Universal Music proudly present a very special set of original funk LP's remastered onto CD from mid to late seventies at a special mid price in a collectors digi-pak edition - and what a selection too. There is an initial run of some fifteen titles to begin with and this web page gives you a brief overview of some of the best of the bunch (although it must be said that ALL of them are superb in their own way) although readers of this page like myself will have their own favourites. Anyway, here's what you can expect;

'One Way' featuring Al Hudson

Originally issued on MCA Records in 1979, Detroit born Al Hudson made his mark on club land during the height of the disco era with this superb LP that yielded a number of potential 12" singles and in fact the catchy uptempo 'You Can Do It' remained on the Record Mirror club chart for months where its mass appeal as a dance record was straight out of the Kool & the Gang song book. The funk guitar riff mid way through this song is one of the best you will ever hear plus a bubbling bass line that James Jamerson would have been proud of. Whilst this LP was not their first collectively as they had recorded 'Especially For You' some two years earlier, but in fairness this was a much stronger set all-round and clearly sold well. The vocal talents of one Alicia Myers help compliment this set and she too became a solo artist in her own right. Strongest track for me is the the mid tempo melodic 'Now That I've Found You' but don't overlook the issued 45 in the UK 'Music' with a funky groove and cymbal crashes that will leave your fillings loose when played loud. The only ballad on this six track album is 'Guess You Didn't Know' which whilst being pleasant enough somehow sounds a bit out of place of this essentially disco grooved set. Rating 8/10

Love Unlimited - 'In Heat'

The late Barry White's backing outfit featuring his wife Glodean released on 20th Century records back in 1974. I fell in love with it then and all these years on I still feel the same way about it. For some, the Love Unlimited Orchestra/Love Unlimited were a preferred choice to Barry himself, but either way the slush strings and fabulous arrangements were a trademark of White's work during the peak of his career in the 1970's. The fact is that the trio could sing, and whatever people say about the soul and disco era of the seventies one thing was certain and that is many of the songs had a melody complimented by real instruments etc. 'Move Me No Mountain' is a truly melodic affair with THAT BW sound that we all love. The girls were backing singers on all of White's hit recordings and their vocal version of 'Love's Theme' is equally as pleasurable to listen to as the instrumental version. My favourite track is the gentle 'I Belong To You' which appeared as a 'B' side here in the UK, but listen too to the uptempo danceable 'I Needed You - You Were There' A truly amazing sound and production that takes you back to those days when music really was just that. Rating 10/10

Gloria Scott - 'What Am I Gonna Do'

Possibly the hottest of the bunch is this gorgeous modern soul affair from Casablanca Records in 1974. Born in Texas Gloria became a member of Ike & Tina Turners backing group The Ikettes, and this release couldn't be further from that sound. After moving to Holywood her then manager introduced her to Barry White who at that time was just breaking big himself via his own solo career, as well as producing the aforementioned Love Unlimited. White took over the production on Gloria on this album, plus another later in 1974 which have become major collectors items. The opening track which made it to a 45 did very little at the time and one now looks back in total amazement at a missed opportunity for a hit record. The northern soul fraternity always looking for new tunes picked up on her 'Too Much Lovemakin' for their modern scene where this is still very much in demand. A fabulous orchestrated uptempo affair displaying Gloria's vocal talents to the max, and a song to truly sell this set. The song 'Help Me Get Off This Merry-Go-Round' remains a song I keep returning to which is pure soul that today's artist can only look to in admiration. A truly exceptional singer - and a truly exceptional CD - Rating 11/10.
 

Caroline Crawford - 'Nice and Soulful'

Here's another name from the past as ex Motown diva Caroline Crawford delivers her 1979 Mercury LP. Whilst Motown failed to market her to her full potential she left the label during the early years and after recording some three singles for Gamble & Huff's Philly International Records in 1977 she ended up recording this Hamilton Bohannon produced goodie in 1979. Whilst I personally cannot recall any of these tracks being issued as a single at that time from this six track set, it was certainly in vogue with what was happening at that time. The opening song 'I'll Be Here For You' is perhaps the highlight of the LP and shows just what a talent she was as this mid tempo keyboard led song has all the hallmarks of a seventies soul classic. Whilst Bohannon himself enjoyed much success in his own right his music was never really suited to Caroline and it is worth pointing you in the direction of the likes of 'The Facts Of Life' which doesn't rely on riffs and grooves to survive and the real soul just oozes out and this could well have been a Motown LP track from the sixties. Please check this track out - you'll love it. Caroline provides lead vocals on Bohannon's club smash 'Let's Start The Dance' (yes, that's where you've heard her voice). Rating 7/10.

Bar-Kays - 'Proposition'

Many fans will link this group to the hit instrumental 'Soul Finger' from 1967 where they were the in house band at Stax records in Memphis where they played backing to most of the labels hits until 1975. That said however, many of the band were on the aeroplane that crashed and killed Otis Redding at Christmas that year as they travelled to Wisconsin. The two remaining members of the group built a new line up and the group were in business once again. The most memorable song whilst at Memphis was 'Son Of Shaft' which only surfaced on US Volt records at that time although their appearance on the Wattstax concert was to further their popularity. Very much in the same groove as Cameo this track opens with the catchy dancer 'Proposition's a style that Prince would pick up on ten years later to devastating effect. 1982 was a year when not only dance grooves ruled the nations dance halls, but the soul ballads were equally as popular thanks to the likes of EWF, and tracks in the same groove on this set can be found in 'Anticipation' and 'I Can't Believe You're Leaving Me' which for me give the group a much more soulful profile than the computerised funk rhythm's of the other songs. Rating 7/10.

The Gap Band - 'The Gap Band'

During the close of the seventies it was difficult to pinpoint who was setting the musical trends within black music. The style was a mixture of get down funk, and sweet soul ballads with only a handful of artists dabbling in jazz on a big scale. We have already mentioned luminaries such as Bar-Kays, EWF and the likes who were clearly trend setters in their own right together with Sly Stone and there were no shortages of black acts trying to capitalize on that successful formulae. The Gap Band were a very visually orientated band and the three Wilson brothers whilst hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma were extremely talented in that their best offerings are the ballads and not the funk orientated dance floor songs for which they are best known. For example, listen to the ballad 'You Can Count On Me' and it leaves the listener wondering why the band never made it away from funk? The groups biggest and most well known hit 'Oop's' is unquestionably their worse, and only ever scored due to an associated party dance. 'Messin' With My Mind' has hints of the big band sound with a smattering of jazz licks and a very tight vocal delivery. 'Baby Baba Boogie' was issued as a 12" in the UK with some limited success but was far from their best material. For the best you need to fast forward to 'I'm In Love' and 'I Can Sing' which really showcase the brothers as true soul perfectionists. Don't be fooled into a false sense of security that the group can only deliver heavy funk. Rating 7/10.

Don't forget that these digi-paks are all at mid price (though strangely enough I haven't seen any of these in the shops to date) and are in high resolution 24-bit/96-khz.

Other titles in this series include;

Hamilton Bohannon - 'Summertime Groove'
Buddy Miles - 'Them Changes'
Cameo - 'Ugly Ego'
Con Funk Shun - '7'
Kool & the Gang - 'Something Special'
Mandrill - 'Just Outside Of Town'
Roy Ayers Ubiquity - 'A Tear To A Smile'
Southside Movement - 'Moving South'
Undisputed Truth - 'Face To Face With The Truth'