Name: Stax of Funk [Vinyl]
Brand: Bgp
SKU: 161607
Availability: OutOfStock

Stax of Funk [Vinyl]

Rating

Album: Stax of Funk [Vinyl]
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Do Me	More Info...
2)	Patch It Up	More Info...
3)	Turn Your Damper Down	More Info...
4)	She's My Old Lady Too	More Info...
5)	Movin' Dancer	More Info...
6)	Brothers and Sisters (Get Together)	More Info...
7)	Running Out	More Info...
8)	Slipped and Tripped	More Info...
9)	Watch the Dog That Brings Thebone	More Info...
10)	I'll Kill a Brick (About My Man)	More Info...
11)	Man Never Knows	More Info...
12)	Eli's Pork Chop	More Info...
13)	Sock Soul	More Info...
14)	Grab a Handful	More Info...
15)	Braodway Freeze	More Info...
16)	Funky Hot Grits	More Info...
17)	Hoppin' John	More Info...
18)	Dryer	More Info...
19)	Getting Funky Round Here	More Info...
20)	Life Is Funky	More Info...
21)	Who Is She (And What Is She to You)	More Info...

Album: Stax of Funk [Vinyl]
#	Song Title		Time
	Disc 1
1)	Do Me	More Info...
2)	Patch It Up	More Info...
3)	Turn Your Damper Down	More Info...
4)	She's My Old Lady Too	More Info...
5)	Movin' Dancer	More Info...
6)	Brothers and Sisters (Get Together)	More Info...
7)	Running Out	More Info...
8)	Slipped and Tripped	More Info...
9)	Watch the Dog That Brings Thebone	More Info...
10)	I'll Kill a Brick (About My Man)	More Info...
11)	Man Never Knows	More Info...
12)	Eli's Pork Chop	More Info...
13)	Sock Soul	More Info...
14)	Grab a Handful	More Info...
15)	Braodway Freeze	More Info...
16)	Funky Hot Grits	More Info...
17)	Hoppin' John	More Info...
18)	Dryer	More Info...
19)	Getting Funky Round Here	More Info...
20)	Life Is Funky	More Info...
21)	Who Is She (And What Is She to You)	More Info...

Performer Notes

Stax compilations that zero in on the label's final phase in the late '60s and early '70s can often disappoint as too slickly produced, or lacking in strong original material. Stax of Funk makes a welcome switch to the company's harder-edged, funk-based material from the era, much of it pretty obscure, whether it's by well-known artists or not. There are a bunch of familiar names on this 21-cut-strong comp, including Rufus Thomas, the Bar Kays, Kim Weston, Jean Knight, the Sweet Inspirations, and Inez Foxx, although they're outweighed by the less renowned ones. Those include a couple of figures you wouldn't automatically peg as funksters: Roy Lee Johnson, more famous as the Dr. Feelgood who did the original version of the Beatles' "Mr. Moonlight," and film director Melvin Van Peebles. Regardless of the collectability of the originals, this is quality soul-funk, with more song-oriented and pop-friendly leanings than much funk, though not so much so as to dilute the grit. Some of the stronger numbers include Knight's "Do Me," something of a womanly counterpoint to Bill Withers' "Use Me"; Bobby Holley's James Brown-ish "Movin' Dancer"; Kim Weston's "Brothers and Sisters (Get Together)," with the vogueish, socially conscious soul lyrics of the early 1970s; Little Sonny's "Eli's Pork Chop," which puts his blues harmonica to a funk beat without sounding like a gimmick; and Harvey Scales' "Broadway Freeze," which offers more James Brown-isms. The collection's unequivocally recommended to both funk and Stax fans. [This U.K. import is not available for sale in North America.] ~ Richie Unterberger