A huge discovery in funky soul – unreleased tracks that were supposed to form the never-issued third album by Rasputin's Stash – after their classic Devil Made Me Do It for Curtom! The group are the stuff of legend – a heady funk ensemble who grew out of Chicago's Fantastic Epics, and with later ties to the sublime Crystal Winds – but probably best known for their stunning debut for Atlantic Records, which forever put the group on the psychedelic funk map! They're every bit as great here – hard-rolling in a massive blend of basslines, guitar, and drums – surprisingly tight, given that the work was never issued – but never in a slick or commercial way. The groove follows wonderfully from their Devil album – and has some massive breaks that come across with a superdope Curtom vibe – mixed with a few mellower cuts that are equally great, in a surprisingly badass way. Titles include "Dark Moon", "Dance With Me", "Oo Girl", "Get Down", "Everybody's A Masterpiece", "Sweet Vibe", "Confusion", "Pick Up The Apple", and a nice cover of "Love & Happiness". CD

A fantastic second album from Rasputin Stash – a group who started out on Atlantic Records as a big ensemble with a pretty freaky, fuzzy sound – but one who emerge here with a sweet mix of funk and soul that's perfect for their placement on this mid-70s offshoot of Curtom Records! The quartet have a reach that they never had before – able to unite their voices and soar with harmonic brilliance that rivals the best of their labelmates – the Impressions or Natural Four – always with the kind of badass currents that both of those groups picked up in the 70s! Yet they can also get a lot funkier, too – picking up some of the best currents from the Curtis Mayfield side of the spectrum, but fusing them into a leaner small group mode – heard to wonderfully effect on the classic "Devil Made Me Do It", and the killer JB's-ish track "Hit It and Pass It". The whole album's wonderful, though – and titles include "I Can Feel Your Jones", "Ooh Baby", and "The Devil Made Me Do It". LP, Vinyl record album