CD1 1 James Brown - The Boss A simmering classic from the Godfather, soundtracking Fred Williamson’s aspirations to become a revered criminal in the 1973 blax flick, ‘Black Caesar’. Sampled by Nas and Ice T among others. 2 Cymande - Brothers On The Slide “This one was overlooked at the time,” remembers Cymande drummer Sam Kelly. “People thought it sounded too much like Curtis Mayfield.” Thankfully, crate-digging DJs from the late ‘80s London rare groove scene restored this 1973 cut to ‘anthem’ status. 3 Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie Licensed courtesy of Universal Music Licensing Division A full-on stompin’ funk monster from Kool & The Gang’s breakthrough ‘Wild And Peaceful’ album from ‘73, more recently revived on the Quentin Tarantino ‘Pulp Fiction’ film soundtrack. 4 Marvin Gaye – “T” Plays It Cool Recorded soon after his seminal album ‘What’s Goin’ On’, Gaye’s mainly instrumental soundtrack to the ‘Trouble Man’ blax film in ’72 explored his interest in jazz and included this brooding heavy funk groover. Sampled famously by Jazzy Jeff on ‘A Touch of Jazz’. 5. Curtis Mayfield - Freddie’s Dead The Daddy of Blaxploitation soundtracks which far outshone the film itself, Curtis Mayfield’s score for ‘Superfly’ from July ’72 remains an anti-drugs masterpiece. ‘Freddie’s Dead’ laments the demise of the film’s overweight stooge, Fat Freddie. 6. Syl Johnson - Different Strokes One of several early funky sides recorded for the Twilight label in ’67. In the ‘80s, when his Solomon’s fish restaurant chain was faltering, Johnson hit unexpected paydirt when this one was adopted as a hip hop breakbeat. His music has since been sampled by Wu-Tang Clan, TLC and many others. 7 Lightnin’ Rod – Sport Jalal from The Last Poets brings us one of the roughest, funkiest pimp daddy grooves ever made as he spits the story of Lightnin’ Rod in a street style that would heavily influence New York’s early rap MCs. Featuring backing from the mighty Kool & The Gang. 8 The Last Poets - It’s A Trip Having made it onto Nixon’s intelligence surveillance list in the early ‘70s, the Poets had added cosmic themes to their militant social commentaries by 1977. For many, ‘It’s A Trip’ represents their zenith, featuring crunching tight-ass beats from Bernard “Pretty” Purdie. 9 The Politicians feat. McKinley Jackson - The World We Live In Better known as an arranger for the cream of Detroit soul including production heavyweights Holland Dozier Holland, Freda Payne and Honeycone, McKinley Jackson brought us some heavy instrumental funk with this one from the self-titled Politicians album in ‘72. 10 Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm - Funky Mule Another staple breakbeat and an explosive slice of driving funk from Tina’s ex. Part of an all-instrumental album called ‘A Black Man’s Soul’, a partner album of sorts to Ike & Tina’s ‘Get It Together’ in ’69 and one of nine Ike & Tina album projects released that year on various labels. 11 Joe Tex - I Gotcha A funky bumper featuring Tex’s hoarse, preacher-style brand of Southern soul and another lifted by Mr. Tarantino, this time for the ‘Reservoir Dogs’ soundtrack. Soon after ‘I Gotcha’ scored a Gold-selling hit in ’72, Tex retired to join the Nation Of Islam. 12 Mavis Staples - Chocolate City Another Curtis Mayfield-produced soundtrack, this time for 1978’s ‘Piece Of The Action’ comedy, featuring Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier as two con artists. A chugging P-Funker from the Staple Singers’ leading lady during her brief solo spell at Curtom. 13 Pee Wee Ellis – Moonwalk Sax legend Pee Wee Ellis recorded this one-off single for Nashville label Sound Stage 7 shortly after leaving the James Brown revue at the height of its powers in 1969. Shortly afterwards, he moved to New York to work with Hammond hero Brother Jack McDuff, Leon Thomas and many others. 14 The Meters - Tippi Toes Devastatingly simple, this 1970 New Orleans classic captures the raw funk of the Meters at their finest – scratchy guitar and fruity Hammond backed by George Porter’s sinuous bassline and Zigaboo’s loping beats. Prog metal outfit Primus recorded an unlikely cover version in ’92. 15 Gil Scott-Heron with Brian Jackson - Back Home The master poet with pianist Brian Jackson with a reflective lament on soulless life in the city and yearning to be back home: “I never thought I’d be lost and searchin’ for some warmth and a smile.” A gem from Heron’s classic 1973 ‘Winter In America’ album.