Studio One Funk
Reviewed by Sadie O., 10/11/11
Fun compilation of early Studio One tracks with a Rock Steady take on Southern US funk and soul. Mostly quite lo-fi and slightly left of perfection, but who cares? I don’t. Heck no.
No FCCs – most tracks are instrumentals anyway.
1. 3:45 **very lo-fi cover of the Isaac Hayes classic, with a strong Lover’s Rock beat.
2. 2;48 ***somewhat uptempo Rock Steady, lo-fi and minor key, interesting vocals, 70’s Black Pride message.
3. 4:13 ***midtempo relaxed sway, melodica. Instrumental.
4. 2:35 ****bouncy, groovy, funky strut, definitely a Memphis Soul feel. Vocalist trying very hard to be James Brown.
5. 3:51 ***upbeat instrumental march, cool cover with Hammond organ, sounding a bit like Booker T & the MGs. That’s not a bad thing…
6. 3:14 **swingy, slightly uptempo instrumental, very sweet sax.
7. 3:03 ****alternate (and much less polished) version of a fine hit – significant Nyabinghi component and nice sax, raw toasting.
8. 2:29 **soulful instrumental – almost sounds slick in comparison with other tracks.
9. 3:15 ***upbeat Ska/Rock Steady with big band sound. Not particularly a spy movie sound, though. Who cares!
10. 2:28 ***uptempo very early dancehall with toasting over a bit of sweet vocals.
11. 2:37 ***fun swingy riddim with horn section.
12. 2:36 ****cool slightly downtempo soul strut with fine vocals from a great star.
13. 2:52 ***rather uptempo instrumental with prominent bassline. Almost a slick arrangement, but the players are stoned…
14. 3:11 **midtempo jazz-funk with smooth sax and farfisa competing for attention. Uh oh, here comes the guitar…
15. 3:34 ****cool midtempo strut, falsetto vocals.
16. 3:22 ***bippity boppity happy little instrumental skip with high farfisa and trumpet.
17. 2:52 **rather nondescript midtempo cover, although both lead and backup vocals are quite nice.
18. 1:57 **uptempo Rock Steady instrumental with harmonica, which gives it a slightly bluesy feel (quite unusual instrument in Reggae.)
19. 3:00 ****midtempo funky strut, mashing up a few great soul hits, good horn section and one of the best vocalists in early Reggae.