The Rhythm of Thought

The complete collection: Every soul, funk, gospel, rock track from Indianapolis s greatest label on a 4 CD set Sometimes, all it takes is one man to recognize a city s potential for an industry. In Indianapolis, that man was Herb Miller, and his business was soul and funk. He came to prominence long after Indy s allure as a jazz destination waned. He founded LAMP Records in the late 1960s to wake Naptown from its musical slumber. Miller served a critical role in city s burgeoning soul and funk scene, providing not only financial backing, but acting as a one-stop, record-making shop for artists that had, to that point, been doing it all themselves. He s the Berry Gordy you ve never heard of. His roster national acts like the Vanguards and Ebony Rhythm Band alongside talented, regional acts such as the Moonlighters, Montiques, Pearls and the Words of Wisdom Truth Revue rivaled that of any American independent and paved the way for the ascension of 80s and 90s hitmakers Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and Antonio L.A. Reid, both of whom cut their teeth with LAMP alumnus.

A value-added combination of four of the blues guitar legend Albert King's albums, dating from the 1970s to the 1990s, this two-disc best-of notably includes his 1979 Allen Toussaint-produced set NEW ORLEANS HEAT, as well as the workmanlike R&B of 1977's KING ALBERT. Among the highlights are a reworking of Toussaint's "Get Out My Life Woman" and the guitarist's own "Born Under a Bad Sign," and there's also the bonus of King's unlikely yet frequently performed version of Ray Noble's standard "The Very Thought of You," with full string accompaniment. As you'd expect from a chronicle of the master's late-period work, funky, fatback rhythm, horns, and stinging guitar work predominate, overlaid with King's good-natured, relaxed baritone vocals.