Stu Gardner and the Sanctified Sound

Don't call it a comeback. But yeah, it's been a while. Anyway, here's a funk and soul album from singer-organ/piano/clavinet player Stu Gardner. Released on Volt (Stax) in 1974. For some backstory on Stu, check out this or that. This album has a couple of players in common with the Charles Wright LP I posted some time ago, namely Charles Wright himself, who contributes with some guitar and drummer James Gadson.
I found one of the tracks up on youtube.

1. Devil In A Man
2. Added To A Broken Heart
3. Funky Neighborhood
4. Home On The Range
5. Mathilda (Instrumental)
6. Sanctified Sound
7. Sister Matilda
8. Leave Him Alone
9. The Sweetest Song
10. The Sweetest Song (Part II)

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Sam Taylor Jr - The Tunnels Of My Mind

Soulful, bluesy and groovy. Realeased on GRT records in 1969. You can find some info on Sam and preview tracks from this album over at In Dangerous Rhythm.



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Junie - When We Do

Junie, at this time former Ohio Player, soon to be Funkadelic, released this, his first solo effort onWestbound in 1975. The music is varied, some all-out funk tracks and some tracks that reach for a pop-rock feel, but always some kind of funk lurking in the back.

Loving Arms


Tight Rope


There's no mention of other players which leads one to believe Junie is playing a lot of the instruments himself. Strings is provided by The Detroit Symphony who, when they're playing with Junie, is playing funky.

1. Junie.
2. Loving Arms
3. Johnny Carson Samba
4. The Place
5. Anna
6. Tight Rope
7. You and You
8. When We Do
9. Married Him
10. Walt's Third Trip

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The Rance Allen Group - Truth Is Where It's At

Rance Allen and group released this soulful album in 1972 on The Gospel Truth, a Stax Records subsidiary label. Thomas Allen on drums and vocals, Steve Allen on bass and vocals and Rance Allen on guitar, piano, electric piano and vocals.

There's Gonna Be A Showdown

See What You Have Done

Lovely LP. I love the small group sound. However, since I'm not at all religious the lyrics can somtimes be a little hard for me to relate to, but it doesn't really matter when the music's so good.

1. There's Gonna Be A Showdown
2. That Will Be Good Enough For Me
3. God Is Wonderful
4. See What You Have Done
5. Look Around
6. God Is Where It's At
7. If I Could Make The World Better
8. Mama
9. To The Other Man
10. Heartaches

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Charles Wright - Doing What Comes Naturally

Charles Wright, who most people recnognize better when you add the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band after his name, recorded this two record set in 1973 for Dunhill records. The fellas playing with him here is Horace Jones, Werner Schuchner, Yusef Rahman, Bobby Knight, Carlos Mercado, Joel Peskin, Joe Banks and others.

Doin' What Cums Naturally


A Mothers Love


The tracks are nice and long for the most part, the longest being the closer, Nonsense which is a nearly 17 minute long funk jam.

1. Doin' What Cums Naturally
2. One Two Three Four Five Six
3. That's All That Matters Baby
4. You Threw It All Away
5. Silly 'Lil Girl
6. You Are The One For Me
7. You And Me
8. A Mothers Love
9. The Weight Of Hate
10. 1, 2, 3, You & Me
11. Nonsense

part 1

part 2

Peddlers - Three In A Cell

The Peddlers have already been introduced on this blog with this post. Here's a track from Three In A Cell, released in 1968 on CBS.

On A Clear Day


This record is a bit different from the other one I posted. For example there's some strings present here, which isn't really consistent with The Peddlers and their small-group style. But it works sometimes. However, I like them best when they leave the strings alone. For a good example, listen to Still Of The Night which is a rock hard jazz-rock tune (not a fusion tune, mind you, but jazz-rock).

1. Comin' Home Baby
2. On A Clear Day
3. Basin Street Blues
4. Nobody Likes Me
5. I'm A Boy In Love
6. People
7. Still Of The Night
8. Ebb Tide
9. Just A Pretty Song
10. Lost Continent
11. Prime Of My Life

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Tequila - Power

Nice funk-jazz-latin music with some rock influences, released on Toniton (in Sweden only, I think) in 1974. Four mexicans, one swede and one englishman.

Someone To Love


Soraya


I'm digging this record very much, hope you will to.

1. Someone To Love
2. Gotta Find A Way
3. Soraya
4. Amigo Mio
5. We're Still Hot
6. Smog City
7. Love Song
8. Communication
9. Cozumel
10. Foreigners

link removed because of complaints

Freddie McCoy - Soul Yogi

Soul-jazz from vibist Freddie McCoy, released in 1968 on Prestige. Players are Freddie McCoy on vibes and drums, Joanne Brackeen on piano and organ, Wally Richardson on guitar, Steve Wolfe on sitar, Lawrence Evans on bass, Ray Appleton on drums and Emanuel Green, Joseph Malignaggi and Peter Dimitriades on violins. Dave Blume arranged and conducted the set.

Salem Soul Song


Sorry 'bout That


I Am A Walrus


The sound is upbeat and happy for most of the record. The version of The Beatles I Am The Walrus is nice as it brings the tempo down for a bit.

1. Soul Yogi
2. Salem Soul Song
3. Sorry 'bout That
4. I Am A Walrus
5. Pet Sounds
6. What Now My Love
7. Mysterioso
8. Ride On
9. Autumn Leaves

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Mel Brown - Big Foot Country Girl

Another Mel Brown record for your asses. This one from 1973, might be his last, I don't know. This, like all other Mel B records I own, was released on Impulse.

Need Love


Stinging Bea


Musically, it's what you usually get from a Mel Brown album, meaning a bluesy, funky and soulful mix, with a very down-home kind of sound.

1. Need Love
2. Home Folks
3. Red Cross Store
4. Little Girl, Don't You Know
5. Big Foot Country Girl
6. Goin' Down Slow
7. Stinging Bea

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The Nite-Liters - The Nite-Liters

The first album from Harvey Fuquas The Nite-Liters. Need I say funky? Released on RCA in 1970.

Stuff-n-It


Eleanor Rigby


Easily the funkiest version of Eleanor Rigby I have heard. The whole album is archetype funk.

1. Get Back Buddy
2. Stuff-n-It
3. Con-Funk-Shun
4. The Heckler
5. Cherish Every Precious Moment
6. Pretty Words Don't Mean a Thing
7. Down and Dirty
8. Nothing
9. Itchy Brother
10. Horny Man
11. Snap Your Twig
12. Eleanor Rigby

link

Gary Burton - Throb

Good, sometimes funky album by vibes player Gary Burton. Relaeased on the Atlantic label in 1969. Players are Jerry Hahn, Richard Greene, Steve Swallow and Bill Goodwin.

Some Echoes


There's some pretty nice rhodes (played by Gary himself) on some tracks. Listen to above track for an example. Prime Time is another good one.

1. Henniger Flats
2. Turn Of The Century
3. Chickens
4. Arise, Her Eyes
5. Prime Time
6. Throb
7. Doin The Pig
8. Triple Portrait
9. Some Echoes

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Myrth - Myrth

Myrth has to my knowledge just released this one album, on RCA in 1969. They consist of six members; Grier Cook on guitar and lead vocals, Eay Cork on bass, trumpet, baritone horn and vocals, Johnny Guthie on drums, Ken Mulholland on piano and organ, David Drury on guitar, trombone and vocals and Bob Kenrich on reed instruments and vocals.

Get It Straight


Don't Pity The Man


The sound is diverse and ranges from the breakbeat funk of Myrthiolate to more experimental type tunes like Shed My Skin. The six-minute plus Don't Pity The Man goes through so many changes that when you're done listening you'll think you just heard four tunes, not one. The closer Myrthiadrine is also quite nice drugged out funk.

1. Gotta Find A Way
2. He Don't Know
3. Get It Straight
4. Myrthiolate
5. Fading Image
6. We Got To Get Together
7. Aftermyrth
8. Shed My Skin
9. Don't Pity The Man
10. Myrthadrine

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Jeremy Steig - Wayfaring Stranger

Funky flute released on Blue Note in 1970. Players are Don Allas on drums, Eddie Gomez on bass, Sam Brown on guitar (on Wayfaring Stranger) and Jeremy Steig on flute.

Mint Tea


The group kicks up a stone groove on four of the tunes and Gomez and Steig kick up a stoned groove (well, perhaps groove isn't the right word) for the other two. The last two tracks have some sounds of vinyl on them. Nothing too bad, just thought I'd mention it in case you're a vinyl-nazi or something.

1. In The Beginning
2. Mint Tea
3. Wayfaring Stranger
4. Waves
5. All Is One
6. Space

link