Editorial Review:

Album Description:
91 tracks deep and five hours long, this multi-artist, 4CD set mines rare, renowned, legendary, and little-known grooves from the vaults of Atlantic, Atco, and Warner Bros Records!

Amazon.com:
Too many reissue compilations are content to merely slice 'n' dice familiar catalog choices in not particularly original ways. But this four-disc, 91-track trove of obscure '70s R&B and funk from Warner-distributed labels great and small argues there's still treasure to be gleaned from studio vaults--a five-hour groove-fest that's as interested in shaking booty as in opening ears. Even the genre's groundbreaking usual suspects (Wilson Pickett, the Bar-Kays, Curtis Mayfield, Earth, Wind & Fire, et al) are represented by selections that aren't immediately familiar, while Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin serves up a radically different, previously unreleased take of 'Rock Steady.' Still other stars contribute their sonic touches to some of the lesser-known cuts, as witnessed by the patent trippiness of Sly Stone alter-egos 6ix and Stanga on 'I'm Just Like You' and 'Little Sister,' respectively; the stark, party-not-so-hearty contrast of the Mayfield-written-and-produced 'Hard Times' by Baby Huey & Baby Sisters; and the Meters' version of 'Tampin',' released under the moniker of the Rhine Oaks.



Sequenced in rough chronological order, it's a savvy window into a musical evolution as well, with the rhythmic guitars, organ swells, and horn flourishes of traditional '60s R&B giving way to sinewy synths and increasingly chunky bass lines as the decade grooves on. While savvy hip-hoppers will note that many of the rarities here have already been repurposed by shrewd mixers, it's a revelation to hear them in their original form. A compelling deconstruction of an often clichéd and too-narrowly-defined genre, this is an anthology that showcases music that has influenced such contemporary artists as Tupac, the Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West, annotated by many of the original musicians who set the dance floor in motion. --Jerry McCulley









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Disc 1:

1. Spreadin' Honey -- Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
2. Soul Finger -- Bar-Kays
3. The Shadow Of Your Smile -- Brother Jack McDuff
4. Gangster Of Love (Parts 1 and 2) -- Jimmy Norman
5. The Memphis Train -- Rufus Thomas
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman -- Grassella Oliphant
7. Live Right Now -- Eddie Harris
8. Pig Snoots, Part 1 -- Natural Bridge Bunch
9. Soul Sound System -- The Freedom Sounds featuring Wayne Henderson
10. Snatching It Back -- Clarence Carter
11. Stoned Soul -- Artie Christopher
12. Getting The Corners -- The T.S.U. Tornadoes
13. Sexy Coffee Pot -- Tony Alvon & The Belairs
14. Don't Come Around Here Anymore -- Mark Putney
15. Keep On Dancing -- The Commodores
16. Right On Brother--Part 1 -- The Southshore Commission
17. Pop, Popcorn Children -- Eldridge Holmes
18. It's Your Thing -- Cold Grits
19. It's All In Your Mind -- Soul Angels
20. Funky John -- Johnny Cameron & The Camerons
21. Help Me Make Up My Mind -- Joyce Jones
22. Rock Me Baby -- Lou Johnson
23. Sing A Simple Song -- The Noble Knights
24. Do You Dig It -- Titus Turner
25. Funky Canyon -- Phil Moore Jr.
26. Jan Jan -- The Fabulous Counts
27. Tampin -- The Rhine Oaks

Disc 2:

1. Gossip -- Cyril Neville
2. Somebody In The World For You -- The Mighty Hannibal
3. Stanga -- Little Sister
4. Jumpin' Jack Flash -- Ananda Shankar
5. The Deacon -- Brute Force
6. Sookie Sookie -- Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band
7. Right On -- Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers
8. (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go -- Curtis Mayfield
9. Stepping Stones -- Johnny Harris
10. I'm Just Like You -- 6ix
11. Funky Thing--Part 1 -- The Unemployed
12. Messie Bessie -- Shirley Scott
13. Fairchild -- Willie West
14. Cold Bear -- The Gaturs
15. I Can't Get Next To You -- Mongo Santamaria
16. Feelin' Alright -- Lulu
17. Soul Bowl -- Memphis Horns
18. Tuane -- Hammer
19. Take It Off--Part 2 -- Johnny Tolbert & De Thangs
20. Seeds Of Life -- Harlem River Drive featuring Eddie Palmieri & Jimmy Norman
21. Engine Number 9 -- Wilson Pickett

Disc 3:

1. Hard Times -- Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
2. What So Never The Dance--Pt. 1 & 2 -- Houseguests
3. Headless Heroes -- Eugene McDaniels
4. Spinning Wheel -- Wade Marcus
5. Bad Tune -- Earth, Wind & Fire
6. Mr. Cool -- Rasputin's Stash
7. Don't Cha Hear Me Callin' To Ya -- Junior Mance
8. Hang On In There -- The Stovall Sisters
9. Funky Nassau (Part 2) -- The Beginning Of The End
10. Whatever's Fair -- Mark Holder & The Positives
11. Face It -- Ed Robinson
12. Wah Wah Man -- Young-Holt Unlimited
13. Rock Steady (alternate mix) -- Aretha Franklin
14. Won't Nobody Listen -- Black Haze Express
15. Goin' Down -- Allen Toussaint
16. Suavecito -- Malo
17. You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin' -- Charles Wright
18. Mo Jo Hanna -- Tami Lynn
19. Ridin' Thumb -- King Curtis
20. Almendra -- Macondo
21. Nuki Suki -- Little Richard

Disc 4:

1. Getting Uptown (To Get Down) -- United 8
2. 8 Days On The Road -- Howard Tate
3. Moon Shadow -- Labelle
4. Let It Crawl -- Society's Bag
5. Wanaoh -- Black Heat
6. If It Was Good Enough For Daddy -- Clarence Reid
7. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky -- Claudia Lennear
8. Cosmic Sea -- The Mystic Moods
9. Kissing My Love -- Cold Blood
10. Flute Thing -- Seatrain
11. Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N' Shove) Part 2 -- The Meters
12. Funky To The Bone -- Freddi/Henchi & The Soul Setters
13. Try It Again -- Bobby Byrd
14. . Teasin' -- Cornell Dupree
15. (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away -- Dr. John
16. Chicken Heads -- Oscar Brown Jr.
17. Rien Ne Va Plus -- Funk Factory
18. Cajun Moon -- Herbie Mann
19. Improve -- Darrow Fletcher
20. Riding High -- Faze-O
21. Four Play -- Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns
22. California Dreamin' -- Eddie Hazel

Rating: - * I LOVE THIS BOX! ... While I can't deny that there are a few tunes in this set that I fast forward over, I still had to give it 5 stars just because of the tunes that you can put on repeat more than make up for the few lemons. Lots of instrumentals on this set that will keep you grooving for years. Anyone looking for inspiration (rappers/dancers/musicians) will find it here. This is not the stuff that you're going to find on your pre-programed radio stations. Even the liner notes don't know who some of these artists are! ENJOY! Rating: - * Funk-tastic! ... Don't have much to add, as the other reviews have covered this box set excellently. This is an awesome collection of funk tunes, and one of the best box sets I've ever had the privilege to own. Great for both the novice and funk collector. Rating: - * You must have it! ... This is the best funky soul music compilation ever! I read an excellent review in some magazine and decided it would be a great present for my husband. I'm not exaggerating: it's probably the best funk/soul compilation ever! Already the CD box is beautifully designed, lots of great information and trivia and photos. The songs are very well selected: you go from one track to the other and it's a very mellow swift. Usually other music compilations have just a few good tracks and the other stuff is annoying. But this is honestly amazing! Rating: - * A MUST-HAVE ... I've been collecting vintage funk for over ten years, and this set is a one-stop shop for the Padwan funk enthusiast or a seasoned connoisseur. If you like it raw with a great backbone and big horns, this is the place to get it. I can't get enough of this set. I've been listening to it non-stop for over a week and I'm still surprised and delighted by every track. Can't say enough about it. If you're on the fence, TRUST ME and take the plunge. It's actually a huge bargain for the price. Rating: - * Classic for lovers of horn-heavy 1970's funk ... Not a bad track in the bunch, and several gems on each disk. Some amazing horn players are mixed into these sessions (e.g. Clark Terry on trumpet -- quite a surprise! -- and Herbie Mann on flute). And many, many great horn sections. Everyone who grew up in the 70's has heard these amazing players, but few know their names. Take the time to read the excellent supporting information and change that situation!