"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 

(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 *****

"...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