The Soul’s Slow Ripening

Funk Express is the 1980 album by Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers. This is a 2021 pressing released by Raw Venture featuring four bonus cuts.

Founded in 1926 by Roy Crain, The Soul Stirrers were one of the preeminent gospel vocal acts in the U.S. over the next several decades. After many line up changes, a then-unknown Sam Cooke joined the group in 1951, a stint that lasted until his entry into the secular pop world as a solo artist in 1957. Cooke was replaced by Johnnie Taylor (later of “Who’s Making Love” fame), and by 1959 the Soul Stirrers found themselves without a label. Cooke and Crain, along with manager/songwriting partner J.W. Alexander reacted by founding SAR Records, whose first order of business was releasing Taylor-fronted Soul Stirrers recordings as well as selections on which Jimmie Outler took the lead.

Two vintage albums by the Soul Children for the price of one CD. Half the productions are by their mentors Isaac Hayes and David Porter, the other half by Porter and his subsequent partner Ronnie Williams. Deep soul sagas the magnitude of "I'll Understand," "Move Over," and "Tighten Up My Thang" provided the paradigm for future Soul Children producers. The Porter/Williams productions are more consistent, but none are as brilliant as the few gems by Hayes and Porter. But whatever the Soul Children sing, their golden voices make even the most hackneyed cuts interesting.

First time on CD for two classic albums!Al Hudson & The Soul Partners originated in 70s Detroit, had an international chart hit with "You Can Do It" on becoming One Way with Alicia Myers in 1979, and continue to perform across the USA to this day. Expansion previously explored the group's earlier years at the ATCO label ("The ATCO Years" EXCDM 50) and now move on the much awaited first time ever CD reissues of the four ABC label releases across two new CDs. "Spreading Love" and "Happy Feet" were originally released in 1978 & 1979, a heyday year for the quality of soul, disco and funk grooves on those albums. Key songs include "You Can Do It", "Spread Love" and "How Do You Do", but the full body of work has stood the test of time and sounds so good again today re-mastered for the original audio tapes.

The Presence of the Soul in our Life

Best known for their 1969 paper hit “Iron Leg,” the mixed instrumental combo Mickey & the Soul Generation came to semi-national attention following Nipsey Russell’s performance of the Iron Leg dance on Johnny Carson. Though they shared a label with Ben E. King, they lacked access to the same promotion and marketing resources. A tour with Sam & Dave and opening slots for James Brown, Kool & the Gang, and The Supremes found them performing for thousands nightly, but still sleeping on floors. By the mid-’70s the group had fractured, with members joining the army, bottling Coke, and starting families. Their run would end in 1977 with two members turning in a passing Average White Band impression called “Southern Fried Funk” before their handful of 45s fell completely out of vogue and made their journey to thrift shops and cut-out distributors.

Fearsomely funky, grippingly groovy, and radiantly retro, The Soul Movers – the lovechild of powerhouse vocalist, Lizzie Mack, and OG-Red-Wiggle, Murray Cook - are all the above, as is the groovy soul, powerful pop, and rockin’ country bump in “Dumb Luck”, their fourth album in over ten years, out on Cheersquad Records & Tapes.