With Sullivan Fortner on piano. CD

A smoking funky set from early 70s Stax Records – the only album we've ever seen from Roy Lee Johnson & The Villagers, and a stone cooker all the way through! The sound is hard and heavy on most numbers – with loads of funky 45-styled riffs – and the core group is a nicely self-contained unit, with a lot of focus on the rhythm section – but they also get some great help here from the Memphis Horns, who blow over the top beautifully, and add a nicely soulful vibe to the record! Drums are nice and hard – and titles include the killer "The Dryer (parts 1 & 2)", plus "Razorback Circus", "Robot", "Midnight At Riley's", "Don't Tell Me Nothing About My Woman", "Patch It Up", and "I'll Be Your Doctor Man". CD

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! CD

Amazing stuff from Stax Records – a BEAUTIFUL package that features 10 singles in original label sleeves, in a custom made, magnetic flip-top box – which also contains an 84 page book, and a free download for all the songs included! The music here is some of the best work from the second half of Stax – the kinds of singles that are prizes in our funky 45 collection – although there's a here we've never found at all! Titles include "The Dryer (parts 1 & 2)" by Roy Lee Johnson & The Villagers, "The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy" by John Gary Williams, "Running Out" by Mable John, "Cool Strut (parts 1 & 2)" by Bernie Hayes, "Them Hot Pants (parts 1 & 2)" by Lee Sain, "Hijackin Love" by Johnny Taylor, "Sweetback's Theme" by Melvin Van Peebles, "Blind Alley" by The Emotions, "Itch & Scratch (parts 1 & 2)" by Rufus Thomas, and "Gone The Promises Of Yesterday" by The Mad Lads. Special treat – 15 random boxes include autographed photos! 7-inch, Vinyl record