Taj Mahal- Mo' Roots-1974 US

Henry Saint Clair Fredericks (born May 17, 1942), who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American blues musician. He often incorporates elements of world music into his works. A self-taught singer-songwriter and film composer who plays the guitar, piano, banjo and harmonica (among many other instruments), Mahal has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his almost 50-year career by fusing it with nontraditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific.
"Mo' Roots" is the seventh studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal.(wiki)
The album released in 1974 by Columbia (KC 33051).From this album i chose  the wonderful "Clara (St. Kitts Woman)".

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The Charms-1966 GR single

The Charms are a pop/rock band from Greece formed in 1964 and disbanded in 1973.Reformed in December 2012.(discogs)
This is their 1966 single released by Music-Box (MB 606) contains at the a side the groovy pop song titled "The Count Game"and at the b side the excellent garage song "I' m Coming Back (To Stay)".Enjoy!!!

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Tommy James & The Shondells-1969 single

Tommy James and the Shondells are an American rock and roll group whose greatest prominence was in the late 1960s. They had two No. 1 singles in the U.S., "Hanky Panky" (1966) and "Crimson and Clover" (1968), and also charted twelve other Top 40 hits, including five in the Hot 100's top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Sweet Cherry Wine", and "Crystal Blue Persuasion". Only "Hanky Panky" was RIAA Certified Gold. (wiki)
This is their 1969 single released in UK by Roulette Records (RO 502), contains "Crimson And Clover" and "Some Kind Of Love".

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Liz Damon's Orient Express- 1970 US single

Liz Damon's Orient Express was a 1970s band from Hawaii, featuring lead singer Liz Damon, two female backup singers and a rotating backup band. The name apparently derived from the original backup band being entirely Asian.(discogs)
This is their single, released in 1970 by White Whale records (WW-368), contains the hit "1900 Yesterday" and at the b side the mellow "You're Falling In Love".

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Rotary Connection- 1971 US single

Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul/jazz fusion band, formed in Chicago in 1966. (wiki)
This is their promo single from 1971 on Cadet Concept Records (1037-7028) as The New Rotary Connection,  contains "Hey, Love" and "Love Is". Enjoy!!!

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Lincoln St. Exit-1967 US single

Lincoln St. Exit or XIT (Crossing of Indian Tribes) is a Native American rock band originally based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They released two albums in the 1970s on the Motown label, and regrouped in the 1990s as a new and different group under Tom Bee.(discogs)
This is a reissue of their rare 1967 single contains "Paper Place" and  "Who's Been Driving My Little Yellow Taxi Cab",originally released by Lance Records (LANCE NO. 109-A).

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Hubert Laws-The Chicago Theme (Love Loop) -1975 US single

Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. After Eric Dolphy and alongside Herbie Mann, Laws is probably the most recognized and respected jazz flutist. (wiki)
From his 1975 single i choose the great instrumental song "The Chicago Theme (Love Loop)" released on CTI label.

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Joe Bataan- Latin Strut (Super Strut)-1974 US single

Joe Bataan (also spelled Bataan) (born November 15, 1942 in Spanish Harlem, New York City is a Filipino-African American Latin soul musician from New York.(wiki)
From his 1974 single i choose the beautiful  Eumir Deodato's cover version of "Latin Strut (Super Strut)", who also appears in "Salsoul" album.

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Curtis Mayfield-Kung Fu-1974 US single

Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who was one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. He first achieved success and recognition with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.(wiki)
From his 1974 single i choose the great soul/funk song "Kung Fu".This song also appears on the album "Sweet Exorcist".

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Joe Tex - Loose Caboose-1978 US single

Joseph Arrington, Jr. (August 8, 1935– August 13, 1982), better known as Joe Tex, was an American musician who gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.(wiki)
This is the funky "Loose Caboose" from his 1978 single. This song also appears on the album "He Who Is Without Funk Cast The First Stone".

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Carl Douglas- 1974 Singles

Carlton George Douglas (born 10 May 1942), also known by his stage name Carl Douglas, is a Jamaican recording artist. Douglas rose to prominence after releasing his single "Kung Fu Fighting".Douglas' career was based in the United Kingdom, where his single "Kung Fu Fighting" ranked number one in both the U.K. Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. fied gold by the RIAA on 27 November 1974.In the United Kingdom, he has two other singles that made it into the "Top 40", which were "Dance The Kung Fu", which peaked at number 35 in the charts and "Run Back", which peaked at number 25.(wiki)
I choose for you the two DISCO/FUNK songs from his singles, "Kung Fu Fighting" and "Dance The Kung Fu".

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Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66- Stillness -1970 US-Brazil

Sergio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has over 55 releases, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2012 as co-writer of the song "Real In Rio" from the animated film Rio.(wiki)
In 1970 Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 release in USA the album "Stillness" on A&M Records (SP-4284).
From this great album i chose two cover versions, Paula Stone's "Righteous Life" and  Blood Sweat and Tears'  "Sometimes In Winter".

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Lena Horne and Gabor Szabo-Lena & Gabor-1970 US

"Lena & Gabor" is an album by American vocalist Lena Horne and Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo featuring performances recorded in 1969 and released on the Skye label in 1970 (Skye Records SK-15A). The album was Lena Horne's first album release in four years, and a saw her return to the charts with the single "Watch What Happens". The Skye Records label declared bankruptcy in 1970 and the backcatalog was acquired by Buddha Records and the album was re-issued in 1971 as "Watch What Happens".(wiki)
"Lena & Gabor" is an unexpected delight, capturing a soulfulness and  largely absent from the singer's previous efforts.Recorded in Los Angeles, California and at A&R Recording Studios in New York between October and November 1969.
From this album i chose two songs for you my friends, their groovy version of Lennon–McCartney song "Rocky Racoon" and  Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'".Enjoy!!!

Members:

Lena Horne - vocals
Gabor Szabo - guitar
Eric Gale, Cornell Dupree - guitar
Richard Tee - organ
Chuck Rainey - electric bass
Grady Tate - drums
The Howard Roberts Chorale - vocals
Howard Roberts - vocal arrangement
Gary McFarland - arranger, conductor

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El Chicano - Revolucion-1971 US

El Chicano is an American chicano rock and brown-eyed soul group from Los Angeles, California, whose style incorporates various modern music genres including rock, funk, soul, blues, jazz, and salsa. The group's name is from Chicano, a term for United States citizens of typically Mexican American descent. (wiki)
From their second album "Revolucion", released in 1971 i chose another great version of Barbara Lynn's song "I'm A Good Woman". Enjoy!!!

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Fire & Rain-1972 US

Fire & Rain was a husband and wife pop/rock  duo. They release two albums in the first half of the 70's. The first S/T released in 1972 by Mercury (SRM 1-654) and is a folk pop album and the second "Living Together" released in 1975. The members are Manny Freiser and Patti McCarron.
From their first album i chose the beautiful version of Darby Slick's "Somebody To Love". Enjoy!!!

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Ray Anthony-Swim Swim C'mon Let's Swim-1964 US

Ray Anthony (born January 20, 1922) is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor. He is currently the last surviving member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.(wiki)
From 1953 to 1954 Anthony was the musical director on the television series TV's Top Tunes, and also appeared as himself in the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs. He was married to sex symbol actress Mamie Van Doren from 1955 to 1961 (divorced). Anthony was considered one of the most modern of the big band leaders and was a regular of the Las Vegas circuit.(discogs)
From the  1964 album "Swim, Swim, C'Mon Let's Swim" on Capitol Records (T-2188) i chose two songs, "C'mon And Swim" and "Let's All Do The Swim".

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Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul-1973 US

Joe Quarterman (or Sir Joe Quarterman And Free Soul), also known as Sir Joe Quarterman and sometimes misspelled as Joe Quatermain is an American funk and soul singer. Quarterman earned the title "Sir" in high school. His single, "(I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind", was also his biggest, reaching the R&B Top 30 in 1973.(wiki)
From their S/T 1973 album original released by GSF Records (GSF-S-1009) i chose the groovy fuzzy  song "(I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind", from the 1995 reissue of the album by the UK  Charly Groove (CPLP-8079).

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Ramsey Lewis - Newly Recorded All-Time Non-Stop Golden Hits-1973 US

Ramsey Lewis' "Newly Recorded All-Time Non-Stop Golden Hits" (often shortened to Ramsey Lewis' Golden Hits) is an album by pianist Ramsey Lewis which was recorded in 1973 and released on the Columbia label(KC 32490). The album features remakes of Lewis' more successful Argo and Cadet recordings. (wiki)
From this album i chose the great version of "Carmen". Enjoy!!!

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Soulful Dynamics-Jungle People-1976 Germany single

Soulful Dynamics is a band which was formed in 1965 in Liberia and arrived in Hamburg in 1969.Band members are Emanuel Obedekah (vocals), Frederik "Andy" Anderson (guitar, vocals),Ernest J.G. Clinton (guitar, vocals),Manfred "Maxi" Free (guitar), Benjamin "Ben" Mason (drums),Olu Igenuma (keyboard) and Molley Morgan (E-bass, percussions) (wiki)
From their 1976 single "Jungle People / Sugar Baby" on Metronome (M 25.752) i chose the afro/funk song  "Jungle People".
Enjoy!!!

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Hot Blood (Red Blood)-Soul Dracula-1977 Germany single

Hot Blood (also sometimes named Red Blood) was a disco band formed in Germany, featuring a number of notable Munich session players, like  Stefan Klinkhammer, Keith Forsey, Gary Unwin, Penny Duke, May Ambruster...
Best known for the euro/disco song "Soul Dracula", i upload this song from the 1977 Greek single on Music Box (MB 10022).The band  named  here Red Blood?  propably by mistake.

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Mongo Santamaria - El Pussy Cat-1965 US

Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria Rodriguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a rumba quinto master and an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist.
From the 1965 album "El Pussy Cat" (Columbia -CS 9098) i chose the "Afro Lypso" song, written by Santamaria's trumpeteer Marty Sheller.

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C.C.S.- Boom Boom / Whole Lotta Love-1970 UK single

Collective Consciousness Society, more commonly known as C.C.S, were a British musical group, led by blues guitarist Alexis Korner.
Formed in 1970 by musical director John Cameron and record producer Mickie Most, CCS consisted largely of session musicians, and was created primarily as a recording outfit.
The personnel also included Peter Thorup, vocals Alan Parker, guitar Harold McNair, flute Herbie Flowers, bass Roger Coulam, keyboards Barry Morgan, drums plus Don Lusher and Bill Geldard, trombone. Some of the musicians were also members of Blue Mink.(wiki)
This is their 1970 single released by RAK records (RAK 104) with two excellent covers, "Boom Boom" (Hooker) and "Whole Lotta Love" (Page, Bonham, Jones, Plant). Enjoy!!!

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Hammer-1970 US

Based in San Francisco, Hammer was composed of singer John DeRoberts, drummer  John Guerin, keyboardist Norman Landsberg, bass player Richie McBride, and guitarist Jack O'Brian.  The band's lucky break came in 1969 when they attracted a mentor in the form of the legendary Bill Graham.  Graham showcased the band with a number of opening act performances at the Fillmore East and West, quickly signing them to his Atlantic Records affiliated San Francisco label.(badcatrecords)
Their sole album released in 1970 by San Francisco Records (SD 203).From this album i chose the instrumental  funky "Tuane"  with  latin percussion and nice solos from O'Brien and Landsberg.

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