This collection of 17 sides was born, bred, and recorded in the Motor City between the dawn of the funk age in 1967 and its peak in 1978 as it gave way to the prominence of disco. Six of these selections were recorded by the amazing Black Nasty, one of Detroit's finest if under-noticed funk bands led by Kaiya and Artwell Mathews, and managed by their mother, R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and label owner (Northern Del-la and Big Hit) Johnnie Mae Matthews. These six tracks, which include their two-sided single "Party On Fourth Street," (Pts. 1 and 2), and the smoking "Mama Didn't Lie" -- both vocal and instrumental versions -- all come from the band's singles' catalog. None of them appeared on Black Nasty's Stax LP Talking to the People. In addition, there is an obscure 1970s-era Dramatics' tune in "Don't Leave Me to Be Lonely," Lynn Day's fire-breathing "Bit Off (More Than I Could Chew)," and the Dynamic Walton Brothers' all-too-rare "Funky Soul." There are three sides by Herbie Thompson, the Ohio-born soul singer who relocated to Detroit in 1970 and fronted a number of outfits -- including a recording date by Black Nasty, which is featured here. Thompson is a versatile singer whose voice could change in not only tone but also in phrasing from track to track. His finest contribution here is the steamy hypnotic groover "It's Jungle Time." In addition to the major funky jams, there is also one bona fide underground soul classic in Timmy Shaw and Chuck Holiday's "You Better (Get Yourself Together)," rounding out an unexpected treasure trove of unusual and sought-after tracks by some of Detroit's finest in the heyday of funk. ~ Thom Jurek
Liner Note Author: Kevin Goins.
Recording information: 1967-1978.Living Blues (pp.70-71) - "[T]here is an attractive earthiness about these cuts..."
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