A key classic from the earliest years of the Fatback Band – one of the group's funkiest albums, and part of their original trilogy for the Perception label! The groove here is mighty raw throughout – but a bit more complicated than some of their funky 45 releases – a mixture of funky vamps and some more soul-styled tunes – showing the group evolving a bit from the start, yet still losing none of their funky edge – sounding surprisingly nice on a few of the album's mellower instrumentals. Titles include the massive "Goin' To See My Baby", with a classic break on the intro – plus "Street Dance", "Free Form", "Give Me One More Chance", "Green Green Grass Of Home", "Baby I'm A Want You", and "Take a Ride (On The Soul Train)". CD

The title certainly gets this one right – as the 12 track set is overflowing with classic funk all the way through – tracks that bubbled underground in the 70s, rocked the rare groove scene in the 80s, and which are still being appreciated today! Great stuff all around – and tracks include "NT" by Kool & The Gang, "Stone To The Bone" by James Brown, "Pick Up The Pieces" by Average White Band, "Fencewalk" by Mandrill, "Who Is He And What Is He To You" by Creative Source, "Wicki Wacky" by Fatback, "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays, "Blow Your Head" by The JBs, "Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield, "Rock Creek Park" by The Blackbyrds, and "Gimme Some More" by The JBs. CD

Tracks include "Gigolo" by Fatback, "Talking Back" by The Gap Band, "The Big Throwdown" by South Bronx, "Era" by War, "Bounce Rock Skate Roll" by Vaughan Mason & Crew, "Sun Is Here" by Sun, "Next Time It's For Real" by Kleeer, "Hip Dip Sky" by Mtume, and "Go for It" by Webster Lewis. CD

A raw early cooker from Mongo Santamaria – a real standout album from the Riverside years, thanks to a live performance that goes far beyond his studio work of the time! The set was caught live at the Village Gate – in a way that lets the band open up and really jam on the tunes – an especially great thing, given that players include Pat Patrick, Marty Sheller, and Bobby Capers on horns, all of whom bring a lot of fire to the session. Mongo's great on congas, as you might expect – and the album's even got a cool little introduction of the group by Symphony Sid! Tracks include "Mongo's Groove", "The Jungle Bit", "Fatback", and "Nothing For Nothing", a nice long track written by Patrick! CD also features the bonus track "Para Ti". CD