Barbara & Ernie – Prelude To... 1971 (Cotillion)

Label : Cotillion

Value :

A folk funk classic from the early 70s – and a weird little record that has a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of! The arrangements are quite soulful, almost funky at times – with a righteous undercurrent that reminds us of Richard Evans or Charles Stepney at Cadet Records. But the vocals – by singer Barbara Massey – have a flanged-out quality that's clearly overdubbed, creating a double-voiced sound that's almost a bit like Brasil 66! This mix of modes is really great – completely unique, and sublime throughout – with a vibe that was years ahead of its time, and which is finally beginning to get some recognition these many years later. Arrangements are by the pair, but Deodato also had a hand in the record too – and the core combo of musicians includes Grady Tate on drums, Ralph McDonald on percussion, and Sam Brown on guitar – alongside more guitars from Ernie and keyboards and piano from Barbara.

Taste :

Barbara & Ernie – Play With Fire

 Barbara & Ernie – For You

Barbara & Ernie – Somebody to Love

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By Electric Looser

Tomorrow's People ‎– Open Soul 1976 (Stage Productions)

Label : Stage Productions

Value : 

A really legendary group from the underground 70s scene in Chicago – one who've got all the chops and capabilities of the bigger groups of the time, but who never fully got their due – maybe in part because of the racy image on the album's cover! The group are a sharp funky ensemble –and work with a hard jamming sound that's clearly influenced by the city's Earth Wind & Fire, but not nearly as slick or as broadly spiritual in scope – more like the grit of the funky 45 generation has been littered into the grooves of a full length record! The standout cut on the album is the 20 minute "Open Soul" – an album-side jammer that has lots of vamping and hard grooving, and just a little bit of singing – but the other side's equally great, with shorter soul tracks that have a nice harmony vocal approach.

Taste :

Tomorrow's People ‎- Lovers and Friends

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By Electric Looser

George Otsuka Quintet – Sea Breeze 1971 (Union Records)

 

Label : Union Records

Value :

Part of a great move forward for Japanese drummer George Otsuka in the 70s – a player who'd really made some great waves with his trio material at the end of the 60s, but who found a way deepen his groove with a larger group on records like this – really standing out as one of the most spiritual players on his scene at the time! The players are all in Japanese, so we can't tell you their names – but the quintet feature an excellent reedman who blows both soprano sax and tenor, a deep-voiced trumpeter, and a pianist who also serves up a fair bit of Fender Rhodes too – both elements used in a really strong way over these long tracks on the set, which have a similar blend of soul and spirit as the best Japanese Columbia jazz sessions of the time.

Taste :

George Otsuka Quintet - Jumping Cats

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By Electric Looser

José Mauro - Obnoxius 19870 (Quartin)

Label : Quartin

Value :

An incredible treasure of Brazilian music – an obscure but landmark set from the great Jose Mauro, and one of the few records ever issued on the legendary Quartin label! There's a soaring brilliance here that easily matches the best early 70s work from Milton Nascimento and Edu Lobo – with perhaps some of the more complicated styles that Marcos Valle was also bringing to his music at the time too – all wrapped up with just the right mix of full orchestrations, acoustic guitar, and lead vocals from Jose. Production is amazing – possibly one of the best studio efforts ever from Roberto Quartin – and although issued on a tiny label, the record stands head and shoulders with the giants of MPB in the early 70s.

Taste :

José Mauro - Obnoxius (full album)

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By Electric Looser

Big Jullien And His All Star – Riviera Sound N°1 1969 (Major Minor)

Label : Major Minor

Value :

Late 60s big band funk cuts galore! This LP gem is high in demand and fetches ridiculous prices at auctions. Two true masters of French jazz – Michel Colombier and Ivan Jullien - teamed up in 1970 with other well known musicians from the French scene to record this excellent album at the famous Barclay Studios in Paris. The music was composed and played by Colombier and Jullien together with an allstar ensemble of finest studio players. Famous drummer André Arpino can be heard aswell as hammond master Eddy Louiss, Maurice Vander on piano, Raymond Gimenez on electric guitar or Roger Guérin on trumpet. “Riviera Sound No.1” stands out as one of the perfect moments in French jazz funk, never reissued before and remaining on top of collector`s lists since years. There are not many facts to be found about this vinyl artefact, although nearly everybody of the featured musicians earned himself an excellent worldwide reputation.

The ten piece horn section delivers a great funky big band style from start to finish, very groovy and always with this special mediterranean Riviera vibe. Wicked jazz funk is mixed with soundtrack or drama library sounds, like “Opening”, that was also released on an impossible to find 45 single in the same year. “Crescendo” tears up every dancefloor, while “Talk” provides a monster open drum break at the beginning. Softer titles like “Edith” or “The Looser” draw their inspiration from cool jazz, modern jazz or pop music of the time. “I Remember Otis” is a soul and funk infused tribute to Otis Redding in a delicate Majestics or Mohawks style and the perfect groover “Wake The Monster” was re-recorded by Ivan Jullien later on for the always in demand Italian mod beat band “I Pyranas”.
 

Taste :

Big Jullien And His All Star - I Remember Otis

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By Electric Looser