Tasty 1968

Jazz accordion-master, Art Van Damme plays much more than cool/accordion mush. Born in Norway, Michigan, raised in Chicago, he is considered one of the greatest Jazz accordionists of all time. In the '60-'70 he is recorded many albums for German label MPS, considered among the best of his prolific career. Some of them are included into this combined Hi-Res collection.

Never-before issued recordings from legendary Motown guitarist, Dennis Coffey, captured live at Morey Baker’s Showplace Lounge in Detroit in 1968. One of the Funk Brothers, as featured in the Grammy award winning documentary “Standing in The Shadows of Motown”, Coffey has played with countless musicians from Quincy Jones to Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder. Hot Coffey in the D was produced by Mike Theodore and Coffey, the same team that produced the recently rediscovered folk singer Rodriguez’s debut album Cold Fact (1970) and the soundtrack to the Academy Award winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”. These recordings showcase Coffey in his prime, raw and unfiltered, with fellow Detroiters organist Lyman Woodard (former musical director for Martha and the Vandellas) and drummer Melvin Davis (Smokey Robinson, Wayne Kramer).

Josh Groban is among the most popular singers straddling the classical and pop genres. It can be said his voice does some straddling as well, ranging from upper baritone well into the tenor range, making classification somewhat problematic. What is not problematic for the listener is the warm, mellifluous sound produced by it, the chief reason for Groban's meteoric rise. His first solo album, the eponymously titled Josh Groban, was released in 2001 and was an instant hit, auguring international stardom. He has had a number of gold and platinum recordings… This collection includes the albums: Josh Groban (2001), Closer (2003), Awake (2006), Illuminations (2010), All That Echoes (2013).

Funky genius from the legendary Stax studios! During the 60s, Stax was well known for their work in the soul music field – turning out hit singles by the likes of Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and others – but after 1968, when the label finished their deal with Atlantic, they really started getting down and dirty, and hitting on all burners in the funk department. This tasty set features 21 tracks from those exiting years –many of them only ever issued on singles, and a few of them by some of the label's more famous LP artists – but all of them with a nice Memphis funky groove! Titles include "Turn Your Damper Down" by Rufus Thomas, "Broadway Freeze" by Harvey Scales, "Life Is Funky" by Round Robin Monopoly, "The Dryer" by Roy Lee Johnson, "She's My Old Lady Too" by Lee Sain, "Slipped & Tripped" by The Sweet Inspirations, "Brothers & Sisters" by Kim Weston, "Movin Dancer" by Bobby Holley, "Eli's Pork Chop" by Little Sonny, "A Man Never Knows" by Chris & Shack, "Grab A Handful" by Art Jerry Miller, "I'll Kill A Brick (About My Man)" by Hot Sauce, "Watch The Dog That Brings The Bone" by Inez Foxx, "Sock Soul" by The Bar Kays, and "Getting Funky Round Here" by Black Nasty!

Harmony Row is the legitimate follow-up to Jack Bruce'excellent songs for a tailor, although 1971 also saw the almost-simultaneous release of 1968 jazz tapes entitled Things We Like by this artist. An elaborate gatefold package has a shadow photo of the artist from the back, overlooking a golden sun on the waters.

Dean Rudland compiles a selection of 70s Funk for Back Beats. Nina Simone, Jimmy Castor, Shuggie Otis, Sly & The Family Stone and many more feature. Amazon Review by Donald E. Gilliland: If you can get past the stupid album title and the tacky cover photo, you will find the music on this compilation to be very good, over 65 minutes of fine funky soul tunes from 1968 to 1974. The closest thing to a hit on this collection is perhaps "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone, but even without a bunch of hits the material on here is very high in quality, which one would expect from a volume in this dependable "Backbeats" series of collection. Even amongst the recognizable names such as Nina Simone, Esther Phillips, M.F.S.B., Shuggie Otis, and Al Kooper we are treated to some very tasty funk-infused material. I also love "Watts Breakaway" by Johnny Otis, "It's Just Begun" by Jimmy Castor (which sounds like it could be an early Earth, Wind & Fire track!),"It's Alright" by the legendary Bobby Rush, and "Afro Strut" by the Nite-Liters. Even more obscure artists such as Shay Holiday, Casey Jones, Jesse Gresham, and Kim Melvin turn out some cool songs. And I can't forget the drum work-out by Bernard Purdie on "Soul Drums". Feel the beat indeed! I have enjoyed almost all of the volumes in the "Breakbeats" series, and this is one of the better ones. Too bad about that horrible cover and the album title! But ignore all that and just listen to the music; there's plenty of truly great songs on here, ones that will surely please fans of early 1970s soul and funk.

Josh Groban is among the most popular singers straddling the classical and pop genres. It can be said his voice does some straddling as well, ranging from upper baritone well into the tenor range, making classification somewhat problematic. What is not problematic for the listener is the warm, mellifluous sound produced by it, the chief reason for Groban's meteoric rise. His first solo album, the eponymously titled Josh Groban, was released in 2001 and was an instant hit, auguring international stardom. He has had a number of gold and platinum recordings… This collection includes the albums: Josh Groban (2001), Closer (2003), Awake (2006), Illuminations (2010), All That Echoes (2013).