Johnny Hammond : Higher Ground (LP, Vinyl record album) -- Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store
Skip navigation
Scripting is disabled or not working. dustygroove.com requires JavaScript to function correctly.
Style sheets are disabled or not working. dustygroove.com requires style sheets to function correctly.
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Enlarge       Note

Higher Ground

LP (Item 8296) Kudu, 1973 — Condition: Sealed
Massive work from Johnny Hammond – stretching out here in some totally jamming grooves that really transform his style for the 70s! The sound here is a lot hipper and tighter than some of Hammond's more rough-edged soul jazz of the 60s – a groove that's a great precursor to his more famous meetings with Larry Mizell a few years later – and equally great! Johnny's got plenty of space here – and is really taking his time with the grooves, thanks to some open ended arrangements by Bob James, who also plays electric piano on the record! The record is a seminal piece of work in the transformation of the chunky 60s organ sound to a sweeter 70s keyboard groove – and was proof that Johnny, more than most of his 60s soul jazz contemporaries, was ready to embrace the new sounds of the decade with open arms. Includes the great sample cut "Big Sur Suite" – plus "Higher Ground", "Summertime/The Ghetto", and "Catch My Soul".  © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.

Sealed

This is what it says, that the record is still held fast in shrink-wrap. We tend to be pretty suspicious about these things, so if the shrink-wrap doesn't look original, or if the record seems to have undergone some damage over time, we'll probably take it out of the wrapper to ensure that it's in good shape — which is why we don't have more of these. In some cases the shrink-wrap may be torn in spots, but if it's not possible the record has been taken out and played, the record will still qualify as "Sealed".

Additional Marks & Notes

If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record. This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip, cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.



You might be interested


Kudu, 1971. Near Mint-
One of Hank Crawford's first big records of the 70s – a really great set that helps him shake off some of his stock modes of the 60s and find a very different groove! A big part of the album is arranger Don Sebesky, who gives Hank a backdrop that's sophisticated and smooth, yet still pretty ... LP, Vinyl record album

Hank Crawford

Wildflower
Kudu, 1973. Near Mint-
A sweet bit of electric funk, and one of Hank Crawford's greatest records from the 70s – thanks in large part to the great Bob James – who arranged and produced the record with a mighty soulful vibe – leaving Hank lots of room to solo on his own over the top! The groove is really ... LP, Vinyl record album

Grover Washington Jr

Live At The Bijou
Kudu, 1977. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold
A totally great Grover Washington record – and with 25 years behind us, we really now realize how fantastic all the early Kudu sessions really were! The record was recorded live at the Bijou, and is spread out over 2 long LPs, with lots of room for tasty open-ended solos by Grover and the ... LP, Vinyl record album

David Matthews

Shoogie Wanna Boogie
Kudu, 1976. Near Mint-
One of the slickest of Dave Matthews' funk records from the 70s – but still pretty darn nice! Matthews was the mainman behind the legendary funk group The Grodeck Whipperjenny, and a key arranger in James Brown's sound of the Polydor years – but by this time, he moved into smoother ... LP, Vinyl record album

Brian Auger

Straight Ahead
RCA, 1974. Very Good+
Long lean groovers from Brian Auger and the Oblivion Express group – recorded with a slightly freer feel than some of the group's earlier albums, and an approach that has them stretching out nicely! Brian still sings a bit on some tracks, but there seems to be more of a focus than before on ... LP, Vinyl record album
Blue Note, 1967. Very Good+ Gatefold
One of Duke Pearson's funkiest sessions ever, and a hard swinging big band set with a great late 60s feel! The group is all-class all the way – with players that include Pearson, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Marvin Stamm, Julian Priester, Frank Foster, and Jerry Dodgion – and the tracks ... LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy Heath

Fast Company
Milestone, Early 60s/1975. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold
Good double LP set that compiles some of the best tracks from Jimmy Heath's Riverside years, and which features the razor sharp reed player in the company of Herbie Hancock, Donald Byrd, Cedar Walton, Paul Chambers, and Freddie Hubbard. The tracks were drawn from a number of albums, and the set ... LP, Vinyl record album

Bunky Green

Transformations
Vanguard, 1977. Very Good+
Funky Bunky from Chicago, with backing from Al Dailey on piano, Billy Butler and Carl Lynch on guitar, Wilbur Bascomb on bass, Jimmy Johnson on drums, Al Chalk on percussion, and Jeff Bova on ARP string ensemble and ARP 2600. The sound's quite different from his Cadet albums – but not bad ... LP, Vinyl record album

Gabor Szabo

Nightflight
Mercury, 1976. Very Good+
Wonderful 70s work from Gabor Szabo – a record that has him picking up a bit more of a soulful undercurrent, while still keeping all his great guitar work nicely upfront! The album has Gabor recording at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios – with help from Philly soul arrangers Richie ... LP, Vinyl record album

Chico Hamilton

Dealer
Impulse, Mid 60s. Very Good+ Gatefold
Wonderfully groovy work from drummer Chico Hamilton – one of his hip 60s albums for Impulse, done in a style that's completely different than his work of the 50s! Here, Chico's clearly in love with a modal groove, and also sets things up with more romping rhythms that are upbeat in a way he ... LP, Vinyl record album

Eddie Harris

Is It In
Atlantic, 1974. Very Good+
One of Eddie's groovier Varitone albums, and a record that has a very electric sound to it! At times, Eddie's electric sax is so off-beat that you'd think he was playing a synthesizer instead of a sax, but in true Harris form, he always keeps it funky, and even the weird sounds have a great groove ... LP, Vinyl record album

Laid Back

Keep Smiling
Sire, 1983. Sealed
It takes a record like this one to remind us just what a magical crossover time the post-disco, post-punk days of the early 80s could be! Take two white guys from Denmark – Tim Stahl and John Guldberg – give them a drum machine and some funky beats, and out comes the breakdance classic ... LP, Vinyl record album
 



⇑ Top