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1 The Stark Reality Now (Stones Throw) Eothan “Egon” Alapatt – the man behind the essential Funky 16 Corners comp – strikes again. This time he recirculates sought-after breaks classic The Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael’s Music Shop, using the master tapes with killer bonus tracks, extensive liner notes, photos and royalties paid. Right on!
2 Frank Motley & the Hitch-Hikers/KING HERBERT & THE KNIGHTS Canada’s Message To The Meters (Jazzman)
Leave it to an opportunistic British record dealer,
Gerald “Jazzman” Short, to repackage and sell our Can-funk history back to us. A genius move.
3 Beny Moré y su banda gigante Grabaciones Completas (Tumbao)At
last, the definitive collection of the 1950s boleros,
big band stompers and rumbas from the Sinatra of
Cuba, spread out over four CDs and with a 120-page
booklet to fill in the gaps. www.descarga.com
4 MILES DAVIS The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (Columbia/Sony) A stunningly comprehensive five-CD document of Miles Davis trying to figure out how to out-rock Jimi Hendrix. An intriguing glimpse of the creative artist at work.
5 LED Zeppelin How The
West Was Won (Warner) Three
discs of crisp, clear proof that on any given night
Led Zeppelin could simultaneously be the best country,
funk, Celtic folk and rock ‘n’ roll band on earth.
6 Cedric IM Brooks The Magical Light Of Saba (Honest
Jon’s Records) A brilliant collection of jazzy spiritual
reggae put down by saxophonist Cedric Im Brooks that
defines the 70s roots sound.
7 Reverend Charlie Jackson God’s
Got It (Case Quarter) Jackson’s electrified
testifying ventures as close to the profane as
the sacred dare get, featuring distorted guitars,
rattling tambourines and shouting that can only
be described as possessed. Righteous!
8 Country Got Soul (Casual) Never been a big fan of Jeb Loy Nichols, but the Georgia-born singer/songwriter did a swell job of compiling the swampy redneck funk of Southern-fried hombres like Eddie Hinton, Charlie Rich and Larry Jon Wilson who inspired him.
9 LiAleh (Light in the Attic) Toward the end of the blaxploitation craze, Bernard Purdie created a funky fresh soundtrack for the porn flick Lialeh loaded with dope workouts. Thanks to Seattle’s Light in the Attic label, you no longer need to spend $500 for a copy of the original Bryan label LP.
10 DOrothy ashby Afro-Harping (Verve) Producer Richard Evans conspires with harpist Dorothy Ashby to create a funky soul-jazz masterpiece. Easy, breezy and beautiful.
