TITLE: Saturday Night Special
ARTIST: Lyman Woodman Organization
LABEL: Strata / 1975

This is one of the few records on Strata that actually made it out to the general public. It's like a garage session, so the sound is real dirty and grimy. Seriously recorded in like his car garage so the quality isn't that great but you can really get the musician's feel. Lyman Woodard is a great organist, also famous for his collaberation with Dennis Coffey on the "Hair and Thangs" album. Most of the in-house Strata musicians played on this record. There's a break on here that Spinna might be using for an upcoming thing (I shouldn't say anything because he'll probably kill me!!).

TITLE: S/T
ARTIST: Kool And the Gang
LABEL: Delite / 1970

This is another one that every producer has touched. Along with the Meters and JB these guys are the funkiest groups ever. Kool and the Gang: people remember them for things like "Celebrate" and "Joanna" and shit like that but people should be remembered for "Raw Hamburger" and "Chocolate Buttermilk", the ill joints that they had. this record, from the first to the last song it just keeps moving, one of the best funk albums ever. And they're from the Tri-State area, so you know they bring in that whole east coast feel on this one.

TITLE: Black Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth
ARTIST: 24-Carat Black
LABEL: Enterprise / 1973

I'm not gonna front, I just recently got put on to the album about three years ago (!!). And I first bought it because Rakim sampled it for "In the Ghetto". Then Dr Dre used it for "Nas is Coming", it's been used a bit. It's a really good album for both the beats and the lyrics. They have a lot of songs on here that deal with what was going on at that time, talking about societal issues. The music is defintely driving, good drums, good snares and it's a great listening album.

TITLE: Soul Summit
ARTIST: The Ambassadors
LABEL: Arctic Records / 1970

I'm a big fan of sweet soul and this is a great record if you are into real melodic music and stuff like that. It's also the first group that Leon Huff produced (famous from collaberation with other Philly producer Gamble). The songs are just real smooth vocals in the best tradition of sweet soul. Pete Rock used something off this record for "I Got a Love" off the second album. They put out a few other records but this one is definitely the best to me. I found it for $1.59.

TITLE: Investigation #1
ARTIST: Carl "Sherlock" Holmes
LABEL: CRS Records / 1970-73

Carl "Sherlock" Holmes Investigation #1 CRS records 70-73 That's a Philly soul associated guy, and you know Carl Sherlock Holmes got the weirdo title name going. When I first picked up the record that's what moved it to me. It's a nice record, he's a guitar player and does a lot of covers that are sort of all over the place. I don't know if anyone's used it, but... I don't see no reason why anyone wouldn't want to use it. It's a real funky album. It's northern funk.... more hard driven.

TITLE: Loose and Juicy
ARTIST: The Pazant Brothers and the Beauford Express
LABEL: Vanguard / 1975

This is another record that has been used by people (Beatnuts and Cypress), but it's much more than that. For me they do a great job of bridging the gap between funk and jazz. Lots of cool songs one here and the bring a unique southern soul feel to the table.

TITLE: Is it Because Im Black
ARTIST: Syl Johnson
LABEL: Twilight 1969

This is like a cross between a sweet soul record and a funk record. It's a dope album lyric-wise and he had a great band behind him. This has also been used by Cypress and No ID on Common's album. They were called Jimmy Jones and the Pieces of Pieces. He has another album that's been used by everybody- it's called Short Skirt. It's the one right before this on Twilight. That one's real dope too. Some of his other stuff is pretty good too, but these two albums are probably the best. If you can get your hands on a good Syl Johnson album, which is very rare, you're the man.

TITLE: S/T, Look Ka Pye Pye, Struttin
ARTIST: The Meters
LABEL: Josie / 1970-72

These albums are just self explanatory: packed with funky breaks and samples and the whole records are just dope. Every producer on the planet has either borrowed from it or wanted to borrow from it. All 3 of these are incredible albums. Besides James Brown and the JB's, they are probably one of the funkiest groups Ive ever heard. The production values on these records are pretty much perfect: loud ill drums, live bass, the whole thing. Favorite songs: "Live Wire", Cissy Strut, Handclappin Song, Cordova, Look A Pye Pye, Chicken Struttin and "Witchita Lineman."