Daptone Records Double-Post: The Mighty Imperials and Sugarman 3

Daptone Records is a label that seems to release exclusively throwback funk and soul albums. Both of these albums were released in the last 10 years and yet they sound like they came straight out of the early 1970s.

The Mighty Imperials - Thunder Chicken (2006)

New Orleans heavy organ/guitar/bass/drums funk. Basically, this sounds like a new Meters album. The drums are bangin throughout the record, mixed just like they used to be back in the day. The guitar and bass both do an excellent job of creating and maintaining some funky ass rhythms that will get the girls in the room on their feet. The organ work is great here, highly reminiscent of the aforementioned Meters as well as Booker T. The solos are brief, these guys aren't showoffs, they just keep the groove going strong. Most of these tracks are instrumental, but three of them have vocals by a guy named Joseph Henry. Henry's vocals remind one of James Brown's crowd interactions, most of them are some variation of UHH! GET UP! SHAKE IT! LET'S GET IT GOIN! Apparently these guys were only 16 when they made this album. Henry was the only one old enough to buy a pack of cigarettes. You'd never know it though, this album knocks!

Tracklisting:

1. Thunder Chicken

2. Never Found a Girl

3. Jody's Walk

4. Duck Hunt

5. Joseph's Popcorn

6. Chico's Barnyard

7. Kick the Blanket

8. Funky Belly

9. Ride Shank's Mare

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Sugarman 3 - Soul Donkey (2000)

More heavy organ funk, this time with horns! Lots of amazing drum breaks that are just begging to be sampled, especially on the first few bars of that title track. All instrumental, this album doesn't have any slow songs on it, it's all dance funk. Seems more centered on powerful breaks than salacious grooves. The solos have a bit more room to breathe on this album than on Thunder Chicken, with the organ, drums, guitar and horns all given some time to shine, and shine they do. The horns take center stage on most of the tracks, this album seems most comparable to Lou Donaldson's more funk-oriented outings, although a bit more uptempo. This was the first album I heard on the Daptone label and really made me want to check out what else they had goin on. Hopefully it will have the same effect on you.

Tracklisting:

1. Soul Donkey

2. Chicken Half

3. Baby I Love You

4. Turtle Walk

5. Daisy Rides Again

6. Double Back

7. Pull My Cart

8. Mulin' Around

9. Saddle For Two

10. Out A Sight

11. So Long Donkey

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Soul Tornadoes - The Complete Recordings (1969)

Crunchy, badass instrumental funk. These guys never actually released an album, just a string of singles that are collected here. Every track is a banger; there is no dance party you couldn't tear up with any one of these tracks. The organ work is tremendous; the solos are melt-your-face-off amazing. If you like James Brown and Booker T. and the MG's (and who doesn't?), you will love this album.
Tracklisting:
1. Hot Pants Breakdown
2. Boot's Groove
3. Go For Yourself
4. Funky Thing
5. Crazy Legs
6. Bobby's Mood

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Sly & The Revolutionaries - Black Ash Dub (1980)

One of my favorite reggae dub albums. Each song frames Robbie Shakespeare's basslines with virtuoso reggae drumming complete with lots of spaced out reverb and some impressively understated bongo work. Extremely well-produced, reminds me of the best of King Tubby's dub work. Each song is supposed to represent a different drug, so there is quite a bit of variation of moods and tones used but it remains cohesive nonetheless. A relaxing album that never gets boring or tedious.

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Tracklisting

1. Marijuana

2. Herb

3. Collie

4. Lambsbread

5. Rizla

6. LSD

7. Acupulco Gold

8. Cocaine

9. Black Ash

10. White Rum

Mel Brown - Chicken Fat (1967)

Great 60s electric blues instrumental album. If you like classic blues guitar solos, this album is a must. A former sideman for T-Bone Walker, his picking is relentlessly fantastic throughout. He's joined by Herb Ellis on side guitar who contributes almost as much to the greatness of this as Mel does. Also, his drummer Paul Humphrey is one of the most underrated of all time, another good reason to snag this gem. As Mel's career progressed he moved towards fusing funk and blues, Chicken Fat was his debut and is generally more straightforward electric blues music, but much of the pacing, drumming and organ work (especially on the title track) showcase his growing appreciation for funk.

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