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Wonderfully messed-up funk from Stark Reality -- a 2LP set that brings forth tracks recorded in 1969, but which haven't been issued until now! The approach here is more freewheeling than the tracks on the group's legendary Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop LP -- lots more guitar and rumbling funk, and a tripped-out, stoned-up sort of approach to the music, lyrics, and even production -- all of which makes for some really compelling work. Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars -- in the kind of record that would have been barely appreciated at the time, but is finally getting its due today! 3 tracks off the 6 track set were issued on the CD Now, and the other 3 are making their first appearance here. All tracks are nice and long, and titles include "Pretty Music", "Nani", "Roller Coaster Ride", "Too Much Tenderness", and "Sunday's Song".

Wonderfully tripped out funk from one of the coolest groups ever! The Stark Reality were a one-off group who mixed together vibes, fuzzy guitar, funky bass, and some nicely choppy drums -- originally in service of an album of children's songs, written by Hoagy Carmichael. These 2 tracks are some of the rarest work ever by the group -- non-Carmichael tracks, written by group leader Monty Stark, and done in the same tripped-out funky style of work on the group's only album. "Too Much" is sweet mellow funk -- with great skittish drums, sweet guitar, and some nice lyrics that kind of trip around the beats. "Red Yellow" is much wilder -- lots and lots of fuzz, and a really tripped out noisy funk sound!

Here's a lifestyle we'd like to have -- that of Kenny Dope, one of the smartest groove hounds around! Kenny's famously known for his heavy hip hop and house production -- but behind that groove lies a generation's worth of musical influences, pulled from years and years of crate digging in a variety of global scenes. The 14 tracks on the set show the full depth of Kenny's rich inspiration from older grooves -- and run a surprising gamut that includes Latin jazz, folk funk, spacey soul, and jazzy rock -- all of which make this volume our favorite so far in the massive Life Styles series! Titles include "Africa" by Sathima Bea Benjamin, "I Am Love" by Jackson 5, "Berimbau" by Jayme Marques, "Proclamation" by Gentle Giant, "Submission" by Tyrone Washington, "Blackgold" by Phil Upchurch, "Too Soon You're Old" by Penny Goodwin, "Good Bucks" by Bobby Vince Paunetto, "All You Need To Make Music" by Stark Reality, and "Warpigs" by Black Sabbath.

If our jukebox was like this, we'd be rich! The compilation's a much-needed overview of the limited edition 45s issued by the Stones Throw label -- a genre-busting blend of hip hop, deep funk, and turntable work -- always exciting, and with a style that's unlike anything else we can think of! The package really offers a great sampling of the work on these hard-to-find singles -- 22 ultra-hip titles that are as appealing to any fan of classic funk as they are a fan of underground hip hop. Titles include "Getcho Soul Togetha (part 2)" by Breakestra, "Rocket Ship" by Stark Reality, "Harlem River Drive Interlude" and "I Am Singing" by Yesterday's New Quintet, "My 2600" by Captain Funkaho, "Breaks Of Meditate" and "Chops & Thangs" by Beat Conductor, "Things Could Be Better" by Ernie & The Top Notes, "On Point" by Lootpack, "Poppin Popcorn" by The Highlighters, "Devotion 92" by Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf, "Take Me" by Fabulous Souls, "Color" by LA Carnival, "Enter Ralph Wiggum" by A Trak, and "Place Your Bet" by Medaphor.

BBE strikes again with another massive bit of funk! This time, they've got Pete Rock helping Keb Darge to choose the tracks -- and the set's divided up so that the first half's all cuts picked by Pete, and the second's picked by Keb. These two funky selectas go head to head in a wonderful batch of rare tunes -- and if you ask us, the listener's the real winner! Titles include "Trespasser (part 1)" by Bad Medicine, "Chains & Things" by BB King, "Soul Lover" by Mutt & Jeffo, "Break It Loose (part 2)" by Onyx, "You're Welcome Stop On By" by Vickie Anderson (Mommie O), "Big Bad John" by Big John Hamilton, "Prelude To Say Brother" by Stark Reality, "We Are The Chosen Few" by The Chosen Few, "Nothin But A Party (part 1)" by The Blenders, "Jones N" by The Soulistics, "Don't Give A Damn" by King Cain & Silvertone Band, "Twine Time" by Seeburg Spotlite Band, "Ca Ba Dab" by Soul Swingers, "Deal With It" by Jimmy Lane & The Incredibles, and "What They Doing (Funkie Junkie)" by Charles Pryor & Power Of Love. Loads of excellent cuts -- and almost none of them have been reissued before!

A strangely beautiful set of African-tinged folksy soul -- with a sound that's pretty darn tough to describe! Birigwa plays guitar and sings -- and he's got a breezy style that sounds a bit like Letta Mbulu on some tracks -- but a bit more folksy on others, given the largely acoustic setting of the album. The rest of the instrumentation here includes a range of percussionists, plus flute, tenor, piano, flugelhorn, and bass -- the last of which is played by Phil Morrison of Stark Reality. Many of the tracks are short, personal, and poetic -- but the album also features one longer cut titled -- "Yelewa" -- which has a jamming Afro jazz sort of groove! Other tracks include "Lule Lule", "Okusosla", "Njabala", and "Obugumba".