The Numero Group examines the case of "Mighty" Mike Lenaburg, a stalwart of the seldom heard Phoenix soul scene who played in, managed and produced dozens of local acts between 1962 and 1980. This is some total misfit funk/soul, and until Numero went digging, most of these recordings probably never even found their way out of Phoenix. Tinged with psychedelia and doo-wop, tracks like Michael Liggins' "Loaded To The Gills(1)" or We The People's "People, Open Your Eyes and See(2)" never stood a chance at the time of their release, but sound like a million bucks in retrospect. (You'd probably have to lay down that much for an original copy, too.) Interestingly, the most bizarre track included here became a local Phoenix radio hit: The Newlyweds' "The Quarrel(3)" starts out as a lovely (if generic) soul number, but rapidly deteriorates into a brutal, 2+ minute screaming argument between, presumably, "the newlyweds." If you prefer some straightforward funk, check out Ronnie Whitehead's "Out Of Breath(4)," The Soulsations' "Broadway Shing-A-Ling(5)" or Lon Rogers & The Soul Blenders' "My Girl Is A Soul Girl(6)." And this is a Numero Group release, so of course you get loads of detailed liner notes, rare pictures, etc. 17 tracks; 48 minutes.

reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red