Various Artists:
Backbeats 4th Series:
including In The Pocket ('70s Jazz Funk), Unexploited & Underrated ('90s Soul Gems), Digger's Delight (Rare Groove Gems):
Harmless:
Out Now:
Various scores....
Apparently, budget to mid-price compilation heavyweights Harmless have issued over 50 of these easy-priced samplers in just over 3 years. As the sleeve-notes intone, this is quite a feat these days because, not only are CD sales on the wane, compilations are on the increase and the battle for punter's hard-earned cash is getting ever more intense. On the strength of the next batch of the label's Backbeats series (its fourth), Harmless and parent-company Demon need not worry about the competition - they've struck gold with the likes of Detroit Gold, Philly Gems and Paaaarty Time, all pretty self-explanatory titles when you think about.
Less obvious are the three I took a plunge with. Retailing for a fiver or less, each disc contains enough in the way of funk, soul, disco and jazzy vibes to satisfy the most picky and ardent of fans.
In The Pocket - 70s Jazz Funk (8/10) is a title that might have had me running for cover a few decades ago but Harmless have it all in hand. For just a few quid, you can wiggle your middle to the likes of Just Around The Corner by Herbie Hancock, the mellower, less-frenetic Coming To You Live by Charles Earland, the carnal and brassy Brazilica from Ramsey Lewis and the inspiration behind this compilation's title, Put It In The Pocket by Freddie Hubbard. Sample-diggers will warm to the inclusion of Earth Wind and Fire's Africano, as used by Beastie Boys and Nightmares on Wax.
Unexploited & Underrated (6/10) is more concerned with 'contemporary modern soul gems', drawn from various sources from the last few decades. The emphasis is on funky disco-pop a la opener Don't Wait Around by The Elgins, the underrated Noel McKoy with Just a Lucky Fella and numerous other mid-tempo brassy funk tracks derived from Motorcity Records and penned by one Ian Levine. It's a mixed bag but you can't complain for a few quid. David Ruffin, Bettye Lavette and The Contours are a few other highlights here.
Digger's Delight (8/10) is as naff a title as you'd expect from a budget-issue but the music certainly isn't, save for a few exceptions. The content has been syphoned from the vast catalogues of Sony, Columbia and Arista and features filler from Angela Bofill, Hubert Laws and the like before the cream of the crop rises to the top in the middle of the album. Great efforts from Shuggie Otis, Idris Muhammed, Lalo Schifrin (the Theme From King Kong, no less) and Weldon Irvine boost foot-tapping credentials somewhat, while other highlights come from Earth Wind and Fire's superb Mighty Mighty and the relatively rare Turn Off The Lights by Larry Young's Fuel.
Good series.
Backbeats 4th Series:
including In The Pocket ('70s Jazz Funk), Unexploited & Underrated ('90s Soul Gems), Digger's Delight (Rare Groove Gems):
Harmless:
Out Now:
Various scores....
Less obvious are the three I took a plunge with. Retailing for a fiver or less, each disc contains enough in the way of funk, soul, disco and jazzy vibes to satisfy the most picky and ardent of fans.
In The Pocket - 70s Jazz Funk (8/10) is a title that might have had me running for cover a few decades ago but Harmless have it all in hand. For just a few quid, you can wiggle your middle to the likes of Just Around The Corner by Herbie Hancock, the mellower, less-frenetic Coming To You Live by Charles Earland, the carnal and brassy Brazilica from Ramsey Lewis and the inspiration behind this compilation's title, Put It In The Pocket by Freddie Hubbard. Sample-diggers will warm to the inclusion of Earth Wind and Fire's Africano, as used by Beastie Boys and Nightmares on Wax.
Digger's Delight (8/10) is as naff a title as you'd expect from a budget-issue but the music certainly isn't, save for a few exceptions. The content has been syphoned from the vast catalogues of Sony, Columbia and Arista and features filler from Angela Bofill, Hubert Laws and the like before the cream of the crop rises to the top in the middle of the album. Great efforts from Shuggie Otis, Idris Muhammed, Lalo Schifrin (the Theme From King Kong, no less) and Weldon Irvine boost foot-tapping credentials somewhat, while other highlights come from Earth Wind and Fire's superb Mighty Mighty and the relatively rare Turn Off The Lights by Larry Young's Fuel.
Good series.