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Showing posts with label Right On! Series of CD and 2LP Compilations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Right On! Series of CD and 2LP Compilations. Show all posts

Monday, 3 February 2025

"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...





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 stand-pout 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". 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

Saturday, 25 January 2025

"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

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

Friday, 3 January 2025

"Right On! Vol. 3 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Volume 3 of 5 – Featuring 18 Tracks from 1967 to 1974 by The Fabulous Counts, The Soul Survivors, David Newman, Phil Moore Jnr, Memphis Horns, Shirley Scott, Earth, Wind & Fire, Young-Holt Unlimited, The Beginning Of The End, Keith Jarrett, Richard Evans, Allen Toussaint (with The Meters), Little Richard, Claudia Lennear, Black Heat and more (June 2001 UK Warner/ESP CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-3/dp/B00005B9MO?crid=2WKHPX3604CUY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1mpH7gK0PEvVEzrd6Dx-mQ.BixcG-x3C1SGbg6MKUvIsTrnsMVeKQUOqF03ycUBBuk&dib_tag=se&keywords=095483920723&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1735924803&sprefix=095483920723%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=818fc32c254d43a17d43506dc4b82963&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky..."

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 1967 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 (lyrics from her song titles this review), Keith Jarrett and loads more got pride of place and new recognition. And much to the joy of collectors/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 highlight in the series - Door Number Three...to the details...

UK released 11 June 2001 - "Right On! Vol. 3 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" on Warner/ESP 9548392072 (Barcode 095483920723) is a 18-Track CD/19-Track 2LP compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (71:33 minutes - CD):

1. Moment Of Pain – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (from the March 1971 US Debut LP "Earth, Wind & Fire" on Warner Brothers WS 1905)

2. Wah Wah Man – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from their seventh album "Born Again" released October 1971 in the USA on Cotillion SD 18004 – featuring Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt with ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardists Bobby Lyle and Kenneth Chaney – Guests include Donny and Eulalah Hathaway on Backing Vocals) 

3. Goin' Down – ALLEN TOUSSAINT (from his second album "Life, Love And Faith" released July 1972 in the USA on Reprise Records MS 2060 – backing band is The Meters)

4. Jan Jan – 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)

5. Mama Soul – SOUL SURVIVORS (from their second studio album "Take Another Look" released January 1969 in the USA on Atco SD 33-277 in Stereo – while much of the album was produced by Gamble & Huff - this song was Produced by Rick Hall of Fame Studios, the Muscle Shoals Southern Soul Sound)

6. Nuki Suki – LITTLE RICHARD (from the studio album "The Second Coming" released September 1972 in the USA on Reprise RS 2107)

7. When She Made Me Promise – THE BEGINNING OF THE END (from the November 1971 US LP "Funky Nassau" on Alston SD 33-379 in Stereo)

8. You Should've Listened – BLACK HEAT (from the March 1974 US Second LP "No Time To Burn" on Atlantic SD 7294 – written by Guitarist Bradley Owens)

9. Messie Bessie – SHIRLEY SCOTT (from the February 1970 US LP "Something" on Atlantic SD 1561 in Stereo – Shirley Scott on Keyboards with Guests Eric Gale and Billy Butler on Guitars, Charles Rainey on Bass with Ralph McDonald and Jimmy Johnson on Percussion and Drums)

10. Bumpin' On Young Street – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from the February 1973 US LP "Oh Girl" on Atlantic SD 1634 – a Bobby Lyle song featuring Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt with ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardists Bobby Lyle and Kenneth Chaney)

11. It's Love – THE YOUNG RASCALS (from the July 1967 US Third Studio LP "Groovin'" on Atlantic SD 8148 in Stereo – Lead Vocalist Felix Cavalieri with Atlantic Records Guest Hubert Laws on Flute) 

12. Funky Canyon – PHIL MOORE JR. (from his third US LP "Right On" released July 1969 on Atlantic SD 1530 in Stereo – written by Organist Phil Moore III – Guests Also Included Guitarist Steve Khan, Keyboards from Clarence McDonald with Bass and Drums by Wilton Felder and Nesbert "Stix" Hooper of the (then) Jazz Crusaders - later as The Crusaders)

13. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky - CLAUDIA LENNEAR (from her US Debut LP "Phew!" released January 1973 on Warner Brothers BS 2654 – an Allen Toussaint song (one of five on her album) featuring (amongst others) Arthur Adams and Marlin Greene on Guitars, Spooner Oldham on Electric Piano, Harold Battiste, Jr and Gene Cipriano on Saxophones with Allen Toussaint on Backing Vocals)

14. Soul Bowl – MEMPHIS HORNS (from the US Debut LP "Memphis Horns" released February 1970 on Cotillion SD 9014 in Stereo – features Saxophonist and Producer Andrew Love, Saxophonist Floyd Newman, Trumpeter, Trombonist and Producer Wayne Jackson, Guitarist Charlie Freeman and Keyboards from Don Chandler) 

15. Shiloh – DAVID NEWMAN (from his third US LP "The Many Facets Of David Newman" released July 1969 on Atlantic SD 1524 in Stereo – features David Newman on Flute, Joe Zawinul (later with Weather Report) on Piano with Richard Davis on Bass and Bruno Carr on Drums)

16. Let Me Fix It – BROOK BENTON (from the US LP "Home Style" released August 1970 on Cotillion SD 9028 in Stereo – Written and Sung by Brook Benton with Backing Vocals from Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations, Rhythm Section by The Dixie Flyers, Saxophone from King Curtis and Production by Arif Mardin) 

17. Mortgage On My Soul (Wah-Wah) – KEITH JARRETT (from his studio album "Birth" released May 1972 on Atlantic SD 1612 in Stereo – recorded July 1971 - LP featuring Keith Jarrett on Keyboards and Saxophone with guests Charlie Haden on Bass and Dewey Redman on Tenor Saxophone)

18. Angela, My Sister – RICHARD EVANS (from the US LP "Dealing With Hard Times" released February 1972 on Atlantic SD 1604 in Stereo – Richard Evans plays Bass, Arranges and Produces with guests Phil Upchurch on Guitar, Odell Brown on Organ and Leonard Druss on Flute)

The gatefold slip of paper that masquerades as a booklet offers very basic Discography info on the inner two-page spread with a single-page rear set of liner notes from the compilers. You get no photos of those funky and rare LP sleeves – no musician credits - Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations guesting with Brook Benton, Allen Toussaint and Arthur Adams with Claudea Lennear, members of The Crusaders with Phil Moore Jr., Joe Zawinul of Weather Report with David Newman, The Meters of New Orleans with Allen Toussaint and so on (my notes provide those details after each entry).

But "Right On! Vol. 3…" hammers where it matters – the Audio is fantastic even if like the first and second volumes from 1999 and 2000 - there are no mastering credits anywhere on this CD. The Funk is most deaf-in-ite-ly in the ascendancy here so when you play this beast the music 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...

Not surprising to any Funk nut, all three Volumes dig into the Earth, Wind & Fire debut LPs catalogue on Warner Brothers Records before they signed with Columbia for a world-beating run of winners and success. "Moment Of Pain" is more blatantly 70ts Funk – a fabulous opener from EWF. Bassist Eldee Young, Drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and ex-Ramsey Lewis Keyboardists Bobby Lyle and Kenneth Chaney made up the super-cool Young-Holt Unlimited – so their Flanged Guitar and Vocal "Wah Wah" is both Rhythm Sexy and Fun. Proper New Orleans genius and underground hero Allen Toussaint gets down with The Meters on his choice-cut "Goin' Down" (see my separate review for the must-have Raven Records compilation from August 2015 called "Toussaint: The Real Thing 1970-1975" that gathers up three LPs onto 2CDs including the one used here "Life, Love And Faith"). 

While The Fabulous Counts do the butt-wiggling business with their LP title track "Jan Jan" – Northern Soul Dancers are liable to bust a nut let alone a blood vessel for the wickedly good "Mama Soul" by The Soul Survivors – a classy Soul-Funk obscurity from early 1969 that deserves to be bloody huge. Little could hold back the-beauty-on-duty – 50ts Rock and Roller Little Richard getting seriously boot-tay with right-now people on his fantastic Grooveathon tune "Nuki Suki" (the full 5:28 minute LP version) – the band given the chance to stretch out and let rip like The Meters and The JBs are competing for Funky trophies as the Boss James Brown looks on with a stop-watch (gimme some).

Was not expecting The Beginning Of The End Santana-like instrumental "When She Made Me Promise" to be so good even if it is (fair warning) not exactly an audiophile recording marvel (cracking inclusion though). Next up is blasting Audio Goodness in the Brass and Flutes warning song from Black Heat (father told me when I was young) – where you can so hear why this band and the LP with "You Should've Listened" on it are so sought after. The hairy-chested man in a lift organ-cool instrumental "Messie Bessie" by Shirley Scott also features equally cool licks from guitarists Eric Gale and Billy Butler (check out her fab groovy cover version of The Isley Brothers' late 60ts killer "It's Your Thing" on Volume 2 of this series). Drum breaks and Bass plucks ahoy on the mucho-sampled Funk vs. Lounge Music Young-Holt Unlimited cut "Bumpin' On Young Street" – another day at the office work out for them – but what a gem and clever compilation inclusion.

The groovin' slightly Psych-period Young Rascals with Felix Cavalieri singing lead - rope in the Flute talents of Hubert Laws to weird and hipster up "It's Love" and it works. But better for me is the brilliant vibes-groover "Funky Canyon" by Phil Moore Jr. that includes fantastic guests who make all the difference including Guitarist Steve Khan, Keyboards from Clarence McDonald with Bass and Drums by Wilton Felder and Nesbert "Stix" Hooper of The Crusaders. If the last two were off topic a tad, the drop-dead gorgeous Claudia Lennear (said to the be the inspiration behind "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones) absolutely hammers it good with her "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky" aided and ably abetted by songwriter and New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint and the guitar chops of Arthur Adams as well as a whole host of other Funky luminaries. 

Final run of five includes brilliance from the Memphis Horns – their "Soul Bowl" being the kind of instrumental that sweaty DJs would bite your hand off for. I prefer to start the David Newman flute-driven groover "Shiloh" at 1:00 minute exactly to avoid the unnecessary Rotary Connection-ish lead-in (I know people go mad for this almost Native American Indian Chant vs. Fusion Funk Fest). Fun and old-school class exude from the Arif Mardin produced Brook Benton track – "Let Me Fix It" being his timber-voiced crooner attempt at getting down with the street – and succeeding (Cissy Houston and The Sweet Sensations join in on Duet and backing Vocals while Mike Utley of The Dixie Flyers provides the fantastic groovy organ). In all honesty, I can do without the final two but I know some who love the strangulated Keith Jarrett and the strange Richard Evans entries. So, to sum up, like its two cheapish predecessors (covering 1967 to 1975) - "Right On! Volume 3…" is another brilliant little CD play that will make you want to own the whole series (see list below accurate to January 2025).

In the late Sixties and especially into the first half of the Seventies - across the pond Funk, Soul, Latin, Jazz and Fusion was at its fabulous inventive best. And on Volume 3 of this series – you can so hear why - because at about 3:50 minutes into the Young-Holt Unlimited instrumental "Bumpin' On Young Street" (Track 10) – the keyboards and complimentary band enter such a sexy groove – it may in fact need to be patented and bottled for future posterity.

"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) - 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)
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.



Wednesday, 1 January 2025

"Right On! Vol. 2 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Volume 2 of 5 – Featuring 18 Tracks from 1969 to 1975 by Charles Wheeler & The Enforcers, Stovall Sisters, Donny Hathaway, Oscar Brown, Jr., Black Heat, Funk Factory, Macondo, Paul Kelly, Young-Holt Unlimited, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris, Freddie King, Arif Mardin and more (May 2000 UK Warner/ESP CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...




https://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-Grooves-Atlantic-Warner-Vaults/dp/B00004T2JV?crid=3H5JRK9OJLYDU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fQhE716khfAaC74VexZC4A.80WkMjsGHgWhpNeD7Vf8C8__xSaK_8INC96uiE4L2w8&dib_tag=se&keywords=095483840021&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1735747748&sprefix=095483840021%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=5a41992e9de9b4e0e8309f954576aeac&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Doin' What We Wanna..."

Sometime in the late Nineties, the UK branch of Warner Brothers seemed to suddenly get hip to the public's needs. And WEA (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic) 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 Soul 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 1967 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, Clarence Wheeler (lyrics from his song titles this review), Charles Wright and his Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Gene Page, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Wade Marcus, Tony Joe White, Air, Cold Blood and loads more got pride of place and new recognition. And much to the joy of collectors/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 – 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 Door Number Two...to the details...

UK released 29 May 2000 - "Right On! Vol. 2 More Break Beats And Grooves From The Atlantic And Warner Vaults" on Warner/ESP 9548384002 (Barcode 095483840021) is a 19-Track CD/20-Track 2LP compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (69:30 minutes - CD):

1. Right On – CLARENCE WHEELER & THE ENFORCERS (from the April 1970 US LP "Doin' What We Wanna" on Atco SD 1551 in Stereo – a Leo Rolland cover version, female backing vocalists include Cissy Houston, Jackie Verdell and Judy Clay)

2. Giggin' Down 103rd – THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (from their second studio album "Together" released April 1969 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1761 in Stereo – instrumental written by Gabe Flemings, Trumpeter with the band) - see also CHARLES WRIGHT on Track 17

3. Get Ready – ELLA FITZGERALD (from her October 1969 US Cover Versions LP "Ella" on Reprise Records RS 6354 in Stereo – a Smokey Robinson cover featuring Nicky Hopkins on Piano)

4. It's Your Thing – SHIRLEY SCOTT & THE SOUL SAXES (from the December 1969 US LP "Shirley Scott & The Soul Saxes" on Atlantic SD 1532 in Stereo – an Isley Brothers cover featuring guests King Curtis on Saxophone, Eric Gale on Guitar, Richard Tee on Piano with Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie on Bass and Drums)

5. Magnificent Sanctuary Band – DONNY HATHAWAY (from his second studio album "Donny Hathaway" released April 1971 in the USA on Atco SD 33-360 in Stereo – a Dorsey Burnett cover)

6. Teasin' – KING CURTIS (from the August 1970 US LP "Get Ready" on Atlantic SD 33-338 in Stereo – a King Curtis and Delaney Bramlett song featuring Eric Clapton on Lead Guitar with Delaney Bramlett on Rhythm Guitars)

7. Gang Bang – OSCAR BROWN, Jr (from the November 1972 US LP "Movin' On" on Atlantic SD 1629 in Stereo)

8. Wanaoh – BLACK HEAT (from the October 1972 US Debut LP "Black Heat" on Atlantic SD 7237 – written by Guitarist Bradley Owens)

9. Rien Ne Va Plus – FUNK FACTORY (from the March 1975 US Debut LP "Funk Factory" on Atlantic Records SD 36-116 – featuring Solo Vocalists Urszula Dudziak (see also Track 19) and Bernard Kafka (aka Kawka) with Secondary Vocalists Ann Tripp, Bill Ruthenberg, Linda "Tequilla" Logan and The Bernard Kafka Singers - Plus Keyboardist Wlodek Gulgowski, Bassist Anthony Jackson and Drummer Steve Gadd – song title is a French phrase used by croupiers in the game of Roulette that loosely means no more bets)

10. Almendra – MACONDO (from the August 1972 US Debut LP "Macondo" on Atlantic SD 7234 – featuring Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar by Max Uballez, Guitarist and Backing Vocals by Albert Hernandez, Keyboardist Fred Ramirez with Drummer Frank Ramirez)

11. Slow Flow – PAUL KELLY (from the April 1972 US LP "Dirt" on Warner Brothers BS 2605) 

12. Rubber Lips – YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED (from their ninth US LP "Oh Girl" released March 1973 on Atlantic SD 1634 in Stereo – written by Drummer and Band Founder Isaac "Redd" Holt)

13. Hang On In There - THE STOVALL SISTERS (from the August 1971 US Debut LP "The Stovall Sisters" on Reprise RS 6446 – featuring Gospel and Funk Vocalists Joyce and Netta Stovall with Guests - Guitarist Russell DaShiell later with Crowfoot and The Don Harrison Band and Bassist Doug Killmer ex-The Beau Gentry and later with Commander Cody) 

14. Drunk Man – EDDIE HARRIS (from the August 1973 US 2LP-set "Excursions" on Atlantic SD 2-311 – features Guitarist Ronald Muldrow, Frank Gordon and Billy Howell on Horns with Rufus Reid and Billy James on Bass and Drums respectively) 

15. South Street Stroll – FREDDIE HUBBARD (from the June 1969 US LP "A Soul Experiment" on Atlantic SD 1526 in Stereo – features Kenny Barron n Piano, Billy Butler on Guitar, Carlos Garnett on Tenor Saxophone, Jeremy Jemmott on Bass, Grady Tate on Drums with Freddie Hubbard on Trumpet – a Kenny Barron cover version)

16. Funky – FREDDIE KING (from the March 1969 US LP "Freddie King Is A Blues Master" on Cotillion SD 9004 in Stereo – guest musicians include Billy Butler on Guitar with David "Fathead" Newman and King Curtis on Saxophones – song written by Freddie King and King Curtis) 

17. Express Yourself (Album Version, 3:50 minutes) – CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (from their fourth studio album "Express Yourself" released June 1970 on Warner Brothers WS 1864 in Stereo)

18. Forms – ARIF MARDIN (from the October 1974 US LP "Journey" on Atlantic SD 1661 in Stereo – features Randy and Michael Brecker on Horns, Urszula Dudziak on Vocals, Pat Rebollit on Keyboards and Tony Levin on Bass)

19. Sandy's Love – HAROLD ALEXANDER (from the July 1974 US LP "Raw Root" on Atlantic SD 1657 in Stereo – featuring Junior Hansen on Guitars and Joe Bonner on Keyboards)

The gatefold slip of paper that masquerades as a booklet offers very basic Discography info on the inner two-page spread with a single-page rear set of liner notes from the compilers. You get no photos of those funky and rare LP sleeves – no musician credits (Judy Clay singing on the Clarence Wheeler opener, Eric Clapton playing Guitar on the King Curtis cut, Eric Gale getting funky on his axe for Shirley Scott, England’s Nicky Hopkins playing keyboards the Ella Fitzgerald cover etc). 

But "Right On! Vol. 2…" hammers where it matters – the Audio is fantastic even if like the first Volume from 1999 - there are no mastering credits anywhere. Play the brilliant Macondo, Funk Factory, Paul Kelly or Young-Holt Unlimited and their Latin-Funk-Soul-Rock tracks (9, 10, 11 and 12) and you may have to lower that volume dial – and not in a bad way. Add to the fact that you probably do not know most of this fabness (hard as nuts to find gems) – and then it really does start to Funk your mancave with grooves that please and save dosh. Focusing on music with 'breaks' - there are drums ahoy too and they rattle and bash out of your speakers with real intent. The only slight let down audiowise is the raucous and rough-sounding Freddie King track towards the end (Track 16) – not the greatest audio because it was not the best recording in the world (quickly remedied by the audio-stun-punch of "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright & The 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Track 17) that feels like it might mean your stereogram harm. Other than that - to the content...

It opens with the truly fantastic "Right On" from Clarence Wheeler and His Enforcers - primarily a Funky instrumental workout calling to the 'Brothers and Sisters' - it lays down a bad-ass groove of Saxophone, Organ and a girly chorus singing "You Gotta Come On! Right On!" The goodies continue with a true neck-jerking instrumental from The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band written by their Trumpeter Gabe Flemings - "Giggin' Down The Road" being the kind of US LP deep dive that fills you with envy (their first three albums didn't credit leader Charles Wright in the name - that would occur with album number four - see Track 17). The surprises keep coming when you next clasp eyes on the old-school Jazz Vocalist 'Ella Fitzgerald' as the next artist. She went to London to record an album of covers which opened with the Smokey Robinson funk-vehicle "Get Ready" - Ella sounding comfortable and even excited to be getting down. A seriously cool inclusion.

Back to instrumental big-time busy-busy Funk with Saxophonist Shirley Scott doing a fabulous groovy cover version of The Isley Brothers' late 60ts killer "It's Your Thing" - her band bumping and grinding with Organ and Guitar - the whole unit going at proceedings with a James Brown Band type tightness. I adore Donny Hathaway - cannot be rational about anything he made. "Right On! Vol.2..." chooses the LP cut of an old timey song that appealed to his deeply held religious beliefs - the Gospel-tinged "Magnificent Sanctuary Band". Even if it is a tad 'bringing in the sheep' cheesy - it's Donny Hathaway - and he pulls it off. For the first time we enter the realms of Rock-Funk with the guitar-led King Curtis instrumental cut "Teasin'" featuring no less than Eric Clapton on Lead Guitar and the ex Cream and Derek & The Dominoes lad's on fire. Another sexy inclusion you probably get to hear under normal circumstances. 

The Oscar Brown, Jr. tune "Gang Bang" has (as you can imagine) the most unfortunate song title about area invaders (can't say it's my cup of tea really) so the Black Heat War-like Funkathon "Wanaoh" is a welcome Flute 'n' Guitars workout. But even that is whomped by my fave-rave - the stunning Rotary Connection groove of Funk Factory giving us "Rien Ne Va Plus". Apparently a French phrase used by Croupiers on the Roulette tables that roughly means 'no more bets' - the 1975 debut album has a legendary rep amongst Soul-Funk fans. Latin Guitar and Heavy Organ come at you with Macondo's "Almendra" from 1972 - a very Malo groove. Other nuggets include the 'Stealing In The Name Of The Lord' Paul Kelly getting all Sly Stone geetar-funky with his deceptively sexy "Soul Flow" while it doesn't get much cooler than Young-Holt Unlimited finding yet another instrumental gem in their "Rubber Lips" (reissue-labels - where is their Box Set?). I would admit that the final two offerings from Arif Mardin and Harold Alexander aren't for me - but the previously mentioned foursome of Stovall Sisters, Eddie Harris, Freddie Hubbard and the wonderful "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright and His 103rd Watts Street Rhythm Band are all audio manna to me. 

Like its predecessor (covered 1967 to 1975) - "Right On! Volume 2…" is a brilliant little CD play that will make you want to own the whole series (see list below accurate to January 2025). And frankly, Volume 3 (which I'm about to review next) is even better. 

In the late Sixties and especially into the first half of the Seventies - across the pond Funk, Soul, Latin and Fusion was at its fabulous inventive best. Wheeler and his Enforcers named their album "...Doin' What We Wanna.
.." - and on the evidence of this fantastic series of compilations - man were they doin' it well. 

"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) - 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)
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.


INDEX - Entries and Artist Posts in Alphabetical Order