This is an exciting glimpse into the world of black American funk, jazz and soul from the early 70s. The music has a political agenda, even when it isn't overtly preaching a message. Recorded after the 60s dream had ended, during the era of Watergate, the oil crisis and financial crash, there is a schizophrenic edge to the music here. There are tracks about trying to get things right, but also about partying as a way to forget. Street funk from Oliver Sain, Dave Hamilton, Billie Sha Rae is showcased alongside the jazzier sounds of Oliver Nelson, Groove Holmes and Harold Alexander. There is also the first flowering of disco with the Fatback-related Mucho Macho (Bgp feature the previously unissued extended version) and Chet Ivey tracks. The compilation features many sides to be released on CD for the first time, including two Detroit funk gems from the vaults of Dave Hamilton. Another first release is Chains from Gil Scott Heron's college group Black And Blues.
T**H
Great variety of hits and good quality recordings which sound ...
Great variety of hits and good quality recordings which sound typical of the early seventies and sung with a sense of spontaneous hope. I was interested in reading the brief run down about the general events in the U.S.A. at the time out of the CD inlay booklet and about the descriptions concerning each of the twenty hits and their singers and composers. Well, society might not have continued as great as the 60s but most music and songs were definitely on the up and funk and jazz were no exception. Then later came the American invented disco which most Americans got sick of after two or three years but left an impact on the whole world right up to the present day.
D**.
Not the best...
Weaker than I’d hoped
P**R
Five Stars
low down dirty funk and jazz , a bit of everything , recommend
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