Creative Musicians

Florian Keller has been working as a professional DJ since 1988, from the beginning with a focus on the harder beats of funk, always with some space for ideas and improvisation (jazz). Since 1991, he has run the Into Somethin' club night in Munich, Germany. In 1996, he started a regular club night called Black Beat Schuppen at the Atomic Cafe, Munich. Since 1994, he has run the Into Somethin' Radioshow, weekly Wednesdays from 10 to 12 p.m. CET (FM 94.5 MHz, Radio M94.5, Munich).

Orchester Ambros Seelos — Mabusso

"Mr. Latin" Ambros Seelos (usually more responsible for entertaining elderly people in big hotel lounges) recorded this one with his Munich-based Big Band. If you are familiar with this kind of sound, check out Manu Dibango's Dikalo a.k.a. Salt Popcorn. It is not clear who was "inspired" by whom, but no doubt this one is tight, mean, and heavy like hardly any other funk instrumental.

Charlie Antolini's Power Dozen — Jumping

Charlie Antolini is one of Europe's best-known jazz drummers. He delivers three and a half minutes of breakbeat with Milan Pilar's driving bass, Max Greger Junior's fat organ, and some extra horn treatment on top. Recorded in Munich in the Olympic year 1972.

Ju-Par Universal Orchestra — Time

Released on their album Moods and Grooves and on 45 in 1976, this beautifully arranged tune has always been one of my favorite mid-tempo tracks from the Boogie era. Arranged by Dick Boyell, who surely did his homework in a Mizell Brothers vein.

James Reese and The Progressions — Let's Go (It's Summertime)

Trombonist James Reese, who later became a public school director and tour musician, recorded this song in 1969. It is totally outstanding, with an intro reminiscent of Morricone Western soundtracks. Today, Mr. Reese works as an orchestra director in South Carolina.

Orchestra John Barry — Highway 101

Composed in 1968 for the Petulia soundtrack. Highway 101 was the theme song for "Der fantastische Film," a fantastic movie series on German television ZDF in the mid-70s. For nearly everyone of the late 60s and early 70s generation, this one brings back the feeling of forbidden late-night television adventures when the parents were out…

Dean Parrish — Skate

First rediscovered from the Northern Soul scene in the mid-80s, this one includes everything a first-rate funk track needs: pounding drums, brain-killing B3, solid vocals, and no cheesy sax solo. Now you don't need to look for two copies of the 45 anymore to play the full version!

Lonette — Stop! (Don't Worry About It)

Perfect uplifting female soul from 1968. If you love Spanky Wilson, check out this one!

Leonard King & The Soul Messengers — The Barracuda

The same Mr. King that you can hear singing on Lyman Woodard's track Creative Musicians. Solid mid-60s Boogaloo fashion and a favorite of many funk DJs worldwide.

The Rhoda Scott Trio — Sha-Bazz

A very early Hammond monster featuring Bill Elliot and Joe Thomas, who also wrote this composition for the 1962 Tru-Sound LP Hey Hey Hey. This is the live version recorded one year later at a one-matinee appearance at the Key Club, New York.

The Lyman Woodard Organization — Creative Musicians

A never-before-re-released 1975 killer from the obscure Detroit-based Strata Label, a sister label of Strata East Records. This is a real club anthem ever since the early acid jazz days and is definitely one of the greatest recordings ever. It still gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Only it was always a real hard one to get, plus the sound of the original recording was very poor. Leonard King told me that he had his first-ever vocal recording session with this track. The recording studio was a room with very high ceilings, and after the first take, the engineer had some doubts about the acoustic situation. Since Mr. King thought the doubts were concerning his singing, he said that it's all right… Here you have a proper remaster of it.

Leon & The Burners — Whiplash

A late 60s production from Leon Haywood, shortly after his Fat Fish recordings.

Lillian Hale — Don't Boom Boom

I still cannot really follow the lyrics, but this is indeed a remarkable uptempo female soul shouter from 1974 that takes no prisoners.

Barbara Lynn — I'm a Good Woman

You broken-hearted girls out there, this is your anthem, and in the best version ever.

Willie Tee — Concentrate

The man behind this incredibly beautiful track was Willie Tee, well known as the bandleader of the Gaturs. They gave us the classic Gatur Bait and built the rhythm section for the two Wild Magnolias albums.

Pat Stallworth — Questions (Part I and II)

A truly undiscovered masterpiece. Bill Jacocks, composer, producer, and arranger of this gem, was a newscaster and documentary maker for ABC News affiliate WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, but he had also written songs for Motown in the 60s. In early 1974, he met the 22-year-old Pat Stallworth and took her to the recording studio. He engaged some studio musicians, worked out the arrangement, and a 45 called Questions (Part I and II) was the result. Unfortunately, the whole studio session on master tape is lost. What you have here is an edit of the two parts of the original 45.