This CD kicks off a brand new BGP series which looks at the obscure and wonderful from different areas of American black music. The first collection digs into the West Coast studio scenes that produced so much great street funk and ghetto soul in the late 60s and early 70s. We’d argue the CD presents a compelling case to demonstrate California was the most creative US state as a source of soul music.
Focusing mainly on Los Angeles and San Francisco, the music ranges from the
sweet harmonies of the Ballads’ ‘Butterfly’ to the relentless groove of ZZ
Hill’s ‘Think People’.
As well as previously unreleased masters by Eleanor Rigby, Chucky Thurmon and
Choice Of
Colors, “California Soul” includes the super-rare ‘Strike’ by Union and
Little Johnny Hamilton’s ‘The Git Down’ from the rare Watts USA label.
There are floor-fillers by Warm Excursion, Brenda George and Little Denise.
Housed in a glorious sleeve featuring a Bill Ray shot of sharply dressed youths at the Watts Tower, it includes a detailed note housed in a fully illustrated booklet.