"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...

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"...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 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 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) 

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)
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.