Super Funk Vol 4 Various Artists (Super Funk)

£18.43

Genre:
Funk
Label:
BGP
Format:
LP
Catalogue Id:
BGP2 160

Yes I know we probably always say it, and us record company types are by definition a bunch of deceitful swine, but this really is the best one so far. With the funk market maturing nicely we have gone deeply into the whole of America's funky nooks and crannies and come up trumps with a bunch of rare and sought after funky music. What's more we didn't stop at the master tapes this time and in the booklet of the CD and (sadly to a lesser extent due to space) on the back of the LP cover we have tons of label shots, obscure pictures of the bands and a stunning picture of the tape box for Ron Buford's Deep Soul (believe me, it looks great).

So fine, but what about the music. Well we open up with Billy "Sugar Billy" Garner. Now Billy has been a Super Funk favourite since we released his Brand New Girl a few years back, his opener here, I Got Some, is from the same sessions as that classic and was released as a rare New Day 45 in 1972. This is followed by Ron Buford with the grinding organ funk of Deep Soul (Part 2) a record that has been selling for well into the three figure mark over the last year. We then come on with bluesman Eddie Clearwater with his 1969 Chicago take on the James Brown There Was A Time riff called Doing The Model - an absolutely mad winner of a track.

I think that one is pretty unknown even to funk collectors, whilst The New Jersey Queens and Friends Party And Don't Worry About It is very well known to all and sundry as a rare groove classic. However it's been unreissued since 1989 and prices for an original copy have creeped up over £100 in recent years, so we felt it was our duty to bring it to you. As we did with Albert Washington's 1969 funk-out Crazy Legs which is made in the hometown of King Records - Cincinatti - with James Brown bass player Tim Drummond and it shows.

Our next two numbers are down right sassy 'sister funk' pieces from Pat Hunt with Super Cool and Betty Barney's Momma Momma which has a dirty New York sassyness about it. We then bring in the mystery man - 23 singles released over 20 years and we know nothing about him - Chet Ivey with his 70s sax led work out Don't Ever Change. We know plenty about Vernon Garrett, who is our next artist, but most of all we know how good he is and Don't Do What I Do is one of his best.. It wouldn't be "Super Funk" without a bunch of unreleased grooves and it's just the same here as we take a couple of tracks from Phoenix, Arizona and one from deepest Louisiana. From Louisiana we have the National Soul Band, who producer Eddie Shuler can remember nothing about. We reckon this might have been the last recording scheduled for the ANLA label and it is the dirtiest funk take on Wilson Pickett's Get Me Back On Time Engine #9. From Phoenix we have Michael Liggins whose Mighty Records releases have recently been picking up attention, and the Soul Blenders. Both firey cuts were produced by Mike Lenaburg.

Out of Phoenix also, this time via Los Angeles, are the Soulsetters, who would later achieve wider fame as Freddie and Henchi-.-we feature their Out Of Sight from the Onacrest label who also released Joe Swift's feisty Boogaloo Party. And then we have Clifton White's brilliant "son of" Tighten Up, The Warm Up which would keep most dancefloors moving as would Charles Crawford's Fat'n'Funky. Our final uptempo cut is the infectious funk soul of Little Charles and the Sidewinders' Shanty Town. This leaves us with the mighty instrumental version of Syl Johnson's Is It Because I'm Black by E. Rodney Jones and Friends titled Soul Heaven which really cools things off.

So there you go. The best yet!

By Dean Rudland

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview I Got Some Pt 1 - Billy Garner

  • 02 Preview Deep Soul Part 2 - Ron Buford

  • 03 Preview Doin' The Model - Eddie Clearwater

  • 04 Preview Party And Don't Worry 'Bout It - The New Jersey Queens And Friends

  • 05 Preview Crazy Legs Part 2 - Albert Washington

Side 2

  • 01 Preview Super Cool (You're Just A Super Fool) - Pat Hunt

  • 02 Preview Momma Momma - Betty Barney

  • 03 Preview Don't Ever Change (Instrumental) - Chet Ivey

  • 04 Preview Don't Do What I Do - Vernon Garrett

  • 05 Preview Funky Night Club - The Soul Blenders

Side 3

  • 01 Preview Get Me Back On Time, Engine #9 - National Soul Review

  • 02 Preview Chicken Tracks - Ron Buford

  • 03 Preview The Warm Up Part 1 - Clifton White & His Royal Knights

  • 04 Preview Standing On The Corner - Michael Liggins & The Soulsations

  • 05 Preview Boo-Ga-Loo Party - Joe Swift's Internationals

Side 4

  • 01 Preview Soul Heaven - E Rodney Jones and Friends

  • 02 Preview Chicken Scratch - Chili Peppers

  • 03 Preview Fat 'N' Funky - Charles Crawford

  • 04 Preview Out Of Sight - The Soulsetters

  • 05 Preview Shanty Town - Little Charles and the Sidewinders

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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