Various Artists – The Funky 16 Corners

Description

Release Date:  2001

Label:  Stones Throw Records

Track List

1. Ebony Rhythm Band – Intro 0:42
2. Ernie And The Top Notes Inc. – Dap Walk 3:05
3. James Reese And The Progressions – Let’s Go (It’s Summertime) 2:45
4. Bad Medicine – Trespasser 5:48
5. The Highlighters Band – The Funky 16 Corners 5:17
6. The Rhythm Machine – The Kick 6:20
7. Co Real Artists – What About You (In The World Today) 2:51
8. Ebony Rhythm Band – Interlude 0:40
9. Soul Vibrations – The Dump 2:40
10. James Reese And The Progressions – Jody’s Freeze 2:55
11. Kashmere Stage Band – Kashmere 4:56
12. Slim And The Soulful Saints – Fish Head 2:34
13. Billy Ball And The Upsetters Feat. Roosevelt Matthews – Tighten Up Tighter 2:12
14. Soul Seven – Southside Funk 4:12
15. Carleen And The Groovers – Can We Rap 2:13
16. Spider Harrison – Beautiful Day 2:50
17. Revolution Compared To What – Go To Work (Alternate Version) 3:43
18. Bubbha Thomas And The Lightmen Plus One – The Phantom 2:18
19. The Wooden Glass Feat. Billy Wooten – In The Rain 4:39
20. Ebony Rhythm Band – Outro 1:07
21. Cut Chemist – Bunky’s Pick 7:25
22. James Bell & The Turner Brothers – The Funky Buzzard 2:22

Review

This is one of those wonderful collections of Little-known soul that the Brits at Kent records usually do a good job of compiling, but this time some Americans knew what time it was and dug up some regional and unknown goodies in their own back yards.

“Dap Walk” is a wonderfully funky and catchy tune (reminds one a little of SOULFUL STRUT by Young Holt Unlimited) that one could imagine as background music to a soul Dj rapping (in the old sense of the term) or reading announcements on a Black radio station in the late 60s or early 70s. Speaking of Rap, we get some early examples of that in the title cut, which is precisely that- a person talking in semi-rhyme on the mike at what appears to be a live party, and “What About You in the World Today,” a positive motivational rap 5 years before the Sugarhill Gang.

“Go To Work” is funky and amusing, and “Tighten Up Tighter” could be dismissed as a copy of the Archie Bell and the Drells Classic, but is actually quite good on its own and truly captures the more positive spirit of Black America in 1968. In fact, I know Cary Butler, who wrote and song on one of these tunes. He’s a preacher now, so I have to tell him I heard this!

Rap producers would die to sample some of the grooves here, and these tunes could still pack dance floors even if most audiences aren’t familiar with this songs. Get it and love it!