd Davis on guitar, Paul Martinez on bass, Horace Ott on electric piano, Bernard Purdie on drums and Kwasi Jayourba on congo and bongos.
I'll be going away for a few days, but I'll be back in a week or so with more goodies for your behind. So check back then.

1. Night Glider
2. Flyjack
3. It's Going To Take Some Time
4. Pure Cane Sugar
5. Go Away Little Girl
6. One Mint Julep
7. Young and Foolish

http://rapidshare.com/files/136613336/Groove_Holmes_-_Night_Glider.rar.html

Dillard Crume - And The Soul Rockers

Great James Brown-inspired funk/soul from this artist, otherwise mostly known as a gospel singer. Released on Alshire in 1969. I think I read somewhere that Maceo is playing on this, but I don't know. Regardless, there's some nice funky soulful singing going down in all of these tracks and the version of mother popcorn is poppin'.

1. Doin' Our Thing
2. Polk Sallad Annie
3. Mini Dress
4. That's The Way Love Is
5. Come Back Baby
6. Your Good Thing Is About To End
7. Let A Woman Be A Woman Let A Man Be A Man
8. Wait For Me
9. Mother Popcorn
10. Save Your Love For Me

http://rapidshare.com/files/136572856/Dillard_Crume_-_And_The_Soul_Rockers.rar.html

Lou Rawls - The Way It Was The Way It Is

This is one of my personal favourites. Its gritty, late 60's soul produced by David Axelrod and released on the Capitol label. There is a great funk track in Season Of The Witch and a refreshing version of When A Man Loves A Woman, but all the tracks are nice and soulful.

1. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
2. Trying Just As Hard As I Can
3. Your Good Thing (Is About To End)
4. I Love You, Yes I Do
5. When A Man Loves A Woman
6. Season Of The Witch
7. Gentle On My Mind
8. I Wonder
9. I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)
10. It's You

http://rapidshare.com/files/136308534/Lou_Rawls_-_The_Way_It_Was__The_Way_It_Is.rar.html

Cleveland Eaton - Plenty Good Eaton

A jazz-funk outing from bass player Cleveland Eaton, with a little early disco feeling. Released on Black Jazz in 1975. Players include Ed Green on violin and viola, Artee Payne on tenor and flute, John Watson on trombone, Ernest Johnson on guitar, Kenneth Prince on electric piano and Morris Jennings on percussion.
On the back cover, Eaton gives props to his musical idols; Maurice White, Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. These influences are not hard to detect on this album.
Cleveland handles the vocalizing himself and he does a fine job, especially on the soul pearl Are You Out There Somewhere Caring. It might not be the greatest vocal in the world from a technical point of view but damn, he sounds cool and confident (think in the lines of Paul Jacksons vocal on God Made Me Funky). There are also two nice jazz tunes, typical for the Black Jazz label.

1. Chi-Town Theme
2. Keena
3. Moe, Let's Have A Party
4. Are You Out There Somewhere Caring
5. Kaiser 405
6. All Your Lover, All Day, All Night
7. Hamburg 302

Link removed at the request of Black Jazz Records

Horace Silver - All-The United States Of Mind/Phase 3

Jazz-funk (with emphasis on jazz) from Horace Silver, released on Blue Note in 1972. As you might have figured out from the title, All is the third part of his United States Of Mind trilogy. Horace plays electric piano only throughout the record, Cecil Bridgewater plays trumpet, Harold Vick plays tenor saxophone, Richie Resnicoff is on guitar, Bob Cranshaw plays bass and Mickey Roker plays drums. Every song contains vocals (more or less) and the most prominently featured vocalists are Andy & Salome Bey.

1. The Merger Of The Minds
2. Cause And Effect
3. Forever Is A Long Long Time
4. My Soul Is My Computer
5. How Much Does Matter Really Matter
6. Horn Of Life
7. Who Has The Answer
8. From The Heart Through The Mind
9. All
10. Summary

http://rapidshare.com/files/135866157/Horace_Silver_-_All_The_United_States_Of_Mind_Phase_3.rar.html

Woody Shaw - Blackstone Legacy

This double LP was released by trumpeter Woody Shaw on the Contemporary label in 1971. It is kind of free and funky and bop-ish. I'd guess that any fan of Bitches Brew would enjoy this, at least to some extent, since the influence is evident. Playing alongside Shaw is Gary Bartz on saxophones, Bennie Maupin on tenor sax, bass clarinet and flute, George Cables on piano and rhodes, Ron Carter and Clint Houston on bass (one per channel) and Lenny White on drums. New World is probably my favourite since im a sucker for funky basslines.

1. Blackstone Legacy
2. Think On Me
3. Lost And Found
4. New World
5. Boo-Ann's Grand
6. A Deed For Dolphy

So i got a complaint regarding this link and I took it down. Its a good record. Track it down!

Peddlers - Three For All

This record is cool. A cool mix between rock, jazz and soul/funk released in 1970. The Peddlers were a english trio consisting of Roy Phillips on vocals, organ, piano and rhodes (he also wrote a couple of the tunes), Tab Martin on bass and Trevor Morais on drums and percussion.

1. Last Train To Clarkesville
2. Whole Lot Of Sunlight
3. My Funny Valentine
4. In The Summertime
5. This Little Girl Of Mine
6. Son
7. Love For Sale
8. Working Again
9. Tell The World We're Not In
10. Love Story
11. String Of Pearls
12. Thank God

http://rapidshare.com/files/135332974/Peddlers_-_Three_For_All.rar.html