Deep Tracks 69

1. Orange Blossoms – MOFRO
2. Whatever It Takes – Ruby Andrews
3. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink – Merle Haggard
4. Cream Puff – Reuben Wilson
5. Conjunction Mars – Melvin Sparks
6. Descarga Caliente – Ruben Blades
7. We’re Gonna Make It – Little Milton
8. You’re A Sweet, Sweet Man – Aretha Franklin
9. Restless – Carl Perkins
10. Ihe Oma Adighi Onye Oso- The Oriental Brothers
11. Rock Steady – Frank Owens
12. Head Start – Joe Pass
13. Stone Love – Ruthie Foster
14. I’m Your Pimp – The Skullsnaps
15. Gentlemen – Fela Kuti

http://rapidshare.com/files/277873833/Deep_Tracks_69.zip

JJ Grey, the soulful lead singer of MOFRO, has created a new southern sound that is rooted in the traditions and vibe of his North Florida youth. Great imagery and poetry in this music and one of the very few contemporary artists I really respect.

Not sure what I was thinking with the back to back soul jazz bombs Cream Puff and Conjunction Mars. Rueben Wilson and Melvin Sparks were both key figures as jazz integrated funk and soul into the palette when the 60's ended and the 70's began. Groove masters at their peak who continue to perform today more than 30 years later.

Little Milton is one of the great vocalists in blues and soul. His sixties and seventies recordings are vastly under appreciated and he makes a number of appearances on my comps. Rough and yet smooth, he voice and guitar playing were perfectly matched and he always had solid arrangements.

A couple of African gems on this one. First from the Oriental Brothers, a dynamic head bobbing highlife group and then a blistering hunk of afro-funk from the master Fela Kuti. Gentlemen might be one of his best tracks with its haunting rhodes piano work and gigantic orchestral jam down. And as usual his disdain for the politics of Nigeria and colonial Africa comes through strong.

The Skullsnaps were a one off funk band releasing one album that has become something of a holy grail in funk geekdom. Copies of this record sell for ridiculous sums of money. I'm your pimp is a blaxploitation opus that cuts very heavy.