"Right On! Vol. 4 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 19 Tracks from 1966 to 1974 by Hammer, Tami Lynn, Herbie Mann, Yusef Lateef, John Baldry, Cornell Dupree, Clarence Reid, Eddie Harris, Oscar Brown, Jr., Les McCann, King Curtis, Eugene McDaniels, The Freedom Sounds, The Fabulous Counts, Hubert Laws featuring Melba Moore, William S. Fischer, Barbara & Ernie and Passport (August 2002 UK Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM) CD Compilation of Remasters – Volume 4 of 5) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 350 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2025 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

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RATINGS:

Overall ****

Presentation ****

Audio *****

"...Searching The Circle…"

Sometime in the late Nineties, the UK branch of Warner Brothers (or WEA to us in the know) seemed to suddenly get hip to the public's needs. And WEA did this at the exact moment they also sheepishly realised they'd an abundance of riches in their glorious back catalogue to meet those cravings.

I recall the 3 sets of "Funk Drops", 3 more for Northern Soul in "After Hours", 2 for Philly in "Crème De La Creme", more Soul, Funk and Gospel rarities in "You Better Believe It" - and on it went.

Which brings us to here – the superlative "Right On!" series of compilations (on CD and 2LP VINYL Sets) that tapped the Funkier side of Jazz, Fusion and Rock albums issued on Atlantic, Atco, Cotillion, San Francisco, Embryo, Reprise, Alston and of course Warner Bros between 1966 and 1975. So, September 1999 through to August 2004 saw Five Volumes of "Right On!" in all with a 4CD mop-up 'Box Set' in-between for Volumes 1 to 3 that contained a fourth Bonus Disc of 6 Rare Tracks.

Suddenly, underground names held in collector awe like Eugene McDaniels, David Axelrod, David Newman, Funk Factory, Black Heat, Young-Holt Unlimited, Memphis Horns, Shirley Scott, The Beginning of The End, Claudia Lennear, Tony Joe White, Cold Blood, Air, Yusef Lateef, Cornel Dupree, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, King Curtis and loads more got pride of place and new recognition. And much to the joy of collectors and album fetishists alike, the "Right On!" series was also backed up by 2LP VINYL sets, all of which boasted a lone Bonus Track over their CD counterpart (see Discography below).

Remastered and compiled with serious smarts by CHAS CHANDLER and STUART KIRKHAM (Comp Producer Florence Halfon) – these comps quickly became a way for cash-strapped fans and other genre-curious-types of getting rare and largely forgotten Funk and Soul for a decent price (I diligently pickled up each as they appeared). Frankly all five volumes are filled with Mr. Cool and still relatively cheap too in 2025 (at least the first three are) - so let's get busy with a final highlight in this cool series - Door Number Five...to the details...

UK released 26 August 2002 - "Right On! Vol. 4 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM) 0927425672 (Barcode 809274256720) is a 19-Track CD/20-Track 2LP compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (69:42 minutes - CD):

1. Tuane – HAMMER (from their November 1970 debut album "Hammer" on Atlantic/San Francisco SD 203 in Stereo – Written by and featuring Norman Landsberg on Keyboards with Jack O’Brien on Guitar)

2. Mo Jo Hanna – TAMI LYNN (from her Debut Album "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" released February 1972 in the USA on Cotillion SD 9052 – Produced by Jerry Wexler – Note: there was also a 1972 UK LP on Mojo 2916 007 but it does NOT contain this track) 

3. Our Man Flint – HERBIE MANN (from his album "Our Mann Flint" released January 1966 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 1464 in Stereo – Flute by Herbie Mann with Arrangements by Arif Mardin – written by Jerry Goldsmith)

4. Live Humble – YUSEF LATEEF (from his album "The Diverse Yusef Lateef" released January 1970 on Atlantic SD 1548 in Stereo – written by Yusef Lateef – Features YL on Saxophone, Richard Tee on Piano, Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie on Bass and Drums with The Sweet Inspirations on Backing Vocals)

5. Hambone – JOHN BALDRY [aka Long John Baldry] (from the album "Everything Stops For Tea" released May 1972 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS-2614 – a Sam Mitchell song – LP produced by Elton John and Rod Stewart (Stewart for "Hambone") and features Sam Mitchell (of Uncle Dog) on Guitar, Ian Armit (of Argent) on Piano with John Porter (of Uncle Dog) on Bass, Terry Stannard (of Kokomo and Uncle Dog) on Drums and Baldry on Vocals)

6. Teasin' – CORNELL DUPREE (from his Debut Album "Teasin'" released December 1974 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7311 – Written by Curtis Ousley and Delaney Bramlett - featuring Dupree on Lead Guitar, Richard Tee on Keyboards, David Newman on Saxophone with Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie on Bass and Drums)

7. It Was Good Enough For Daddy – CLARENCE REID (from his Third studio album "Running Water" - released July 1973 in the USA on Alston Records SD-7027)

8. Live Right Now (Promo-Only EP Single Edit) – EDDIE HARRIS (1968 US Promo-Only 45-EP-single Edit on Atlantic EP-A 1011, 2:46 minutes – from the album 1968 US LP "Plug It In" on Atlantic SD 1506 where the LP version is 6:56 minutes)

9. Chicken Heads – OSCAR BROWN, Jr. (from his January 1975 US LP "Fresh" on Atlantic SD 18106 – featuring Phil Upchurch on Guitar – a Bobby Rush cover version)

10. Shamading – LES McCANN (from the October 1972 US LP "Talk To The People" on Atlantic SD 1619 – Les McCann on Piano and Vocals, Keith Loving on Guitar)

11. Ridin' Thumb (Jam) – KING CURTIS (from the February 1972 US LP "Everybody's Talkin'" on Atco SD33-385 in Stereo – Cornell Dupree on Guitar, Piano by Richard Tee, Organ by Billy Preston, King Curtis On Saxophone) 

12. Cherrystones – EUGENE McDANIELS (from his US LP "Outlaw" released May 1970 on Atlantic SD 8259 – Guitars by Eric Weissberg and Hugh McCracken, Keyboards by Mother Hen (Jane Getz) with Ron Carter on Bass)

13. Soul Sound System – THE FREEDOM SOUNDS featuring WAYNE HENDERSON (from their Second US LP "Soul Sound System" released December 1968 on Atlantic Records SD 1512 in Stereo – Written by and Featuring Wayne Henderson on Trumpet)

14. The Bite – THE FABULOUS COUNTS (from the August 1969 US Debut LP "Jan Jan" on Cotillion SD 9011 in Stereo – written by Keyboardist Mose Davis of the bands Moses (1978) and Free Spirit (2003) – The Fabulous Counts aka The Counts also included Guitarist Leroy Emmanuel)

15. No More – HUBERT LAWS featuring MELBA MOORE (from the US LP "Laws' Cause" released January 1969 on Atlantic SD 1510 in Stereo – features Melba Moore on Vocals, Hubert Laws on Flute, Kenny Burrell on Guitar, Chick Corea on Piano with Ron Carter and Grady Tate on Bass and Drums)

16. They Call It Rock & Roll Music – DELANEY & BONNIE & FRIENDS featuring KING CURTIS (from the US LP "To Bonnie From Delaney" released September 1970 on Atco Records SD 33-341 in Stereo – Written by Delaney Bramlett - featuring Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett on Vocals, King Curtis on Saxophone, Ben Benay on Guitar, Duane Allman on Slide Guitar, Jim Gordon Keyboards and more)

17. Saigon – WILLIAM S. FISCHER (from the US LP "Circles" released August 1970 on Embryo Records SD 529 in Stereo – featuring Fischer on Synth and Keyboards, Bill Robinson on Vocals, Eric Weissberg and Hugh McCracken on Guitars with Ron Carter and Billy Cobham on Bass and Drums)

18. Searching The Circle – BARBARA & ERNIE (from the US Debut LP "Prelude To" released May 1971 on Cotillion SD 9044 in Stereo – featuring Barbara Massey on Keyboards and Ernie Calabria on Guitars with Bill Salter and Grady Tate on Bass and Drums with Orchestrations by Eumir Deodato)

19. The Cat From Katmandu – PASSPORT (from the studio album "Second Passport" released November 1972 on Reprise MS 2143 in Stereo – featuring Klaus Doldinger on Keyboards and Saxophones with Wolfgang Schmid on Guitars and Bass and John Mealing on Piano and Organ)

Graduating from the gatefold slips of paper that masqueraded as a booklet in earlier issues – Volume 4 offers the glory of 8-pages including very basic Discography info and track-by-track liner notes from the compilers (which are informative). Previous issues (namely Volumes 1, 2 and 3) barely showed the American album covers from whence all this Jazz-Funkiness came – here you get a collage of 12 album sleeves on the rear-page of the booklet (which is pretty). As there are no musician credits on any of the five volumes - I have endeavoured to fill out the correct release dates and personnel info where known for each entry – along with any other relevant info (cover versions etc).

Like all the others "Right On! Vol. 4…" hammers where it matters – the Audio is fantastic. Compiled by Chas Chandler (also does the liner notes) and Stuart Kirkham - Florence Halfon is Compilation Producer and the mastering is by GIOVANNI SCATOLA at Heathmans Mastering. Volume 4 includes more Vocals than most of the other sets – John Baldry and Clarence Reid bringing up the affected and funny lyrics – while lady-singers like Melba Moore, Bonnie Bramlett and Barbara Massey shine out the gutsy front. Five from 1966 to 1969 and the other thirteen from 1970 to 1974 - the Funk is the thing here - the mostly instrumental music hitting you with unapologetic breaks and grooves. Each listen feels new – an undiscovered cool one - Drums, Saxophones and Bass Lines getting high-ya - if you dig my parlance. Now - to the actual content...

Volume 4 opens with a Rock Group favoured by the legendary Californian gig entrepreneur Bill Graham who managed one album on the San Francisco Records offshoot of Atlantic. Hammer offer us three-minutes of their "Tuane" a sort of Funky Focus moment meets a skating Sly Stone – one of those deep-dive cuts you see turn up on WEA and Rhino CD comps quite a bit. Organ, rap vocals, ripping guitar solo set against a ferocious backbeat groove – a dream opener. First vocal comes from the fantastic pipes of Tami Lynn getting all down in Louisiana with the voodoo-britches of "Mojo Hanna" – ably supported after the first chorus with her equally sassy sisters (such a great Southern Meters-ish vibe). 

We go back to Sixties Lounge with the slinky instrumental "Our Man Flint" – secret-agent man making a cocktail in his suede and animal print honeytrap lair as some fox coos in the corner – about to feel the wonder of Herbie Mann's golden flute (if you catch my menthol drift). Despite the stunning backing band pedigree (The Sweet Sensations humming to the Bass and Drums of Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie while YL solos on his horn) - not so sure about the Yusef Lateef cut – although if you give it time his "Live Humble" builds up such a head of hypnotic funky steam – you may love it. 

Up next is a huge fave of mine – the mighty John Baldry (Long John in the 60ts) getting Rock-Funky on his two-album stint with Warner Brothers in 1971 and 1972. Produced to clarity perfection by none other than ex Steampacket and Faces vocal buddy Rod Stewart (Elton John did Side 1 of the album) - "Hambone" allows Baldry to build up the vocals while his British band gets to chug and neck-jerk on Guitar, Piano and especially those in-yer-face Bass and Drums. Huge audio on this and what a grower gem. I have reviewed the Expanded Edition Rhino CD Reissues and Remasters of John Baldry's two Warner albums "It Ain't Easy" (1971) and "Everything Stops For Tea" – check them out separately. Next in line is a fantastic Meters-like groove from Cornell Dupree – his Jazz-Funk LP "Teasin'" from 1974 high on any self-respecting hip-swayers list. 

Time to slow down the pace – maybe even get a bit Funky-philosophical – Clarence Reid retelling a sorry tale of a man's wife getting down the day after their wedding. This loose-goose behaviour then prompts some even nastier storytelling home truths about Reid's Pops – a man it turns out - was not-so-saintly neither. Funny for sure (and a fantastic audio Remaster too) but its out-of-date attitudes might be one to skip in 2025. The edit 45-single version of the Eddie Harris song "Live Right Now" is rare (and probably first time on CD here) but it stands no Funky chance against the relentless clavinet and harmonica funk of Oscar Brown, Jr. – the chap obsessed with his gal and her cooking on "Chicken Heads". 

On a similar Stevie Wonder Clavinet-Funk tip – again we get amazing audio on the Les McCann track "Shamading" – a going-for-it 1972 workout I had not heard before. Astonishing band on the King Curtis jam "Ridin' Thumb" – a furious groove set up by (check out the names) Cornell Dupree on Guitar, Piano by Richard Tee, Organ by Billy Preston and King Curtis On Saxophone. I know those who worship at the feet of the two Eugene McDaniels LPs – the May 1971 US album "Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse" which features the title rack "Headless Heroes" on it (Track 5 on Volume 1 of this series) and what we get here - "Cherrystones" from the album "Outlaw" released May 1970. Witty lyrics, politics and social graces mixed up in a knowing rap. Very cool. Piano-Jazz-Funk next with The Freedom Sounds featuring Wayne Henderson – a killer instrumental with Latin leanings and stunning playing (Remaster rocks as well). 

The curiously-named "Jan Jan" LP by The Fabulous Counts was featured on Volume 3 of this series – here we get the Saxophone and Guitar instrumental "The Bite" where the band come on like an updated version of Booker T & The MGs. Home run gives us Melba Moore with Vocalists fronting Hubert Laws on his slightly Broadway-Show-hip "No More" – good but no convincing to me. Time to go Rock and Funk boogie with the darlings of Rock Stars like Eric Clapton and Duane Allman – Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Great groove with Guitar and Sax for their relentlessly funking "They Call It Rock & Roll Music" when Delaney sings "King Curtis is going to play Saxophone for ya" – and he does – quickly followed by soling from Duane Allman on Guitar. 

Speaking of gee-tar players - ace axemen Hugh McCracken and Eric Weissberg bring great chops to "Saigon" by William S. Fischer – their standout work backed up by Ron Carter on Bass with Billy Cobham on Drums (a track from his "Crosswinds" solo-album of 1974 is on Volume 1 of the "Right On!" series). One-time contributor to Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba sessions - Ernie Calabria plays strummed Guitars on the Shuggie Otis-type groove of "Searching The Circle". Shake your head spacey and sounding not unlike a Hair-outtake or an Association-type Sunshine Pop groove - "Searching The Circle" is a joyful discovery straddling both the Sixties and the Seventies. And it ends on the Euro Funk of Passport giving it to "The Cat From Katmandu" (something tells me the bad boy deserved it).

So, to sum up, akin to its four cheapish companions - "Right On! Volume 4…" is a brilliant CD and VINYL set that will make you want to own the whole kit and kaboodle (see list below accurate to January 2025). 

In the late Sixties and especially into the first half of the Seventies - Funk, Soul, Latin, Jazz and Fusion from across the cultural pond was at its fabulous and inventive best. Check em out and "Right On!" indeed...

RIGHT ON! 

CD and Vinyl 2LP Series by Warners UK 

A List of Releases

1. Right On! Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 1967-1975 
CD, 17-Tracks: released 27 September 1999 UK on Warner/ESP Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548378052 (Barcode 095483780525) - 67:23 minutes
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: released September 1999 UK on Warner/Atlantic Reprise 9548-378041 (Barcode 95483780401) – Bonus is "North Carolina" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 9:20 minutes

2. Right On! Vol.2: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: released Monday, 29 May 2000 UK on Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548384002 (Barcode 095483840021) - 69:30 minutes
VINYL, 20-Track 2LP-set: Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548-38401-1 (Barcode 095483840113) – Bonus is "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 5:55 minutes

3. Right On! Vol.3: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 18-Tracks: released Monday, 11 June 2001 on Warner Music UK 9548392072 (Barcode 095483920723) - 71:33 minutes
VINYL, 19-Track 2LP-set: Warner Music UK 9548392061 (Barcode 095483920617) – Bonus Track is "Can you Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 5:51 minutes

4. Right On! Vol.4: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: 26 August 2002 UK Warner Strategic Marketing UK 0927-42567-2 (Barcode 809274256720)
VINYL, 20-Tracks 2LP set: Warner Strategic Marketing 9274-6388-1 - Bonus Track is "Respect Yourself" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 6:50 minutes

5. Right On! Vol. 5: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD: 17-Tracks: 26 January 2004 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 5046691472 (Barcode 5050466914729) – 72:59 minutes
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: Warner Strategic Marketing 5046696401 (Barcode 5050466964014) – Bonus Track is "Schirokko" by Passport, last track on Side 4 – 5:44 minutes

6. Right On! Box Set: Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
2001 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 092 740477 2 (Barcode 809274047724) 
4CD 67-Track Box Set housed in Book Packaging containing CD Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Series (61 Tracks) with a further fourth Bonus CD of Six Tracks. 

The six bonuses for the Box Set are (1) "People Say" by The Meters, (2) "Fried Okra" by The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, (3) "Can You Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, (4) "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, (5) "People" by Graham Central Station and (6) "North Carolina" by Les McCann.

Three of the six Book Set CD Bonuses appeared only on the VINYL 2LP variants of Volumes 1 to 3 (Tracks 3, 4 and 6) – the other three (Tracks 1, 2 and 5) are new to the series here and do not appear on the CD variants of Volumes 4 and 5.

See also a separate post where I have done a 5-Volume Track-by-Track and Artist-by-Artist INDEX for the "Right On!" CD Series so you can locate what artist is on what compilation

"Right On! Vol. 5 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring 17 Tracks from 1967 to 1976 by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Little Feat (Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris on Backing Vocals), Herbie Mann, Cold Blood, Wade Marcus, Young-Holt Unlimited, Tony Joe White, Willis Jackson, Sam Samudio, Hank Crawford, Gary Burton, Gene Page, Sweetwater, Yusef Lateef, Air, The Don Randi Trio and Herb Geller (January 2004 UK Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM) CD Compilation of Remasters – Volume 5 of 5) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-5/dp/B0000YHK04?crid=2PQ8UHHD0DKWD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NDk1tFIxMGDyDNkxr67w-A.j-AiF0pG6ardoubHvoLUcjrBmJ-ScV0fRVagX8vcavw&dib_tag=se&keywords=5050466914729&qid=1737828402&sprefix=5050466914729%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=82b2fc89f5accf421516ec72170d43e7&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

This Review Along With 350 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2025 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00MTCDTWS&asins=B00MTCDTWS&linkId=f95dca2244c8856012cccc3c6c25fff6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

RATINGS:

Overall: ****

Presentation: **** 

Audio: **** to *****

"...Vibrations In The Street...Keep Us High..."

Sometime in the late Nineties, the UK branch of Warner Brothers (or WEA to us in the know) seemed to suddenly get hip to the public's needs. And WEA did this at the exact moment they also sheepishly realised they'd an abundance of riches in their glorious back catalogue to meet those cravings.

I recall the 3 sets of "Funk Drops", 3 more for Northern Soul in "After Hours", 2 for Philly in "Crème De La Creme", more Soul, Funk and Gospel rarities in "You Better Believe It" - and on it went. 

Which brings us to here – the superlative "Right On!" series of compilations (on CD and 2LP VINYL Sets) that tapped the Funkier side of Jazz, Fusion and Rock albums issued on Atlantic, Atco, Cotillion, San Francisco, Reprise, Alston and of course Warner Bros between 1966 and 1975. So, September 1999 through to August 2004 saw Five Volumes of "Right On!" in all with a 4CD mop-up 'Box Set' in-between for Volumes 1 to 3 that contained a fourth Bonus Disc of 6 Rare Tracks.

Suddenly, underground names held in collector awe like Eugene McDaniels, David Axelrod, David Newman, Funk Factory, Black Heat, Young-Holt Unlimited, Memphis Horns, Shirley Scott, The Beginning of The End, Claudia Lennear, Tony Joe White, Cold Blood, Air, Yusef Lateef, Herb Geller (lyrics from his song title this review) and loads more got pride of place and new recognition. And much to the joy of collectors and album fetishists alike, the "Right On!" series was also backed up by 2LP VINYL sets, all of which boasted a lone Bonus Track over their CD counterpart (see Discography below).

Remastered and compiled with serious smarts by CHAS CHANDLER and STUART KIRKHAM (Comp Producer Florence Halfon) – these comps quickly became a way for cash-strapped fans and other genre-curious-types of getting rare and largely forgotten Funk and Soul for a decent price (I diligently pickled up each as they appeared). Frankly all five volumes are filled with Mr. Men and still relatively cheap too in 2025 (at least the first three are) - so let's get busy with a final highlight in the series - Door Number Five...to the details...

UK released 26 January 2004 - "Right On! Vol. 5 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM) 5046691472 (Barcode 5050466914729) is a 17-Track CD/18-Track 2LP compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (72:59 minutes - CD):

1. Freaks For The Festival – RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (from the August 1975 US 2LP set "The Case Of The 3 Sided Dream In Audio Color" on Atlantic Records SD 1674 - featuring RR Kirk on Horns, Richard Tee on Keyboards, Cornell Dupree on Guitars and Steve Gadd on Drums – as Sampled by The Beastie Boys on the song "Finger Lickin' Good" from their 1992 album "Check Your Head")

2. Spanish Moon – LITTLE FEAT (from their fourth studio album "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" released August 1974 in the USA on Warner Bros BS 2784 – featuring Lowell George and Paul Barrere on Guitars (song written by LG), Bill Payne on Keyboards, Kenny Gradney on Bass and Richie Hayward on Drums with Backing Vocals from Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris – Produced by Van Dyke Parks) 

3. Hi-Jack – HERBIE MANN (from his album "Discothèque" released April 1975 in the USA on Atlantic Records SD 1670 – Flute by Herbie Mann with Pat Rebillot on Keyboards, Hugh McCracken on Guitar, Steve Gadd on Drums with Backing Vocals from Cissy Houston)

4. I Just Want To Make Love To You – COLD BLOOD (from their November 1969 US Debut LP "Cold Blood" on Atlantic/San Francisco SD 200 in Stereo – written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters of Chess Records fame – Cold Blood featured Lydia Pense on Lead Vocals – Samples used by Jurassic 5 and Edan)

5. Feelin' Alright – WADE MARCUS (from the March 1971 US LP "A New Era" on Cotillion SD 9043 – a Traffic cover (written by Dave Mason) – this Instrumental Version by Motown and Stax Producer and Arranger Wade Marcus features Eric Gale and Richard Tee on Guitars with a Piano Solo from Paul Griffin)

6. The Creeper – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from their sixth album "Mellow Dreamin'" released September 1970 in the USA on Cotilion SD 18001 - featuring Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt with ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardist Kenneth Chaney and future Trumpeter with The Awakening (1972 and 1973 LPs) Frank Gordon – the instrumental is written by Kenneth Chaney – sample used on Dr. Octagon track "Dr. Octagon")

7. Voodoo Village – TONY JOE WHITE (from his fourth studio album "Tony Joe White" (debut for Warner Brothers) - released March 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 1900 – song by Lee Ann White – Michael Utley of The Dixie Flyers plays Keyboards - the song "Voodoo Village" was also issued February 1971 as a US 45-single on Warner Bros 7468, B-side of "The Daddy" – both tracks from the "Tony Joe White" LP)

8. Pick Up The Pieces – WILLIS JACKSON (from the August 1975 US LP "The Way We Were" on Atlantic SD 18145 – Willis Jackson on Tenor Saxophone - a cover version of the song from the 1974 film of the same name starring Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford)

9. 15° Capricorn Asc. – SAM SAMUDIO [aka Sam The Sham] (from his March 1971 US Debut Solo LP "Sam, Hard And Heavy" on Atlantic SD 8271 – real name Domingo Samudio - Backing Band is The Dixie Flyers (including Michael Utley and Jim Dickinson), Horns by The Memphis Horns (including Wayne Jackson) and Backing Singers by The Sweet Inspirations (led by Cissy Houston))

10. It's A Funky Thing To Do – HANK CRAWFORD (from the May 1971 US LP "It's A Funky Thing To Do" on Cotillion SD 18003 – Hank Crawford on Saxophone, Eric Gale and Cornell Dupree on Guitars, Richard Tee and Alfred 'Pee Wee' Ellis on Keyboards, Chuck Rainey and Ron Carter on Bass with Bernard Purdie on Drums)

11. Leroy The Magician – GARY BURTON (from the August 1970 US Studio LP "Good Vibes" on Atlantic SD 1560 in Stereo – Keyboards and Vibes by Gary Burton and Richard Tee, Eric Gale and Jerry Hahn on Guitars with Chuck Rainey on Bass and Bernard Purdie on Drums) 

12. Jungle Eyes – GENE PAGE (from his second US LP "Hot City" released January 1975 on Atlantic SD 18111 – written by Billy and Gene Page –Keyboards by Gene Page, Guests Include Keyboards and Production by Barry White, Guitars by Dean Parks and Ray Parker, Jr. with Wilton Felder of The Crusaders on Bass)

13. It Ain't Easy - SWEETWATER (from their US Debut LP "Melon" released November 1971 on Reprise Records RS 6473 – featuring Albert Moore on Flute (also wrote the song) with Nanci Nevins on Vocals and Guitar and Alex Del Zoppo on Keyboards)

14. Prayer – YUSEF LATEEF (from the US LP "Hush 'N' Thunder" released March 1973 on Atlantic SD 1635 – a Kenny Barron cover version - features Yusef Lateef on Tenor Saxophonist, Cornell Dupree on Guitar with Alfred White on Organ and more) 

15. Mr. Man – AIR (from their Debut and Only US LP "Air" released May 1971 on Embryo SD 733 in Stereo – features Herbie Mann on Flute and Googie on Vocals – Guests Randy and Mike Brecker on Trombone and Sax)

16. Hang Loose – THE DON RANDI TRIO (from the US LP ""Live" On The Sunset Strip!" released September 1967 on Reprise Records RS 6252 in Stereo – Original Song - Don Randi on Piano, Pat Smith on Bass and John Clauder on Drums)

17. Space A La Mode – HERB GELLER (from the studio album "Rhyme And Reason" released January 1976 on Atlantic SD 1681 in Stereo – featuring Herb Geller on Saxophone and Flutes, Philip Catherine on Guitar, Rob Franken on Keyboards and Mark Murphy on Vocals)

Graduating from the gatefold slips of paper that masqueraded as a booklet in earlier issues – Volume 5 offers the glory of 8-pages including very basic Discography info and track-by-track liner notes from the compilers (which are informative). Previous issues (namely Volumes 1, 2 and 3) barely showed the American album covers from whence all this Jazz-Funkiness came – here you get a collage of 12 album sleeves on the rear-page of the booklet (which is pretty). As there are no musician credits on any of the five volumes - I have endeavoured to fill out the correct release dates and personnel info where known for each entry – along with any other relevant info (cover versions etc).

Like all the others "Right On! Vol. 5…" hammers where it matters – the Audio is fantastic. Compiled by Chas Chandler (also does the liner notes) and Stuart Kirkham - Florence Halfon is Compilation Producer and the mastering is by Giovanni Scatola at Heathmans Mastering. The Funk is most deaf-in-ite-ly in the ascendancy here (15 of the 17 dates from the 70ts) - so when you play this beast - the music (often instrumental) hits you with unapologetic breaks - Drums and Saxophones and Bass Lines getting high-ya - rattling out of your speakers like a show-off Reggae Stack in Notting Hill. Now - to the actual content...

Volume 5 opens with a clearly hyped-up Rahsaan Roland Kirk (two years before his sad passing at only 44) getting Vocal and Funky with his 4-minute "Freaks At The Festival" – his enthusiasm seeing him wandering in and out of microphone shot several times. The August 1975 US double-album the track comes from is called (delightfully) "The Case Of The 3 Sided Dream In Audio Color" and was a weird one even back then. Although it clearly announces it on the Atlantic Records label as just Cut Grooves - Side 4 of his (3 Sided) 2LP set is air-silence with a few telephone conversations throw in to confuse (ah them was the days)! 

Up next is a gem – and I mean a gem. Common reviewer consensus tells punters looking for Little Feat's fab Rock-Funk grooves to go for the live variant of "Spanish Moon" on the 1978 "Waiting For Columbus" 2LP beast because it features a tight-as-space-capsule-nuts Tower Of Power with their Brass chops as part of the audio assault. The studio version here from 1974's fourth studio album "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" doesn't have that benefit. But make no mistake – the Force of the Funk is most definitely with Little Feat here because the Remaster is truly fantastic. And although the studio variant is shorter (the live cut stretches out the momentum and therefore the hip-swaying effect) – "Spanish Moon" is blindingly great – Lowell George and his band steaming in New Orleans mojo. A very smart inclusion.

Pre-Chic and the Saturday Night Fever vibe of The Tramps and their "Disco Inferno" – up comes fabulous Audio for Herbie Mann as he goes for your 1975 boot-ay and sash-ay with his "Hi-Jack". Flute jabs compliment a relentlessly Funky backbeat while breathy ladies sing of hi-jacking your love (good luck with that gals). Underrated US crossover band Cold Blood has the fantastic Janis Joplin-esque pipes of singer Lydia Pense at their disposal. Lydia slinks through a Brass and Organ funk-up of the Muddy Waters chestnut "I Just Want To Make To You" (written by the mighty Willie Dixon) which gradually goes full-on Blood, Sweat & Tears meets C.C.S. (fantastic stuff and another killer to include). Philly Strings, Fuzzed Up Guitars, precision Bass lines and a Clavinet that has seen to many Blaxploitation movies – Wade Marcus gives us a fab instrumental take on the Dave Mason gem from his days with Traffic - "Feelin' Alright". After five corkers in a row – what you would think would cement the Funky deal is a cut now from Young-Holt Unlimited – but their very Herb Alpert offering "The Creeper" in only OK - trying too hard despite some tasty piano-lines towards the end.

Back to swamp-chaps with no teeth-gaps - and no one (but no one) is better than Tony Joe White during his post-Monument sides on Warner Brothers. His thumping and snorting "Voodoo Village" is a sexy 1971 Rock chugger about ladies with ways and moves you need to stay away from (or in his case, run towards). Willie Jackson goes after the Average White Band instrumental classic from 1974 "Pick Up The Pieces" (a contender for one of the greatest songs ever in my book) - but despite the efforts of his 1975 Sax and Funky Strings – you heart and posterior will always remain with the Scottish Soul Boys and their original on Atlantic Records. You might need to give the curiously titled Sam The Sham track "15° Capricorn Asc." breathing space – but as the Wooly Bully man shouts "Push!" - his team of ace musicians hammer a relentless electric guitar whig-out and "15° Capricorn Asc." from 1971 becomes infectious and utterly brilliant (you can see why Soul Boys looking for a Funky tip dig it so). Two hooky instrumentals from Hank Crawford and Gary Burton introduce flick-guitars, soloing Saxophones and pinging Vibes for "It's A Funky Thing To Do" and "Leroy The Magician" – both equally tasty in their neck-jerking neck of the 1970 and 1971 woods.

Home run gives you two long-standing Funk-Rock-Soul nuggets by Air and Sweetwater – great grooves in "Mr. Man" and "It Ain't Easy". Sweetwater find it hard to deal with the pills and bills of the Rock and Roll lifestyle in their stop-and-start "It Ain't Easy" – but in terms of LP finds – it is second-fiddle to Air and their fab "Mr. Man" on Embryo Records n 1971. This slithering and a-sliding sleezy piano and vocals shouter has turned up on quite a few Funky-Funky compilations and Box Sets – Herbie Mann's touring band fronted by singer Googie hitting a genre winner. Amongst the other four is the hard-hitting Funk of Yusef Lateef strangling his horn on "Prayer" – better for me Don Randi handclapping his Sixties way through "Hang Loose" – even if it does feel a tad out of place after all the Seventies soundscapes that preceded it.

So, to sum up, like its four cheapish predecessors (listed on the rear cover artwork - see photo) - "Right On! Volume 5…" is the fifth and last in a brilliant CD and VINYL series - and like its illustrious forebears - will make you want to own the whole shebang (see list below accurate to January 2025).

In the late Sixties and especially into the first half of the Seventies - Funk, Soul, Latin, Jazz and Fusion from across the cultural pond was at its fabulous and inventive best. Check em out and "Right On!" indeed...

RIGHT ON! 

CD and Vinyl 2LP Series by Warners UK 

A List of Releases

1. Right On! Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 1967-1975 
CD, 17-Tracks: released 27 September 1999 UK on Warner/ESP Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548378052 (Barcode 095483780525) - 67:23 minutes
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: released September 1999 UK on Warner/Atlantic Reprise 9548-378041 (Barcode 95483780401) – Bonus is "North Carolina" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 9:20 minutes

2. Right On! Vol.2: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: released Monday, 29 May 2000 UK on Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548384002 (Barcode 095483840021) - 69:30 minutes
VINYL, 20-Track 2LP-set: Warner/Atlantic/Reprise 9548-38401-1 (Barcode 095483840113) – Bonus is "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, last track on Side 4 – playing time 5:55 minutes

3. Right On! Vol.3: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 18-Tracks: released Monday, 11 June 2001 on Warner Music UK 9548392072 (Barcode 095483920723) - 71:33 minutes
VINYL, 19-Track 2LP-set: Warner Music UK 9548392061 (Barcode 095483920617) – Bonus Track is "Can you Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 5:51 minutes

4. Right On! Vol.4: More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD, 19-Tracks: 26 August 2002 UK Warner Strategic Marketing UK 0927425672 (Barcode 809274256720) - 69:42 minutes
VINYL, 20-Tracks 2LP set: Warner Strategic Marketing 9274-6388-1 - Bonus Track is "Respect Yourself" by Herbie Mann, last track on Side 4 – 6:50 minutes

5. Right On! Vol. 5 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
CD: 17-Tracks: 26 January 2004 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 5046691472 (Barcode 5050466914729) – 72:59 minutes
VINYL, 18-Track 2LP-set: Warner Strategic Marketing 5046696401 (Barcode 5050466964014) – Bonus Track is "Schirokko" by Passport, last track on Side 4 – 5:44 minutes

6. Right On! Box Set: Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults 
2001 UK Warner Strategic Marketing 092 740477 2 (Barcode 809274047724) 
4CD 67-Track Box Set housed in Book Packaging containing CD Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the Series (61 Tracks) with a further fourth Bonus CD of Six Tracks. 

The six bonuses for the Box Set are (1) "People Say" by The Meters, (2) "Fried Okra" by The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, (3) "Can You Dig It?" by Herbie Mann, (4) "Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann, (5) "People" by Graham Central Station and (6) "North Carolina" by Les McCann.

Three of the six Book Set CD Bonuses appeared only on the VINYL 2LP variants of Volumes 1 to 3 (Tracks 3, 4 and 6) – the other three (Tracks 1, 2 and 5) are new to the series here and do not appear on the CD variants of Volumes 4 and 5

"Funk Drops: Breaks, Nuggets And Rarities From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco, Reprise And Warner Bros. Records 1968-1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (September 2001 UK Warner Strategic Marketing United Kingdom - Rick Conrad CD Compilation - Giovanni Scatola Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Sexy Coffee Pot..."

Between 2001 and 2005 and using their Warner Strategic Marketing United Kingdom wing (often simply abbreviated to WSM) - the major label WEA were hammering the British and European markets with visually and audibly cool compilations to satisfy the then burgeoning need for Soul Breaks and especially Rare Groove Funk from the 60ts and 70ts. 

The fabulous WEA compilation series called "Funk Drops: Breaks, Nuggets And Rarities From The Vaults Of..." was one of those temptresses. Three volumes eventually covered 1968 to 1977 – laying into singles and deep LP cuts that were costing collectors a fortune on bidding sites (there was talk of a Volume 4 for Funk Drops, but it never materialised). 

WSM UK also gave us "After Hours" for Northern Soul (3 volumes) - "Natural High" for 2-Step Soul (3 volumes) - "Right On!" for Funk and Soul (5 volumes) - "The In Sound" series (11 or so volumes for covers, lounge music that crossed over into Soul, Eastern vibes, Psych in Soul) - "You Better Believe It" (2 volumes of rare Soul), "Creme De La Creme" (2 volumes for Philly Soul and Funk), "Blues And Soul Power" (1 volume of Funky R&B Crossovers 1964-1972), "From Burbank To The Bay Area..." (1 volume of Barrio Breaks, East-Bay Grease, Folk Funk and more from WEA's vaults) and so on. It was a deluge of goodies. Back to the first volume of "Funk Drops..." 

Remastered by GIOVANNI SCATOLA and compiled with smarts by RICK CONRAD at WSM UK - much to the pleasure of collectors - each playing-time-heavy CD also came in a 2LP VINYL SET complete with detailed inner sleeves that pictured all those sexy and sought-after American Funk 45s on labels like Alston, Atco, Atlantic, Cotillion, Josie, Reprise, San Francisco and of course - Warner Brothers. In fact, in the case of the Vinyl Double-Album for 'Volume 1' – it boasted one bonus track at the end of Side 4 - "Funky To The Bone" by Freddi Henchi & The Soul Setters (see list below for Barcode to locate it). 

But let's get back to the CD that first appeared in September 2001. Long forgotten and criminally so - Volume 1 of "Funk Drops" can be picked up dirt cheap in 2021 - for about four quid including P&P. The equally brilliant (if not actually better) Volume 2 from August 2002 is still out there for about nine pounds but June 2004's Volume 3 currently pushes an extortionate ninety quid or so! I loved the lot and actually bought both variants – CD and VINYL. Time to explore the Sexy Coffee Pot of dark musical delights sloshing aromatic in Volume 1...

UK released 3 September 2001 - "Funk Drops: Breaks, Nuggets And Rarities From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco, Reprise And Warner Bros. Records 1968-1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Warner Strategic Marketing UK 0927-40712-2 (Barcode 809274071224) is a 20-Track CD compilation of Remasters (the first of three) that plays out as follows (72:55 minutes): 

1. You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin' - CHARLES WRIGHT (September 1972, US 45-single on Warner Bros WB 7630, A-side)

2. Sexy Coffee Pot - TONY ALVON & THE BELAIRS (May 1969, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2632, B-Side of "Boom-Boom-Boom")

3. Soul Machine - THE METERS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED recording made during the sessions for "The Meters" LP issued April 1969 on Josie LP 4010. "Soul Machine" issued Stateside on the 'Expanded Edition' CD of "The Meters" by Rhino in 2001 and by SoulMusic in 2020 on the "Gettin' Funkier All The Time..." 6CD Box Set)

4. Dirty Red - THE FABULOUS COUNTS (April 1969, US 45-single on Moira 45-105, B-side of "Scrambled Eggs" - also on the June 1969 Stereo LP "Jan Jan" on Cotillion SD 9011)

5. Cold Bear - THE GATURS (January 1972, US 45-single on Atco 45-6870, A-side - featuring Willie Tee)

6. Nobody But You Babe - CLARENCE REID (May 1969, US 45-single on Alston 45-4574, A-side - also on the 1969 US Stereo LP "Dancin' With Nobody But You Babe" on Atco SD-33-307)

7. Pop, Popcorn Children - ELDRIDGE HOLMES (August 1969, US 45-single on Atco 45-6701, A-side - Produced Allen Toussaint)

8. Engine Number 9 [6:26 minutes] - WILSON PICKETT (September 1970, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2765, A-side. The original US 7" single had only the 2:46 minutes of Part 1 on the A-side with "International Playboy" as its B-side. This CD offers the full album version of 'Part 1 and 2' running to 6:26 minutes. It was also called "Get Me Back On Time - Engine Number 9" in the UK when it was issued there October 1970 on Atlantic 2091 032) - hence it is given that title on this CD.

9. What So Never The Dance (Pt. 1 &2) - HOUSE GUEST RATED X (November 1971, US 45-single on House Guests 28205 - offers both A&B-sides at 3:58 minutes)

10. C'mon Children - EARTH, WIND & FIRE (January 1972 US 45-single on Warner Brothers WB 7549, B-side of "I Think About Lovin' You" - also on the 1972 US LP "Earth, Wind & Fire" on Warner Brothers WS-1905)

11. Back On The Streets Again - TOWER OF POWER (January 1971, US 45-single on San Francisco 45-64, A-side edit of 3:16 minutes - full version on the "East Bay Grease" LP on San Francisco 204)

12. Getting Uptown (To Get Down) - UNITED 8 (June 1972, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2896, A-side - Instrumental)

13. Love The Life You Live - BLACK HEAT (from the 1973 US LP "No Time To Burn" on Atlantic SD-7294 - full album version 6:33 minutes - Kool & The Gang song)

14. Come Little Children - DONNY HATHAWAY (from the June 1973 LP "Extension Of A Man" on Atco SD 7029 - full album version at 4:33 minutes, single edit was 3:38 minutes - Phil Upchurch Guitar Solo - Produced Arif Mardin)

15. 65 Bars And A Taste Of Soul - THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (July 1968, US 45-single on Warner Brothers 7222, B-side of "Bottomless")

16. Don't Come Around Here Anymore - MARK PUTNEY (April 1969, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2617, B-side of "Today's Man")

17. It's Your Thing - COLD GRITS (August 1969, US 45-single on Atco 45-6709, A-side - Isley Brothers cover) 

18. Ridin' Thumb - KING CURTIS (from the 1972 US LP "Everybody's Talkin'" on Atco SD 33-385 - features Billy Preston on Organ and Richard Tee on Piano - written by James Seals)

19. Same Old Thing - THE METERS (from the June 1970 US LP "Struttin'" on Josie LP 4012)

20. Shop Talk (Version No. 1) - COLD BLOOD (from the Various Artists "San Francisco Fall 1970 Sampler" LP on San Francisco SD-158 - differs from the version of their 1971 "Sisyphus" album on San Francisco SD-205)

Compiled and Annotated by RICK CONRAD - the 12-page booklet gives you track by track info followed by the discography info you would want. But if I'm honest, the booklet is visually dire, letting the side down by not picturing those tasty 45 labels or even the colourful album sleeves you never see like the completely forgotten King Curtis "Everybody's Talkin'" and Clarence Reid "Dancing With Nobody But You Babe" albums. They would rectify this in further 'Funk Drops' issues and on the "After Hours", "You Better Believe It" and "Right On!" compilations. What isn't a let down are the fantastically muscular GIOVANNI SCATOLA Remasters - bringing to life each and every entry. To the grooves...

Any compilation which acknowledges that Donny Hathaway was Funky as well as a beautifully expressive Soul singer gets my vote - "Funk Drops" cleverly featuring the full album cut of "Come Little Children" from his fabulous "Extension Of A Man" album. It's typical of so many cuts on this CD - a tune that surprises by an artist you think you have pegged. The great groove opens with a James Brown-ish growl followed quickly by Phil Upchurch on Lead Guitar - Arif Mardin providing the tasty Production. There are also those obscure B-sides like the Brass and Guitar Meters-like flick of "65 Bars And A Taste Of Soul" - a neck-jerking instrumental from The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band that is certain to lively-up any dancefloor. 

Obscure but worthy comes in the shape of "Sexy Coffee Pot" by Tony Avlon & The Belairs - an upon-my-soul uh-huh-huh sure-feels-good chugger that again hits you with brass first, then cements the butt-wiggling deal with those so-want-to-sample drums and guitar flicks (Rhino would give it pride-of-place too on their award-winning "What It Is!" 4CD box set in 2006). Also included on that Box Set is the getting down and hanging around of United 8 – essentially a guitar-flicking instrumental with some man/woman to-and-fro scat vocals at either end. In a similar vein is the irresistible instrumental cover of The Isley Brothers signature groove "It's Your Thing" by Cold Grits – an obscure bunch of musicians who some say turned out to be members of John Fred's Playboy Band mixed up with Wayne Cochran's backing group. Conrad's liner notes advise that there is an entire album of the same still in the vaults awaiting release. 

Before they went full-on commercial Soul – Earth, Wind & Fire had a sort of Tower of Power vs. Prog Funkadelic feel to album cuts like "C'mon Children" – a hard-driving Funky workout. Speaking of forgotten album stints, Clarence Reid gets a truly brilliant groove to "Nobody But You Babe" – a big and brassy doing my thing 1969 A-side on Alston Records that Bear Family of Germany featured on their "Sweet Soul Music" Series of CDs for that year. And I have never heard the alternate Version 1 of Shop Talk by Cold Blood – darlings of the Soul-Funk discovery trail. There are loads more where they came from...

It probably shouldn't come as any real shock that a record label as genre-wide reaching as Warner Brothers would have Funk, Soul and Rare Grooves galore in their vaults. But that it would come as a surprise that thrills like this CD does – is – well a surprise. And Volume 2 of "Funk Drops" trumped the opening salvo, as far as I'm concerned. 

Cheap and cheerful - I'll drop either Volume of "Funk Drops" in my sexy black coffee any day of the week...

The "Funk Drops" CD and 2LP Series of Compilations

From Warner Strategic Marketing United Kingdom

Volume 1 - released 3 September 2001: 

CD: "Funk Drops: Breaks, Nuggets And Rarities: From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco, Reprise and Warner Bros. Records 1968-1974" on Warner Strategic Marketing 0927-40712-2 (Barcode 809274071224) - 20 Track CD

VINYL: Warner Strategic Marketing 0927-40713-1 (Barcode 809274071316) – 21-Track 2LP set with One Bonus - "Funky To The Bone" by Freddi Henchi & The Soul Setters (last track on Side 4)

Volume 2 - released 5 August 2002: 

CD: "Funk Drops 2: Breaks, Nuggets And Rarities: From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco, Reprise and Warner Bros. Records 1968-1975" on Warner Strategic Marketing 0927-48413-2 (Barcode 809274841322) - 23 Track CD

VINYL: Warner Strategic Marketing 0927-48413-1 (Barcode 809274841315) - 23-Track 2LP set (no bonus tracks)

Volume 3 - released 21 June 2004:

CD: "Funk Drops 3: Breaks, Nuggets And Rarities: From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco, Reprise and Warner Bros. Records 1968-1977" on Warner Strategic Marketing 5046-66295 2 (Barcode 5050466629524) - 25-Track CD

VINYL: Warner Strategic Marketing 5046-66295-1 (Barcode 5 050466 629517) - 25 Track 2LP set (no bonuses)

"Strange Brew: Weird & Wonderful Covers From The Warner & Atlantic Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (Part of 'The In Sound' Series) – featuring Mary Wells, Johnny Harris, Herbie Mann, King Curtis & The Kingpins, Clarence Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Arif Mardin, Ananda Shankar, Brother Jack McDuff, Shirley Scott, Carmen McRae, Marion Williams and more – Guests Include Nicky Hopkins, Barry Beckett, Eddie Hinton, Members of The Crusaders, Miroslav Vitous of Weather Report, The Dixie Hummingbirds and more (September 2004 UK Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...A Walk On The Wild Side..."

What's that inside of you? A "Strange Brew"...

I'm a sucker for a Rhino CD compilation and this little weirdo is right up my far out alley. Part of their 'The In Sound' Series (see list of 9 titles below) - "Strange Brew"...is a very cool if not entirely successful trawl through the murky depths of dodgy cover versions. 

Mostly centring around deep LP cuts from 1969 and 1970 on Atlantic, Atco, Reprise and Warner Brothers Records – you get like-minded musical bedfellows seeking out that 'yeah man, let's get down with the kids hipster-choice' moment by doing the songs of contemporary Rock acts like Bob Dylan, The Stones, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Tony Joe White and so on - in a Jazz-Soulful way. 

Sat beside those were old hands like singer Ella Fitzgerald doing Eddie Floyd or flautist Herbie Man tackling Sam and Dave - and so on. The idea was of course to make terminally unhip Jazz accessible to a younger audience by tapping into those songs that allowed a body to reinterpret – create a groove - maybe even bag a commercial hit along the way. To this end - "Strange Brew"... offers 22 eclectic choices of rarely heard music from WEA combined with quality remastered audio and a pleasingly chockers playing time - a hair's nadge short of 80-minutes. It isn't all 24-Carat Gold as I say, but with guest names like Nicky Hopkins, Barry Beckett, Eddie Hinton, Members of The Crusaders, Miroslav Vitous of Weather Report and The Dixie Hummingbirds sat alongside the Sitar of Ananda Shankar and the Brian Auger arranged keyboard grooviness of Johnny Harris – I'm in like a Prog-Stoned Flynn baby (and that Flynn likes to be in). 

Much to shake a joss stick at, so let's prepare the beany cushions and pick those wild mushrooms (if you know where I'm coming from man)...

UK released 20 September 2004 - "Strange Brew: Weird & Wonderful Covers From The Warner & Atlantic Vaults" on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 5046743432 (Barcode 5050467434325) is a 22-Track CD Compilation in 'The In Sound' Series that plays out as follows (79:21 minutes):

1. Satisfaction - MARY WELLS (Rolling Stones cover from her December 1966 US LP "The Two Sides Of Mary Wells" on Atco SD 33-199 in Stereo)

2. Hold On I'm Comin' (Edit, 4:08 minutes) - HERBIE MANN (Sam & Dave cover from his May 1969 US LP "Memphis Underground" on Atco SD-1922 in Stereo - features Bassist Miroslav Vitous later with Weather Report)

3. Knock On Wood - ELLA FITZGERALD (Eddie Floyd cover on her September 1969 US LP "Ella" on Reprise RS 6354 in Stereo - Pianist Nicky Hopkins guests)

4.  You Showed Me - PHIL MOORE, Jr. (Turtles cover from his September 1969 US LP "Right On" on Atlantic SD 1530 - features Wilton Felder and "Stix" Hooper of The Crusaders with Keyboardist Clarence McDonald and Guitarist Steve Khan)

5. My Girl Sloopy - KILLER JOE (McCoys cover from his June 1965 US LP "International Discotheque" on Atlantic SD-8108 in Stereo, LP credited to The Killer Joe Orchestra, real name Joe Pira)   

6. Wicked Messenger - MARION WILLIAMS (Bob Dylan cover from her 1971 US LP "Standing Here Wondering Which Way To Go" on Atlantic SD 8289 - featuring David Spinnoza on Guitar, Paul Griffin on Keyboards and The Dixie Hummingbirds on Backing Vocals)

7. Whole Lotta Love - KING CURTIS And THE KINGPINS (Led Zeppelin cover, September 1970 US 45-Single on Atlantic 45-6779, A-side, 2:42 minute instrumental) 

8. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - ELLA FITZGERALD (Marvin Gaye cover from her 1971 US LP "Things Ain't What They Used To Be (And You Better Believe It)" on Reprise RS 6432) 

9. Willie & Laura Mae Jones - CLARENCE CARTER (Tony Joe White cover, from his fourth studio album "Patches" issued October 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8267)

10. Strange Brew - ARIF MARDIN (Cream cover, from his July 1969 US LP "Glass Onion" on Atlantic SD 8222, features Barry Beckett on Keyboards and Eddie Hinton on Lead Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals) 

11. I Thought I Knew You Well - CARMEN McRAE (Tony Joe White cover, from her 1970 US LP "Just A Little Lovin'" on Atlantic SD 1568)

12. Blowin' In The Wind - BROTHER JACK McDUFF (Bob Dylan cover, from his 1967 US LP "Tobacco Road" on Atlantic SD 1472 in Stereo) 

13. Jumpin' Jack Flash - ANANDA SHANKAR (Rolling Stones cover, from his 1970 US LP "Ananda Shankar" on Reprise RS 6398) 

14. Sympathy For The Devil - ARIF MARDIN (Rolling Stones cover, from his July 1969 US LP "Glass Onion" on Atlantic SD 8222, features Barry Beckett on Keyboards and Eddie Hinton on Lead Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals)  

15. People Are Strange - LEA DeLARIA (Doors cover, from her 2003 CD compilation "Double Standards" on Warner Brothers with Seamus Blake on Saxophone)

16. My Girl - RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (Miracles cover (with Smokey Robinson), from his 1972 US LP "Blacknuss" on Atlantic SD 1601)

17. Respect - THE FREEDOM SOUNDS featuring WAYNE HENDERSON (Aretha Franklin cover, from their 1967 US LP "People Get Ready" on Atlantic SD 1492) 

18. I Want You - CARMEN McRAE (Tony Joe White cover, from her 1970 US LP "Just A Little Lovin'" on Atlantic SD 1568)

19. I Want You Back - SHIRLEY SCOTT (Jackson 5 cover, from her 1970 US LP "Something" on her 1970 US LP "Something" on Atlantic SD 1561 featuring Eric Gale and Billy Butler on Guitars)

20. Walk On The Wild Side - HERBIE MANN (Lou Reed cover, from his 1979 US LP "Yellow Fever" on Atlantic SD 19252)

21. I Shall Be Released - MARION WILLIAMS (Bob Dylan cover, from her 1969 US LP "The New Message" on Atlantic SD 8228 in Stereo)

22. Paint It Black - JOHNNY HARRIS (Rolling Stones cover, from his 1970 UK LP "Movements" on Warner Brothers WS 3002)  

Compiled by FLORENCE HALFON and featuring liner notes from CHAS CHANDLER - each song gets a small paragraph of explanation in the packed 8-page booklet - the text alongside album covers by people like Marion Williams, The Freedom Singers and Arif Mardin that you don't really see every day of the week. As you can see from the detailed list above, 1969 to 1972 is featured heavily with the odd foray into the earlier part of the 60ts - while comedian Lea DeLaria gets one of her 'wicked' covers featured from a CD album as late as 2003 on Warners (her fab take on The Doors and their witty "People Are Strange"). 

Transfers are care of experienced Audio Engineer GIOVANNI SCATOLA and all of it sounds storming - period Stereo recordings done in quality studios with Arrangers and Producers who knew what was what. Scatola did the Remasters for both of the 2008 2CD Deluxe Editions of Elton's John's early albums from 1970 - "Elton John" and "Tumbleweed Connection" - both of which had truly exemplary audio too. Time to feel those movements, to the eclectic music... 

You may feel you've spent your precious few bob on the wrong compilation when you get an earful of the first three insipid interpretations - all three Mary Wells, Herbie Mann and Ella Fitzgerald covers being the kind of elevator music you'd rather avoid. But then you get where I start this CD - Track 4 and Phil Moore's Clavinet and Melodica instrumental version of "You Showed Me", a Top 10 hit for The Turtles revisited by England's The Lightning Seeds in 1997. It's vibes and funky clavinet backbeat set up the 'Melodica' - every teenager’s musical toy - and suddenly you have a take that actually feels cool and even sort of innovative in a way. Changing back to the mid-60ts, you get a Watusi Cha Cha Cha from Killer Joe sashaying across your speakers as he urges Sloopy to hang on. It's fun and full of cleverly organised Trombone breaks designed to keep the dancefloor full. 

Next up is a genuine discovery to us predominantly Rock-types - the Eartha Kitt vs. William Shatner vocal delivery of Marion Williams. Her Gospel High voice and exaggerated mannerisms of delivery take the "John Wesley Harding" Dylan LP track "Wicked Messenger" into a fantastically cool place. Then it’s cleverly onto the 'heavy heavy' guitar-riffage of the Zeppelin II monster "Whole Lotta Love" given a Rock 'n' Sax update by King Curtis. Although I would have to admit right here and now that as good as it is, Curtis' version will not replace the C.C.S. cover from 1970 on their self-titled debut album (on RAK Records) that was used as the Theme Music to "Top Of The Pops" every Thursday night in England as we sat glued to the gogglebox for our musical fix. 

Back to schlock where Ella Fitzgerald does a dreadfully cheesy cover of Marvin's glorious "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" - that poor man's version thankfully saved by the gruff and gravel Clarence Carter turning Tony Joe White's "Willie And Laura Mae Jones" into a Country-Soul masterclass. Speaking of "...another man's colour..." - Tony Joe's song also addresses racial issues in a subtle humanitarian way without every getting preachy. Clarence Carter made a damn good song choice there and not surprisingly, Tony Joe White's endlessly adaptable, sexy and inherently funky tunes are featured twice more on this compilation - both by Carmen McRae and her lovely renditions of "I Thought I Knew You Well" and "I Want You". 

Speaking of highlights - there are two genuine monsters featured - the Ananda Shankar Sitar-dripping cover of The Stones classic "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and Johnny Harris taking on "Paint It Black". When I worked in Reckless Records in Soho's Berwick Street throughout the 90s and 00s - the "Ananda Shankar" and "Movements" albums were the very epitome of collectability - DJs going crazy trying to find the Indian-cool vibe of Ananda Shankar or the David Axelrod Strings vs. the Brian Auger Organ feel of Johnny Harris. I can vividly remember bootleg copies of both albums showing up in West End shops such was the demand for them when the originals were pushing fifty quid at times. All this and the hero-worshipped Eddie Hinton playing Lead Guitar on the Arif Mardin cover of "Sympathy For The Devil" before going into some weird vocal growls towards the end. And on it goes...

For sure when I play the 1979 Herbie Mann Disco/Funk cover of Lou Reed's sexy and beautifully clever "Walk On The Wild Side" - I can't actually decide whether it's abomination incarnate of a genuine masterpiece or interpretive genius (I'd opt for the first frankly). 

So like myself, when you come to sequence this CD - you may only play 10 or maybe 12 tracks and skip the rest. But costing less than a pound online from some auction-sites (it's cheap in other words) - I'd say take on chance on the gurgling cauldron that is "Strange Brew..." because there is more 'In' Sound than out...

"The In Sound" CD Series

From The Atlantic & Warner Vaults 

UK CD Compilations from 2001 to 2004 - A List 

        

1. Eastern & Hip: Eastern Jazz Grooves From The Atlantic & Warner Vaults

4 March 2002 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 9548-39530-2 (Barcode 9548395302)

2. Glass Onion: Songs of The Beatles From The Atlantic & Warner Jazz Vaults

28 Feb 2003 UK CD on Warner Jazz 5050466149626 (Barcode 5050466149626)

3. Modal And Jazz Waltz: Modal Jazz And 3/4 Time From The Atlantic Vaults

January 2002 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 9548395292 (Barcode 095483952922) 

4. More Psychedelic Jazz And Soul From The Atlantic & Warner Vaults

9 August 2004 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 5046736382 (Barcode 5050467363823)

5. Psychedelic Jazz And Soul From The Atlantic & Warner Vaults 

12 November 2001 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 9548391142 (Barcode 095483911424)

6. Soul Bossa Nova: From The Vaults Of Atlantic & Warner Bros.

14 October 2002 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 5050466048127 (Barcode 5050466048127)

7. Stoned Soul Picnic: Illicit Grooves From The Atlantic & Warner Vaults 

13 October 2003 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 5050466-8018-2-1 (Barcode 5050466801821)

8. Strange Brew: Weird & Wonderful Covers From The Warner & Atlantic Vaults

20 September 2004 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 5046743432 (Barcode 5050467434325)

9. The Word From The Pulpit: Spiritual Grooves From The Vaults Of Atlantic & Warner Bros. 1963-1974

18 October 2002 UK CD on Warner Jazz/Warner Strategic Marketing 5050466040725 (Barcode 5050466040725)