Funkrock

by

Various Artists

Edit

Sorry for the double negative but there's not a better way to describe this thing. Yes, Chains and Black Exhaust is a compilation that is truer to the theme of Funk Rock, but it is EXTREMELY RARE (for now anyway). In the mean time, the title may be somewhat of a misnomer, but its fun all the way through.

Sly and the Family drop the source for LL's Mama Said Knock You Out. Carlos Santana at his absolute funkiest. The Moog Machine cover "Hair" tracks. Can just has to be heard to be believed. Ruth Copeland stands out the most with the perfect example of Funk Rock, and this song should be the definitionn of fuzzy guitar and bass (backed by Funkadelic no less).

Breakbeat stapeles "Yellow Sunshine" and "The Mexican" are always cool to hear and the rest of the tracks fit, even if they all touch the theme in their own ways.

Definitely a good compilation purchase.

Released on the BBE label, Funk Rock compiles groups from the `70s that combined rock with funk. At least, that's the stated theme of the CD. However, there are some tracks that are mostly full-on funk (like Cymande's "Dove"), and others that are basically just rock and roll (like Steve Winwood's "I'm a Man"). So once you sort the wheat from the chaff, you come upon some great hybrids that have unfortunately been forgotten in rock/funk history.

Standout tracks: Sly and the Family Stone define the genre with "Trip to your Heart;" the Headhunters do a fabulous job of crafting Hendrix guitar with amazing beats on "If You Got It, You Get It;" Can (whoever thought we'd see Can of all groups on a funk CD?!) provide a typically-weird track with "Vitamin C;" the Yellow Sunshine contribute one of the best songs I've ever heard, the self-titled track "Yellow Sunshine;" Babe Ruth combine Heart-like vocals with a great beat on "The Mexican;" and of course there's Cymande with "Dove," an epic instrumental that goes from lazy to frantic.

All told, this is mostly just an average CD, but it does contain a few gems (such as "Yellow Sunshine"). For a much better look at rock mixed with funk, I would recommend the ridiculously-rare compilation "Chains and Black Exhaust," released on the Jones label in 2002. Hunt it down; it's as good as it gets.