Various Artists - The Message: Soul Funk & Jazzy Grooves from Mainstream Records

Delivery Time: 7 to 15 Working Days Format: Music

After our look at the pure jazz side of the label A Loud Minority, BGP returns to Mainstream Records, this time showcasing the finest examples of its funky, groovy and soulful sounds. These range from organ jazz, via deep funk instrumentals, to amazing female vocalists belting out dance-floor favorites. Some of these records have been sampled, many are considered classics and all are collectors' items. Many of these tracks are seeing their first appearance on CD.

Charles Williams, Charles Kynard and Maxine Weldon's jazz-tinged funkiness has appealed to club DJs and dancers down the years. Clubs have been receptive to Alice Clark's wonderful Never Did I Ever Stop Loving You. Ellerine Harding's obscure LP gives up two soul masterpieces. We also feature the number one lady of jazz, Sarah Vaughan, tearing into Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues while label boss Bob Shad's take on the Jackson 5's I Want You Back is phenomenal.

The Chubukos and Afrique were the same band of New York session greats, pouring their souls into some of the funkiest grooves ever. Their take on Soul Makossa is the best of several that were put down in New York and their House Of The Rising Funk is an amazing slice of rhythmic repetition that is a break-beat classic. Funk cuts by Linda Perry and the Funky Boys and the Delegates may be obscure because they were released on hard to find 45s, but are nevertheless excellent.

This CD is beautifully packaged with fascinating photos from the label's previously unexplored archive.