The lost third album from CJ & Co – that totally groovy, totally tight group who were one of the best things going on Westbound Records in the late 70s! CJ & Co had a groove that was just right for the new club world of the time – but they also had a sharp instrumental approach that was much more tied to the Detroit funk of early 70s Westbound – and their sound was given a fantastic push and polish by the production team of Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey, who really keep things sounding strong throughout! These aren't leftover cuts, or the kind of material that was rejected at the time – and instead, the whole package has a quality level that really matches the classic Devil's Gun record by the group – a funky disco spectacular all the way through. Titles include "Is Your Love Life Better", "Ain't It Amazing", "Rainbow Music", "Brassband", "Get Lucky", "Rainmaker", "The Golden Touch", "Can't Believe You'd Break Your Promise", "Let Them Talk", "Boogie Love", and a rare "original mix" of "Devil's Gun". All tracks previously unreleased! CD

The later years of Dennis Coffey at Westbound Records – tunes that show a bit of a move away from the rougher funk of his roots, but which are still filled with plenty of sharp-edged work on guitar! Coffey's groove here is more in the club vein that Westbound hit in the mid 70s – upbeat, uptempo rhythms that drew strongly on the label's earlier legacy in funk – but pushed a groove more towards the popular disco styles of the time! Yet Coffey's tunes are never throwaway disco – and from the perspective of these many decades later, they're really just fast funk numbers with a bit of strings – still heavy on tightly snapping rhythms, and filled with loads of beautiful guitar lines from Dennis. This hip package from Ace goes out of its way to focus on the funkiest bits from these years – and the set features 15 titles that include "Wild Child", "Live Wire", "Some Like It Hot", "Free Spirit", "Back Home", "Finger Lickin Good (7" version)", "Sweet Taste Of Sin", "Calling Planet Earth (12" version)", "High On Love", "Gimme That Funk (7" version)", and "Our Love Goes On Forever". CD

One of the great groups of the Detroit soul scene at the end of the 60s – but an act who never got the full fame of contemporaries like The Four Tops or Temptations! That didn't stop the Detroit Emeralds from being a hell of a vocal act, though – as they've got a mixture of tight harmonies and raw soul that's completely wonderful – and which finally gets full exposure here in a well-done selection of all their singles for the Westbound label! The imprint might be best known as the home for trippy soul by Funkadelic and Ohio Players – yet during the same classic stretch, Westbound also handled this hip Detroit trio to perfection – taking their 60s-schooled harmonies, and giving them a more sophisticated spin for the 70s – really letting the vocals take off as the group demonstrates their Dells-like power, and moving the arrangements of the tunes past overdone Motown styles of the decade before. The result is some of the hippest harmony soul you'll ever hope to hear – all presented here with the wonderfully deep Ace/Kent Records presentation – with 23 tracks that include "If I Lose Your Love", "Things Are Looking Up", "Lee", "Wear This Ring With Love", "Feel The Need In Me", "Whatcha Gonna Wear Tomorrow", "I Think Of You", "Rosetta Stone", "Set It Out", "Til You Decide To Come Home", "I'll Never Sail The Sea Again", "There's Love For Me Somewhere", "You're Gettin A Little Too Smart", and their classic "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms". CD

Fantastic solo work from Fuzzy Haskins – a key early member of the George Clinton P-Funk empire – breaking out here on his own with a fresh new take on the Parliafunkadelicment groove! The work here is pulled from two albums and other recordings (some unissued) that Fuzzy did for the Westbound label – home to his initial work with Funkadelic, and a very respectful spot to launch his solo career – which takes of in similar late 70s funk territory to some of his former associates, especially Bootsy Collins – but with a vibe that's definitely his own! Some of these tracks were ones that Fuzzy had written years ago, but held back from Funkadelic sessions – and they're performed here with help from familiar Detroit funk giants – including Bootsy on bass, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, and Donald Austin on guitar. Titles include "Gettin It Off", "Thangs We Used To Do", "Not Yet (12" version)", "This Situation Called Love", "Silent Day", "Gimme Back", "Cookie Jar (alt version)", "Mr Junk Man", "I Think I Got My Thang Together (12" version)", "Right Back Where I Started From", "The Fuz & Da Boog", "Sinderilla", "I Can See Myself In You", and "Silent Day". CD

A trio of albums from Junie Morrison, plus bonus tracks too – all to document the genius of the guy who really helped the Ohio Players find their groove! First up is When We Do – the solo debut of Junie – a crazy little album recorded for Westbound in the time after he split company with The Ohio Players – and a set that's definitely got the weirdly wonderful mix of music that group was known for in their pre-Mercury years! Junie effortlessly moves between a number of styles, all with a great degree of wit – still keeping things funky in all the best ways, but also really experimenting with larger sounds and unusual arrangements – which come into play here in a really wonderful way! The album's an overlooked funk treasure from the 70s – far too sophisticated for its own time – and titles include "Walt's Third Trip", "Tight Rope", "Johnny Carson Samba", "Anna", "Loving Arms", "Married Him", and "The Place". Freeze is a wonderful set from Junie – a record that has all the offbeat funk he was crafting with the Ohio Players during their Westbound years – and the same sort of heady sound that would make Morrison a perfect match with the P-Funk empire! The record contains the legendary track "Granny's Funky Rolls Royce", which features a meeting between the Funky Granny (a near folklorish character from the early 70s, who'd appeared on records by Kool & The Gang and Ohio Players) and an alien, who tells urges to "buy this record, buy this record, buy this record" in a very silly voice! The funky comedy of this track is nicely matched by a range of other odd numbers and straighter soul cuts – and titles include "Freeze", "Super J", "Musical Son", "Junie II", "World of Woe", and "Cookies Will Get You". Suzie Super Groupie is a funky tribute to all the "Super Groupies" who were helping out the 70s music scene – maybe the closest thing that Junie Morrisson every came to a tribute album – and a set that's got all the same wonderful complexity of his other solo albums on Westbound! As with those records, there's a pre-Prince approach to funk that draws heavily from Ohio Players and P-Funk elements – but which really gets a sharper, more sinister focus with Junie in the lead – at a level of soulful stardom that could have made him another Bootsy Collins, if folks were ever smart enough to figure out what he was doing at the time! Titles include the funky classic "Suzie Thundertussy" – plus "Super Groupie", "Surrender", "Junie III", "What Am I Gonna Do", "Stone Face Joe", "Suzie", and "If You Love Him". Set also features rare Junie cuts – including "Junie's Ultimate Departure", "Walt's Second Trip", "Tight Rope (single)", "Loving Arms (mono)", "If You Love Him (single)", "Super J (single)", and "Granny's Funky Rolls Royce (mono)". CD

A much needed look at one of the most enigmatic figures in 70s funk – an offbeat character who was always up to something different and unique! Walter "Junie" Morrison had the great honor of being a member of both of Westbound's biggest collectives (although not necessarily at the same time) – the hard funky Ohio Players, and the cosmic brotherhood of Funkadelic/Parliament! During the mid-70s, though, Junie embarked upon a solo career, and cut a few wild LPs for the label which mixed funk, soul, and even some strange rock-oriented leanings. The resulting recordings were some of the more messed-up that Westbound ever issued, with moments that are delightfully funky, and others that are downright silly. This sweet 20 track compilation brings together most of the best moments of Junie's Westbound Years, and includes cuts like "Johnny Carson Samba", "Walt's Third Trip", "Tight Rope", "Cookies Will Get You", "Super J", "Super Groupie", and the great "Granny's Funky Rolls Royce", featuring the Funky Granny from "Funky Worm"! CD

It's hard to sum up the genius of the Ohio Players at Westbound Records in words – but this set does a pretty good job of doing the whole thing with music! The group are at their trippy, early best here – much more funk and soul than on their initial psych debut, yet still not as smooth or clubby as in their later years – coming across with a badass righteous vibe that takes full advantage of the unique Detroit spirit of Westbound Records – best known as the initial home of Funkdelic. The Ohio Players are maybe not as tripped-out as that group, but maybe not that far away either – and come across beautifully here on a stunning back of 15 tracks that includes "Funky Worm", "Varee Is Love", "Walt's First Trip", "Food Stamps", "Laid It", "Singing In The Morning", "Ecstasy", "Climax", "Pain", "Sleep Talk", and "Player's Balling". CD

A massive celebration of the legendary Westbound Records – a Detroit record label started at the end of the 60s, and one that took the Motor City into much heavier territory than Motown! Westbound was the initial home of both Funkadelic and Ohio Players – and the imprint had a great ear for the kind of deeper, funkier side of the soul music spectrum – both with big groups like the two we just mentioned, and with a host of lesser-known singers and combos too! This package brings together two dozen key singles on Westbound – but not the giant hits, and instead the kind of songs that illustrate that key special touch that really set the company apart from the rest – even as the 70s moved on, and elements of club music started coming into their groove. Titles include "I Love You" by The Motivations, "A Letter From Vietnam" by Emanuel Lansky, "Everything Is Going To Be Alright" by Bill Moss & The Celestials, "Ain't No Telling" by Houston Outlaws, "Yes I'm In Love" by Unique Blend, "Why Not Start All Over Again" by The Counts, "I've Changed" by The Magictones, "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic, "Music Man (part 1)" by Pleasure Web, "Get Up Off My Mind" by Denise LaSalle, "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms" by Detroit Emeralds, "Devil's Gun" by CJ & Co, "Get Ya Some" by Melvin Sparks, "Alvin Stone" by Fantastic Four, "If You Love Him" by Junie, "Calling Planet Earth" by Dennis Coffey, "Crazy Legs" by Donald Austin, and "Funky Worm" by The Ohio Players. CD

Deep deep funk from the legendary Westbound label – the important early home to Ohio Players and Funkadelic, but also host to some other great funky groups too! In keeping with the name, the cuts here focus on the kind of Westbound tracks that have great drum breaks in their groove – or which stand out as great selections for sampling, too – but all presented with the same sort of care, research, and attention to detail that the Ace label brings to all of their famous soul collections! In other words, the whole thing's got all the sharp edges and funky beats as one of those dodgy sample collections – but the sound is better, the tracks are legit, and the whole thing features detailed notes as well. Titles include "Kissing My Love" by Spanky Wilson, "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players, "Suzie Thundertussy" by Junie, "You & Your Folks Me & My Folks" by Funkadelic, "Music Man (part 2)" by Pleasure Web, "Back From The Dead" by King Errisson, "You're Gettin A Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds, "Pack Of Lies" by The Counts, "Funk It Down" by Caesar Frazier, "Good Old Music" by Mgictones, "The Fuz & Da Boog" by Fuzzy Haskins, "Heartbreaker Of The Year" by Denise LaSalle, "Does He Treat You Better" by Unique Blend, "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms" by Detroit Emeralds, "Mixed Up Moods & Attitudes (Tom Moulton mix)" by Fantastic Four, "Tightrope (single mix)" by Junie, and "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic. LP, Vinyl record album

The title's almost redundant – as the words "Westbound" and "Funk" mean virtually the same thing! From the late 60s through the mid 70s, Westbound was one of the key record labels in the sound of raw heavy funk – working with hit groups like Funkadelic and the Ohio Players to craft a sound that laid the blueprint for countless other groups of the time, and also featuring a wealth of obscurer artists with an even harder-hitting sound! The key styles of Westbound and related jazz label Eastbound were heavy and fuzzy ones – picking up off the heady and trippy styles of the late 60s Detroit scene, mixing things up with MC5 guitars, Norman Whitfield bass, and deep underground Tribe-styled jazz touches. This 20 track masterpiece is a brilliant summation of the important Westbound sound – and includes a few hits, some funky 45 classics, and an even bigger number of tracks we might not have heard otherwise! The notes are great, the tunes are super-funky, and the whole thing's one of the best funky collections you could ever hope to purchase. Titles include "You're Messing Up My Mind" by Albert Washington, "Back To Funk" by Robert Lowe, "You Caught Me Smilin" by The 19th Whole, "Conga Man" by King Errison, "Shake Your Head" by Spanky Wilson, "I Love You" by The Motivations, "I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky" by Mighty Elegant, "Crazy Legs" by Donald Austin, "Stone Thing (part 1)" by Alvin Cash, "RPM" by Boots, "Funky World (part 1)" by Silky Vincent, "Get Funky Sweet A Little Bit" by Jackie Harris & The Exciters, "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic, and "Why Not Start All Over Again" by The Counts. CD

The title's almost redundant – as the words "Westbound" and "Funk" mean virtually the same thing! From the late 60s through the mid 70s, Westbound was one of the key record labels in the sound of raw heavy funk – working with hit groups like Funkadelic and the Ohio Players to craft a sound that laid the blueprint for countless other groups of the time, and also featuring a wealth of obscurer artists with an even harder-hitting sound! The key styles of Westbound and related jazz label Eastbound were heavy and fuzzy ones – picking up off the heady and trippy styles of the late 60s Detroit scene, mixing things up with MC5 guitars, Norman Whitfield bass, and deep underground Tribe-styled jazz touches. This 20 track masterpiece is a brilliant summation of the important Westbound sound – and includes a few hits, some funky 45 classics, and an even bigger number of tracks we might not have heard otherwise! The notes are great, the tunes are super-funky, and the whole thing's one of the best funky collections you could ever hope to purchase. Titles include "You're Messing Up My Mind" by Albert Washington, "Back To Funk" by Robert Lowe, "You Caught Me Smilin" by The 19th Whole, "Conga Man" by King Errison, "Shake Your Head" by Spanky Wilson, "I Love You" by The Motivations, "I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky" by Mighty Elegant, "Crazy Legs" by Donald Austin, "Stone Thing (part 1)" by Alvin Cash, "RPM" by Boots, "Funky World (part 1)" by Silky Vincent, "Get Funky Sweet A Little Bit" by Jackie Harris & The Exciters, "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic, and "Why Not Start All Over Again" by The Counts. LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the deepest soul to ever come from a Detroit label – a great run of singles cut by Denise LaSalle for the Westbound label – all of them pretty darn wonderful! Denise has roots that start in Mississippi, and she spent plenty of time in Chicago – so by the time she hit Westbound, she had a great interstate approach that really pulled some great styles together! In a way, these sides were crucial in helping push southern soul forward in the 70s – not just in the production, which was tight, but never too smooth – and which helped give her bluesy inflections a hip, modern sort of mode – one that was often well-suited to the subtle gender politics of the tracks too. Ace did a great job with this smoking set – and not only includes all the key singles, both a-sides and b-sides – but even throws in some great notes, and a few rare radio spots too! Titles include "Do Me Right", "Man Sized Job", "Trapped By A Thing Called Love", "Keep It Coming", "Here I Am Again", "My Brand On You", "What Am I Doing Wrong", "Don't Nobody Live Here", and "Your Man & Your Best Friend". CD

It's hard to sum up the genius of the Ohio Players at Westbound Records in words – but this set does a pretty good job of doing the whole thing with music! The group are at their trippy, early best here – much more funk and soul than on their initial psych debut, yet still not as smooth or clubby as in their later years – coming across with a badass righteous vibe that takes full advantage of the unique Detroit spirit of Westbound Records – best known as the initial home of Funkdelic. The Ohio Players are maybe not as tripped-out as that group, but maybe not that far away either – and come across beautifully here on a stunning back of 15 tracks that includes "Funky Worm", "Varee Is Love", "Walt's First Trip", "Food Stamps", "Laid It", "Singing In The Morning", "Ecstasy", "Climax", "Pain", "Sleep Talk", and "Player's Balling". CD

A long-overdue look at the amazing Clark Sisters – a fantastic gospel group, and one with a vocal depth that we'd put right up there next to any of our favorite soul acts of the time! The Clarks are maybe best known for their landmark track "You Brought The Sunshine" – a completely righteous blend of gospel, soul, and disco that crossed over very big back in the day – but the group have an endless amount of great music to offer, a great deal of which is brought together in this wonderful set! The sisters always kept a strong ear towards the secular soul styles of their day – but they also always pushed things with the sort of amazing vocal interplay that used to only be the territory of male gospel groups in earlier decades – fantastic harmonies, soaring leads, and really great group formation. And if you're not a completely huge fan of gospel, don't worry – because the message here is often a more general one of positivity, which really lifts up the spirit of the tunes in a universal way. Titles include "You Brought The Sunshine (single edit)", "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright", "He Keeps Me Company", "Patience", "I'm Going To Have Just What I Want", "Power", "Overdose Of The Holy Ghost", "My Mind Is Made Up", "Nothing To Lose All To Gain", "No Other Name", "Keep On Looking Up", and "I Found What I'm Looking For". CD

Maybe the funkiest album ever cut for the legendary Westbound label in Detroit – and that's saying a lot, given that the company was the initial home to Funkadelic! Yet on this stunning full length set, The Counts maybe do that famous group one better – pushing aside their vocals for some incredible instrumental interplay that comes from bumping Hammond lines, wickedly sharp drums, and non-stop riffing guitars – all of which take center stage, while the vocals only seem to be part of the mix to urge the instruments onward! Tracks are long and jamming – ala the early Westbound work from George Clinton – and although The Counts recorded before and after the space of this album, this set is definitely the group's masterpiece. Titles include "What's Up Front That Counts", "Rhythm Changes", "Thinking Single", "Why Not Start All Over Again", "Bills", and "Pack Of Lies". CD features two bonus tracks – "Motor City" and "What's It All About". CD

The Detroit Emeralds' last two albums for Westbound – back to back on a single CD! I'm In Love With You is maybe our favorite album by this Detroit soul group. Why? Well maybe it's because of the great lime-green suits they're wearing on the cover, but probably because they've really got their act together on this one, and lay down a tight set of soul cuts, that have all the great harmonies of yesteryear, mixed with a sweet funky sound that's right on the Westbound tip! The album features the great breakbeat track "You're Getting a Little too Smart", which begins with some excellent drums – and it also includes the cuts "Shake Your Head", "You Control Me", "Without You Baby", and "Heaven Couldn't Be Like This". Feel The Need is an excellent bit of modern soul from The Detroit Emeralds – one of the few older Westbound groups who successfully made the transition to the label's smoother sound of the mid 70s! The feel here is really great – smooth, slinky, and seductive grooves – often done in a midtempo way that still lets the group's harmonies come through nicely. Titles include the monster groover "Set It Out", which has a killer hook, and a tasty midtempo groove that's about the best thing you'll hear from Westbound after 1976! Other titles include "Take It Or Leave Me", "Sexy Ways", "Love For You", and "Love Has Come To Me". CD

A pair of albums from this overlooked Detroit soul group – back to back on a single CD! On Got To Have Your Love, Fantastic Four are a hell of a harmony group – and one who still hold strong through this second chapter of their career – by avoiding any of the cheaper cliches of some of the groups of the disco generation! Instead, the album focuses on their vocals first, and any sort of grooves second – which makes for some wonderful mellower cuts that really follow the spirit of some of the hippest 70s group soul from Chicago or the east coast – followed by a few upbeat tracks that get handling by Tom Moulton at Sigma Sound in Philly! The balance is great – almost more like some of the best group sides from a few years before, especially Blue Magic – and the ballads really take center stage, and blow us away with the group's deeper currents of soul. Titles include "Mixed Up Moods & Attitudes", "There's Fire Down Below", "I Got To Have Your Love", "She'll Be Right For Me", "Cash Money", and "Disco Pool Blues". On BYOF, the Fantastic Four definitely bring their own funk – thanks to tight help from arranger Dennis Coffey, who also produced the set with a heavy groove that's like his own work of the time! The basslines are stronger than before for the FF – but their harmonies are very firmly intact – and, if anything, the blend of funk and great vocals really makes the album a charmer right from the get-go – especially as they aim more for midtempo steppers than too-upbeat disco tunes that might have them losing some of their charm. The overall vibe is maybe more 1974 than 1978 – and titles include "I Just Want To Love Ya Baby", "BYOF", "Cold & Windy Night", "Sexy Lady", "Shout", "Super Lover", and "Realize". CD

A sweet step forward for the mighty Caesar Frazier – an artist you might know more as a Hammond organist from his earlier albums as a leader – but one who steps out here as a soul singer with a mighty sweet groove! The record's way more than just a quick shift to disco for some cash – as Caesar's getting some excellent help here from arranger David Van DePitte – the Motown genius who brought great sounds to Marvin Gaye and others, and who really helps keep things at a more sophisticated level here – as Frazier sings in the lead, instead of playing his usual keyboards. And while the set was recorded in Detroit, it also got a final mixdown at Sigma Sound in Philly by the great Tom Moulton – who really finds a way to bring out the best energy of the cuts. Titles include "Child Of the Wind", "Lady", "Another Life", "Till Another Day", and "I Got To Have Your Love". CD features two bonus tracks – the unissued "Gonna Lay It On Ya", and "Till Another Day (Tom Moulton 7" edit)". CD

The classic sound of Funkadelic, reworked by a key selection of contemporary talents from the Detroit scene – but never in a way that wrecks the originals at all! Unlike other remix projects, which might break up the music to a point that you can hardly recognize the original grooves – this set does a wonderful job of maintaining all the integrity of the famous funky recordings by the group, while also letting some artists from the group's hometown also include a few of their own contributions too – all in ways that really expand the original vision of the music, while keeping things in a funky soul vein all the way through! Given all the greateness of Detroit grooves in recent years – from that city's very fertile underground of producers and musicians – the sound here is still even more amazing than we expected, and the album's a very fitting one to be issued on the Westbound label. The set's double-length, and for good reason too – and titles include "Music 4 My Mother (Underground Resistance mix)", "Sexy Ways (Recloose disco flip)", "Get Your Ass Off & Jam (Marcellus Pittman rmx)", "You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure (Alton Miller mix)", "Super Stupid (Dirtbombs version)", "Music For My Mother (Andres Wo Ahh Ay voc mix)", "Cosmic Slop (Moodymann mix)", "Be My Beach (Mophono & Tom Thump)", "Let's Make It Last (Kenny Dixon Jr edit)", "Let's Take It To The Stage (Amp Fiddler @Ya mix)", "Undisco Kidd (Gay Marvine edit)", "Looking Back At You (Ectomorph stripped & dubbed)", and "Standing On The Verge (Anthony Shake Shakir & T Dancer rmx)". CD

The classic sound of Funkadelic, reworked by a key selection of contemporary talents from the Detroit scene – but never in a way that wrecks the originals at all! Unlike other remix projects, which might break up the music to a point that you can hardly recognize the original grooves – this set does a wonderful job of maintaining all the integrity of the famous funky recordings by the group, while also letting some artists from the group's hometown also include a few of their own contributions too – all in ways that really expand the original vision of the music, while keeping things in a funky soul vein all the way through! Given all the greateness of Detroit grooves in recent years – from that city's very fertile underground of producers and musicians – the sound here is still even more amazing than we expected, and the album's a very fitting one to be issued on the Westbound label. The set's double-length, and for good reason too – and titles include "Music 4 My Mother (Underground Resistance mix)", "Sexy Ways (Recloose disco flip)", "Get Your Ass Off & Jam (Marcellus Pittman rmx)", "You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure (Alton Miller mix)", "Super Stupid (Dirtbombs version)", "Music For My Mother (Andres Wo Ahh Ay voc mix)", "Cosmic Slop (Moodymann mix)", "Be My Beach (Mophono & Tom Thump)", "Let's Make It Last (Kenny Dixon Jr edit)", "Let's Take It To The Stage (Amp Fiddler @Ya mix)", "Undisco Kidd (Gay Marvine edit)", "Looking Back At You (Ectomorph stripped & dubbed)", and "Standing On The Verge (Anthony Shake Shakir & T Dancer rmx)". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer compilation – one that's every bit as wild and wooly as the famous image on the cover! The set came out in the mid 70s, and it's a perfect summation of all the greatness that Funkadelic had given the group in just a few short years – their brilliant way of blending together soul, funk, and psychedelic influences pulled from all parts of the Detroit scene – working under the leadership of George Clinton to craft a sound that few folks would ever be able to touch – even though thousands would try over the years! Every cut on the set is a killer – the kind of tight, short cuts that the group served up on singles – and which still blew away more than most other full album sides of the time! Titles include "I Got A Thang, You Got A Thang, Everybody's Got A Thang", "Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On", "Cosmic Slop", "Funky Dollar Bill", "I Wanna Know If Its Good To You", "I'll Bet You", "Loose Booty", "Can You Get To That", and "A Joyful Process". CD

They certainly got the title right on this one – because it definitely is the ultimate collection of Funkadelic goodies! The 2CD set pulls together 29 tracks from the group's classic years at Westbound – and shows them starting out as a messed-up, guitar-growling rock funk act – filled with the unique crossover spirit of Detroit – then turning into a tighter, funkier soul act with the power to really rock the charts! All the good funky tunes are here – and the set seems to have a special focus on tracks by the group that have been sampled strongly in recent history! Titles include "Red Hot Mama", "Funky Dollar Bill", "Hit It & Quit It", "Cosmic Slop", "Loose Booty", "Get Off Your Ass & Jam", "America Eats Its Young", "Maggot Brain", "I'll Stay", "Nappy Dugout", "I'll Bet You", "I Got A Thing You Got A Thing Everybody's Got A Thing", "A Joyful Process", "Be My Beach", "Undisco Kidd", "Biological Speculation", "Take Your Dead Ass Home", and "You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure". CD

A heavy best-of from Funkadelic – one that covers the full range of their classic sounds – from the trippy fuzz of the early days to the tighter funk of stardom years! The package has a power that's undeniable – a really massive batch of music that forever changed the face of funk – arguably the best that George Clinton ever had to offer, especially when you realize that Funkadelic was definitely the farthest-reaching of his many musical projects! Most cuts here are in shorter single versions – but there's a few LP-length jams – and titles include "Undisco Kidd", "Maggot Brain", "Cosmic Slop", "Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On", "Sexy Ways", "Better By The Pound", "One Nation Under A Groove (part 1)", "Whatever Makes My Baby Feel Good", "A Joyful Process", "Loose Booty", "I Wanna Know If It's Good To You", "I'll Bet You", "Red Hot Mama", "Comin Round The Mountain", and "I Got A Thing You Got A Thing Everybody Got A Thing". CD

A heavy best-of from Funkadelic – one that covers the full range of their classic sounds – from the trippy fuzz of the early days to the tighter funk of stardom years! The package has a power that's undeniable – a really massive batch of music that forever changed the face of funk – arguably the best that George Clinton ever had to offer, especially when you realize that Funkadelic was definitely the farthest-reaching of his many musical projects! Most cuts here are in shorter single versions – but there's a few LP-length jams – and titles include "Undisco Kidd", "Maggot Brain", "Cosmic Slop", "Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On", "Sexy Ways", "Better By The Pound", "One Nation Under A Groove (part 1)", "Whatever Makes My Baby Feel Good", "A Joyful Process", "Loose Booty", "I Wanna Know If It's Good To You", "I'll Bet You", "Red Hot Mama", "Comin Round The Mountain", and "I Got A Thing You Got A Thing Everybody Got A Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Surprisingly nice album that Etta Jones cut with a larger backing group for Westbound, and a record that has her mixing in soul sounds with her usual jazz-based vocals. The set's got a great version of Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands", and a Marlena Shaw-esque cover of "Go Away Little Boy" – but the standout cut is the funky "Fare To Heaven", which starts with a nice heavy drum break! LP, Vinyl record album

The Westbound debut of Denise LaSalle – and a killer bit of southern soul recorded down in Memphis with Willie Mitchell, despite the Detroit address of the label! The set is a real burner throughout – one that features mostly original material by Denise, recorded with a spare and compressed southern soul groove that's a lot more Stax Records than anything going down on Westbound at the time. Denise is in perfect form vocally, too – never overdoing things, and really presenting her lyrics with a great sense of confidence – one that matches the best power of Ann Peebles, Carla Thomas, or any other contemporaries on the Memphis scene. Tracks include the classic "Trapped By A Thing Called Love", plus "Good Goody Getter", "Keep It Coming", "Hung Up, Strung Out", and "Now Run & Tell That". LP, Vinyl record album

2 killer jazz funk albums – both rare, and both on one CD! The records were cut for the short-lived Eastbound side of the soul/funk Westbound label, both under the supervision of Bob Porter, who handled some of the best early 70s jazz funk work for Prestige! Both albums also feature drumming by the super-heavy Idris Muhammad – who keeps things very much in his classic breakbeat mode. Bill Mason was an obscure organ player who performed on the legendary Rusty Bryant funk LPs (Fire Eater & Wildfire), and his session here has the same kind of fierce groove – with tenor by Hubert Laws, trumpet by Gary Chandler, and guitar by Wilbert Longmire. Titles on that one include "Gettin Off", "Stone", "Mistery Jay", and "Now Run & Tell That". Gary Chandler's album is even better – and features organ work by Ceasar Frazier, guitar by Cornell Dupree, and tenor by Harold Ousley. The album includes a much-sampled version of "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms", plus the cuts "Kaleidoscope", "Jet Set", and "Blue Dues". Both records are great – and together, they'd cost you well over $100 in the original! CD

Fuzzy funk from some of the all-time greats – one of the key Westbound Records classics from the mighty Ohio Players! This album's got the Players working at their all-time best – a bit jazzy, with a more sophisticated undercurrent than some of their contemporaries – a righteous vibe that's light years ahead of the 45 crowd – with plenty of space on the album to try out a wide variety of ideas in their music! Junie Morrison did the arrangements for the record, and the album's a great blend of light and dark moments throughout – sometimes a sweet vocal, sometimes a heavy piano line – all wrapped up with a sense of focus, but still enough freedom to let the group do their thing! Features the incredible title cut "Ecstasy", the great instrumental "Not So Sad And Lonely", and the tracks "Do You Feel It", "Black Cat", "Sleep Talk", "Food Stamps Y'All", and "Short Change". LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing funk from The Ohio Players – the group's debut album for Westbound Records, and a landmark batch of tracks that never gets old! The sound here really has the group stretching out a lot – working on tunes that are extended, but never as overindulgent as their labelmates Funkadelic – always keeping to a groove that's focused, yet also free to explore its bad self in the new freedoms of the 70s. There's a strong undercurrent of funky jazz running through the set – mixing great riffing alongside the tight rhythms and tripped-out vocals – all brought together with that deep deep deep production sound that Westbound gave the world as its own legacy in the wake of Norman Whitfield's experiments at Motown. Titles include the wonderfully jamming "Players Balling", and the funky numbers "Reds" and "Singing In The Morning" – plus more soulful tracks "I Wanna Hear From You" and "Never Had A Dream". CD features a whopping 7 bonus tracks – some previously unissued – including "Climax", "What's Going On", "Time & Space", "Ain't That Loving You", "If You Were My Woman", and "Feelin Alright". CD

70s disco classics from Detroit soul legend Mike Theodore – back to back on one CD! On Cosmic Wind, Mike's come a long way from his early soul days with Dennis Coffey – working here to lay down a set of spacious disco tunes with a dreamy finish – really stretching out with the same sort of glide you'd find in the best Philly club at the time! The record's actually quite strong on the disco side of the spectrum – well-crafted work with a sound that's full and rich, but never cliched – definitely Theodore's moment to shine in the 70s, taking the torch from his old partner Coffey, who had his time in the sun a few years before! Titles include "Cosmic Wind", "The Bull", "Moon Trek", "Brazilian Lullaby", and "Belly Boogie". High On Mad Mountain is a dramatic disco classic that steps out here with all the force you'd expect from the title! The extended title tune is a symphonic disco classic – using strings, congas, and lots of percussion to set up the groove – as guitar and keyboards come into the mix to bring out a nice degree of funk. The rest of the album follows in a similar feel – with a bit of moogy solo work, and some female vocals on the choruses – and titles include "Disco People", "Dragons Of Midnight", "High On Mad Mountain", and "Wonder Man". CD features 11 tracks in all. CD

A massive treasure from the P-Funk empire – an unreleased George Clinton project during his glory days on Westbound Records! The group features Gary Shider in the lead on vocals – with support from other US Music members, and a fair bit of the current Funkadelic lineup too – musicians who played on the legendary America Eats Its Young sessions, recorded at the same time as this one! The sound is incredibly sinister – even more tripped-out, fuzzy, and psychedelic than most regular Funkadelic work – with lots of dark moments, and basslines that are sure to blast out your speakers – courtesy of Cordell Mosson. Other group members chime in with Shider, too – in the best Clinton-directed style of the time – and the whole thing has a massive ensemble feel that's wonderful, and right up there with the well known Westbound P-Funk recordings of the time. Why this one wasn't released is a real mystery to us – but we're mighty thankful to finally have it out! Titles include "This Broken Heart", "Baby I Owe You Something Good", "Be What You Is", "I Miss My Baby", and "Rat Kiss The Cat On The Naval". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure bit of heavy soul – and the only vocal album on the jazz-based Eastbound imprint of Detroit's legendary Westbound Records! Albert's a blues artist, and sings in a soulful electric style that's similar to some of the Stax work of Albert King – but which has a bit more of a funk twist to it. Albert's vocals are definitely in the bluesy mode, but the backing is more in a Memphis soul style, with hints of Stax production styles in the mix, and lots of swirling organ underneath the vocals, in that Hi Records mode from the early 70s. Titles include "You're Messing Up My Mind", "Mischievous", "Feel The Need", "I Can't Stand It No More", "No Matter What The Cost Might Be", and "My Mother's Prayer". A pretty solid soul album all the way through – with a strong deep soul feel that's different than the usual Westbound/Eastbound bag! CD features the previously unissued bonus cut "Steal Away". CD

Spanky's last album before her recent revival, a jazzy soulful effort cut for Westbound, with arrangements by Johnny Allen, and a nice moody mellow sound. The overall approach is quite different than most of her work with HB Barnum, but Spanky's voice is still in great shape, and Detroit soul legend Al Kent wrote most of the cuts. Titles include "The Downer I Go", "Love Song", "Non Stop Flight", "Will Power", "Home", and "Easy Lover". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky funky classic from The Counts – and an album that has the group tightening up their sound from the Westbound years, but still keeping the groove plenty nice! There's a tight, bad-walking feel to most of the cuts on the set – one that almost comes across with a blacksploitation groove – especially as the album's basslines are all laid out in a hard-stepping groove, and topped off by plenty of wicked guitar work. Most cuts have vocals, and the lyrics have a Fatback-like love of the catchy chorus and funk-heavy theme. The album's worth it alone for the excellent cut "Tecalli" – a stretched out mellow instrumental with some great Kool & The Gang-esque floating trumpet over the top – but the whole thing's great, and other tracks include "At The Fair", "Dedicated Man", "Jazzman", "Magic Ride", "Short Cut", and "Flies Over Watermelon". CD features the bonus tracks "Chicken Pox" and "Counts Say Goodbye". CD

Quite possibly the most righteous work ever from The Counts – a move away from the heavier funk of their Westbound years, and a shift into some great jazz-based material! The vibe here draws heavily on the electric keyboard scene of the early 70s – with echoes of Lonnie Liston Smith's spaciness that trip through some of the album's best longer numbers – mixed with the harder grooves that The Counts first cut on their legendary singles in Detroit. The blend of modes is really great – and gives the album a depth and quality that goes way beyond their other album for Aware, and which shows a side of the band that never would have emerged on Westbound! Titles include the massive 9 minute long "Counts Medley" – stone cold instrumental jam with heavy drums, cool organ, and a very soulful sound – plus the spacey "Love Sign", the ensemble jamming "Riding High", and the tracks "Too Bad", "Sacrifice", and "Just You Just Me". CD features the bonus tracks "Funk" and "The Munchies". CD

Seminal sounds from this great Detroit group – and a key look at their less-remembered music of the 60s! Although Fantastic Four are probably best remembered for their later disco work – including the Alvin Stone album on Westbound – back in their early days, they were a great Detroit vocal group with a sweet raw sound and some excellent harmonies. Although this album says it's a "best of", it's really the only full LP the group cut during the time – and it's a rare treasure of harmony soul, cut with a nicely stripped-down sound that makes the tracks shine like rough indie soul gems instead of Motown numbers. Titles include "I Love You Madly", "The Whole World Is A Stage", "Goddess Of Love", "As Long As I Live", and "Man In Love" – but the whole record's great! LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Caesar Frazier – the organist who cut some fantastic records for the Westbound/Eastbound label in the 70s – and who's slowly been returning to the fold with recent gems like this! Frazier plays the Hammond B3 throughout – and works in a combo that's tight and right on the money – with a no-nonsense soul jazz style that actually predates his earliest work in the lead – almost like Caesar is going back to the 60s, to reestablish himself alongside that decade's Hammond heroes! Players include Lyle Link on tenor, Jacques Lesure on guitar, and Leon Joyce Jr on drums – and Frazier's got this great slinky phrasing that's very much his own – on titles that include "Soul Shadows", "Jive Samba", "Codes", "King Of Leonne", "123", and "Blues March". CD

2 killers from organist Caesar Frazier – back to back on one CD! Hail Ceasar is a monster bit of funky jazz – filled with long tracks that all jam mightily, all at a level that matches or tops the best work coming out of Prestige or Blue Note Records at the time! The set is one of the rare few on the Eastbound jazz subsidiary of Detroit soul powerhouse Westbound Records – and it's the first to feature organist Ceasar Frazier as a leader – really grooving hard here with a Prestige-styled combo that includes Idris Muhammad on funky drums, Melvin Sparks on heavy guitar, and Houston Person on soulful sax – all produced with a gritty gritty edge by the legendary Bob Porter! The whole album's great – filled with incredible cuts that include a version of "Hicky-Burr", the first Bill Cosby theme – plus the tracks "Make It With You", "Running Away", "Hail Ceasar!", and "See-F". Ceasar Frazier 75 is a tightly grooving set that expands his sound a bit from the first! All the best elements are still in place here – including funky organ from Ceasar, production from jazz funk maestro Bob Porter, and a hip range of players that includes Horace Ott, Wilbur Bascomb, and Bernard Purdie. But the overall sound is somewhat shifted too – brought more into the tightly jamming jazz funk mode of the mid 70s – a bit richer and fuller overall, yet never in a way that's slick or sloppy – just more like some of the best later sides on Prestige or Fantasy from the same stretch. The record features a crazy version of the "Mighty Mouse Theme", a mellow take on the Isley's "Summer Breeze", Stevie Wonder's great "Living For The City", and the original "Funk It Down". CD

If this is reality, lead us onward – as the set is a mindblowing batch of trippy psych-funk from The Heliocentrics – even more offbeat and experimental than before, in ways that make the combo the true heirs to the legacy first begun by Stark Reality! The album's definitely funky at the core, but it's also filled with loads of amazing sounds – instruments tuned weirdly, played weirdly, and produced weirdly – so that over the heavy drums, there's often lots of freaky, fuzzy bits and tripped-out sounds – in ways that make the record feel like some lost acid trip outtakes from the Westbound studios of the early 70s – or like some obscure funk band that dropped acid at Andy Warhol's loft! The packaging offers up a visual example of what your ears will be going through when you tune into the music – and titles include "Mysterious Ways", "Collateral Damage", "Black Sky", "Calabash", "Path Of The Black Sun", "Mr Owusu I Presume", "Eastern Begena", and loads of cool interlude tracks too. CD

Heady sounds from Curtis Knight – the American soul singer who's maybe best known for 60s collaborations with a young Jimi Hendrix – recording here with a UK group named Zeus, who have an equally legendary guitarist in the lineup – the great Eddie Clarke, who'd later rise to fame in Motorhead! Eddie serves up plenty of fuzzy riffs throughout, while the rest of the group hit more soul-based territory that really suits Curtis well – and the blend certainly carries some of the echoes of the Detroit/Westbound Records side of the spectrum, although with moments that are sometimes more rock based overall! Titles include "Down In The Village", "New Horizon", "The Devil Made Me Do It", "Pardon Me", "Oh Rainbow", "Sea Of Time", "The Eyes Of A Child", "Can You Spare Change", and "Waiting At The Crossroads". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant soul from the Detroit underground of the late 60s – a full set of work by vocalist Little Ann, issued here for the first time ever! You might recognize Ann's name from her appearance on a few of the Ace/Kent Records issues of material by Detroit producer Dave Hamilton over the years – and the work here all comes from those classic collaborations with Hamilton – trapped on tape for many years, always contemplated as a possible Little Ann album – but only issued in full all these many years later! The groove here is as offbeat as some of Dave's other great work – not nearly as tight, or uptight, as Motown music – and instead, done with a sly undercurrent of darkness on most numbers, even the mellower ones – almost that earliest mix of Detroit styles that you get on pre-fame singles from Westbound Records artists. Ann's vocals are nice and lean, and slide right into the mix with ease – heartfelt enough to grab us right away, yet without any obvious cliches as well. Titles include "What Should I Do", "Deep Shadows", "Possession", "Who Are You Trying To Fool", "Sweep It Out In The Shed", "The Smile On Your Face", and "I Got To Have You". Note that the record was mostly issued in a different form by Timmion Records – as the record Deep Shadows – save for the mixes of "What Should I Do" and "I Got To Have You" – both of which are unissued mixes that appear here for the first time. LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant soul from the Detroit underground of the late 60s – a full set of work by vocalist Little Ann, issued here for the first time ever! You might recognize Ann's name from her appearance on a few of the Ace/Kent Records issues of material by Detroit producer Dave Hamilton over the years – and the work here all comes from those classic collaborations with Hamilton – trapped on tape for many years, always contemplated as a possible Little Ann album – but only issued in full all these many years later! The groove here is as offbeat as some of Dave's other great work – not nearly as tight, or uptight, as Motown music – and instead, done with a sly undercurrent of darkness on most numbers, even the mellower ones – almost that earliest mix of Detroit styles that you get on pre-fame singles from Westbound Records artists. Ann's vocals are nice and lean, and slide right into the mix with ease – heartfelt enough to grab us right away, yet without any obvious cliches as well. Titles include "What Should I Do", "Who Are You Trying To Fool", "The Smile On Your Face", "Stand Together", "I'm Doin All Right", "Lost A Lover", "That's All I want From You", and "I Got To Have You" – plus the unissued versions "Possession (master edit)", "Deep Shadows (multi mix)", and "Sweet It Out In The Shed (master tape)". PLUS – this CD features 9 more instrumental versions of the tunes by the Dave Hamilton Band – most issued here for the first time ever – plus three more alternates of album tracks! CD

Great work from the Ohio Players – and proof that moving to a big label could be a good thing for a funky group! This was the band's first album for Mercury – and although one might have the temptation to say that the label cut down the radical funk sound of the trippy Westbound years, the move also taught the band to sharpen up their act, and get out of the repetitive sloppy groove into which they'd been lapsing during the past few years. The record's a lot smoother than earlier work – with a polished funky sound that would soon push the band right up there with Earth Wind & Fire at the top of the soul charts. And although there's familiar funky numbers like "Skin Tight", "Jive Turkey", and "Streakin Cheek To Cheek" – the best moment on the entire album is the wonderful spacey soul number "Heaven Must be Like This", a seven minute mellow groover that's got a sophisticated jazzy soul style, with voices and piano soaring into the heavens, in a way that always still sends chills down our spine! That cut shows the band's tremendous growth – and it's one of their best-ever! LP, Vinyl record album

A killer debut from Rasputin Stash – a funky group who work with all the long-haired inspiration you'd expect from their name! The groove is a mix of guitars and tight horns – undercut by the kind of heavy basslines that later made the group a good fit for Curtom Records, and lots of cool percussion touches that pepper the bottom of the rhythms nicely – with a pretty spontaneous feel! At times, there's almost a Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band vibe to the record, but mixed with some of the trippier influences of the Westbound crew – especially on the guitar – and like those artists, these guys have no trouble at all dipping into a touch of rock here and there to trip out their groove. Titles include "Mr Cool", "You Are My Flower", "Dookey Shoe", "I Want To Say You're Welcome", "Take Me On Back", and "Freaks Prayer". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure bit of heavy soul – and the only vocal album on the jazz-based Eastbound imprint of Detroit's legendary Westbound Records! Albert's a blues artist, and sings in a soulful electric style that's similar to some of the Stax work of Albert King – but which has a bit more of a funk twist to it. Albert's vocals are definitely in the bluesy mode, but the backing is more in a Memphis soul style, with hints of Stax production styles in the mix, and lots of swirling organ underneath the vocals, in that Hi Records mode from the early 70s. Titles include "You're Messing Up My Mind", "Mischievous", "Feel The Need", "I Can't Stand It No More", "No Matter What The Cost Might Be", and "My Mother's Prayer". A pretty solid soul album all the way through – with a strong deep soul feel that's different than the usual Westbound/Eastbound bag! LP, Vinyl record album

More funky breaks than Evel Knevel after the Snake River Canyon jump! The groove hounds at BGP records were set loose on the Ace catalog – which includes holdings from Atlantic, Stax, Volt, Westbound, and other funky classic labels – and they managed to come up with a killer batch of funky cuts, even though this is their 3rd dip into the crates! If anything, perhaps they dipped even deeper this time – especially as some of the once-trusted sources for breaks, like the famous Ultimate Breaks & Beats series, are now disappearing from the market. Titles include "Soul Pad" by The Coasters, "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" by Johnny Jenkins, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Nappy Dugout" by Funkadelic, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Jimmy Ponder, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by The Mad Lads, "The Rose" by 50 Foot Hose, "Holy Ghost" by The Bar Kays, "No Strings Attached" by The Mad Lads, "After Laughter Comes Tears" by Wendy Rene, "River's Invitation" by Freddie Robinson, "This House Is Smokin" by BT Express, "Music Man (parts 1 & 2)" by Pleasure Web, and "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-ever compilations of funky work from BGP Records – and even better than their other Super Breaks sets! This one features some totally rare killers – not only from hard-to-find funky 45s, but also from obscure studio tapes that have never been properly issued! The set's a funky fanatic's dream, and pushes past the usual Ace/BGP line, into territory more reserved for the likes of Keb Darge and Ian Wright, on smaller labels. A large number of the tracks are from the catalogs – released and unreleased – of Westbound and Kent – and titles include "Gotta Get Me A Job" by Ann Alford, "Here Comes The Judge" by Larry & Tommy, "Soul Power" by The Houston Outlaws, "Freedom & Justice" by The Pace-Setters, "I Got To Have You" by Little Ann, "Soul Funk" by Chico & Buddy, "Skunk Juice" by The Pazant Brothers, "I Love You" by The Motivations, "Hook & Boogit (parts 1 & 2)" by Abraham & The Casanovas, "Motor City" by The Counts, and "Groove" by Dave Hamilton. 20 cuts in all! LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the most righteous work ever from The Counts – a move away from the heavier funk of their Westbound years, and a shift into some great jazz-based material! The vibe here draws heavily on the electric keyboard scene of the early 70s – with echoes of Lonnie Liston Smith's spaciness that trip through some of the album's best longer numbers – mixed with the harder grooves that The Counts first cut on their legendary singles in Detroit. The blend of modes is really great – and gives the album a depth and quality that goes way beyond their other album for Aware, and which shows a side of the band that never would have emerged on Westbound! Titles include the massive 9 minute long "Counts Medley" – stone cold instrumental jam with heavy drums, cool organ, and a very soulful sound – plus the spacey "Love Sign", the ensemble jamming "Riding High", and the tracks "Too Bad", "Sacrifice", and "Just You Just Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Fuzzed out funk from the legendary Fugi! The groove is incredibly sinister – a blend of Detroit funk (ala The Counts, Funkadelic, and others in the Westbound crew), and some of the more guitar-based influence from the Hendrix soul generation (especially the styles that were beginning to show up on the Bar-Kays albums at the time!) Fugi have a groove that's gotta be heard to be believed – hard, heavy, and filled with soul – dipping down down down into the dirt on the bass, and riffing up to the top again on a wave of heavy guitars! 6 tracks in all – the complete Chess recordings by Fugi – and titles include "Mary Don't Take Me On No Bad Trip", "Revelations", "Jo Jo", "Save A Little", and "I'd Rather Be A Blind Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A whopping 2CD compilation of some of the best funky moments from the Ohio Players post-Westbound work for Mercury! This is the stuff that brought funk into the top 10 in the US – and the Players manage to mix together a tight well-produced sound with the same raw funk sensibility that got them started way back in the 60s. There's a huge amount of great tracks on here – including "Shady Lady", "Body Vibes", "Good Luck Charm", "Fire", "Jive Turkey", "Heaven Must Be Like This", "Sweet Sticky Thing", "Fopp", "Skin Tight", "Love Rollercoaster", "Who'd She Coo?", "Funk-O-Nots", "Honey", "O-H-I-O" and lots lots more! 28 tracks in all, and digitally remastered for great sound, in fact, the only thing missing here, is a naked bald lady on the cover (oops, guess that's the westbound years). CD

A whopping 2CD compilation of some of the best funky moments from the Ohio Players post-Westbound work for Mercury! This is the stuff that brought funk into the top 10 in the US – and the Players manage to mix together a tight well-produced sound with the same raw funk sensibility that got them started way back in the 60s. There's a huge amount of great tracks on here – including "Shady Lady", "Body Vibes", "Good Luck Charm", "Fire", "Jive Turkey", "Heaven Must Be Like This", "Sweet Sticky Thing", "Fopp", "Skin Tight", "Love Rollercoaster", "Who'd She Coo?", "Funk-O-Nots", "Honey", "O-H-I-O" and lots lots more! 28 tracks in all, and digitally remastered for great sound, in fact, the only thing missing here, is a naked bald lady on the cover (oops, guess that's the westbound years). CD

More funky breaks than Evel Knevel after the Snake River Canyon jump! The groove hounds at BGP records were set loose on the Ace catalog – which includes holdings from Atlantic, Stax, Volt, Westbound, and other funky classic labels – and they managed to come up with a killer batch of funky cuts, even though this is their 3rd dip into the crates! If anything, perhaps they dipped even deeper this time – especially as some of the once-trusted sources for breaks, like the famous Ultimate Breaks & Beats series, are now disappearing from the market. Titles include "Soul Pad" by The Coasters, "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" by Johnny Jenkins, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Nappy Dugout" by Funkadelic, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Jimmy Ponder, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by The Mad Lads, "The Rose" by 50 Foot Hose, "Holy Ghost" by The Bar Kays, "No Strings Attached" by The Mad Lads, "After Laughter Comes Tears" by Wendy Rene, "River's Invitation" by Freddie Robinson, "This House Is Smokin" by BT Express, "Music Man (parts 1 & 2)" by Pleasure Web, and "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter. CD

Excellent heavy funk from Stax! Black Nasty were one of the heaviest groups on the label – with a rock-solid guitar-based groove that went even farther than the Bar-Kays, who were no slouch in the guitar department themselves! The grooves are all slow to midtempo, with the band coming down hard on the downbeats, jamming away in a style that sounds more like heavy Detroit Westbound than sweetly soulful Memphis. Most all cuts have vocals – sung in a shouting style by the band that works well with the tripped-out hooks of the songs. This was the only album the band ever cut, but it's become a fast favorite among those who like their funk raw. Tracks include "We're Doin Our Thing", "Rushin Sea", "Booger The Hooker", "Black Nasty Boogie", "Nasty Soul", and "Getting Funky Round Here". LP, Vinyl record album