Midwest Funk

Midwest Funk
Deep Funk Rarities. This is the latest in a series of incredible rare funk compilations that have come out in the last couple of years. These tunes are from rare independent 45s put out by artists in the Midwest in the heyday of funk (late 60s, early 70s), but while James Brown and Motown artists were pressing and selling millions of records these guys were getting it done down and dirty with little recognition outside their local towns. That is, until funk nerds started combing record shops and basements for obscure gems from these no-hit wonders. The tunes feature guitars wa-waing, horns blazing, Hammonds whirling, vocals testifyin', and of course heavy banging drums. Please peruse the extensive liner notes for specifics about each band and tune, or just drop the laser on any track and get funky ya'll. Highly recommended.
1) *Spacey psychedelic intro, then rolling mid-tempo funk, with an outro that's spacey as well but with some hard breakbeat drums.
2) *Furious up-tempo bass playing and screaming vocals
3) **Tight horns, head nodding groove
4) *Very fast, slightly chaotic
5) *Powerful, lo-fi strutting instrumental—like a raw version of the Meters
6) **Soaring horns, grumbling rhythm section, great Hammond comping
7) **Wistful male vocal soul
8) **Rolling light guitar soul, great female vocals.
9) **Up-tempo blaring horns and guitar over furious bass
10) *Female vocal with congas and Hammond
11) **Open drum intro, followed by strong bass, horns, and wa-wa with some great breakdowns
12) **Laid-back jazzy instrumental Beatles cover
13) **Rolling bass mid-tempo instrumental jam
14) **Slightly spacey with ensemble vocals
15) **Groover with male vocals, hard funky guitar and very tight horns
16) *Feels like a weird slowed down hybrid of "I Know You Got Soul" and "Spinning Wheel" with vocal harmonies
17) **Hard rolling funk with flute
18) **Bluesy, muted guitar
19) *Male vocals over repeating JBs style horn hook
20) **Up-tempo funky soul with male vocals
21) **Fast rolling instrumental
22) **Live recording, sparse guitar intro, smokin' soul jazz
23) **Laid back with hard, chunky guitar
Tom Purcell, December 2003