Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Luther Davis Group - To Be Free




This has been comped by Funk Spectrum 3 and the Stones Throw re-issue label Soul Cal. But this piece of genius soul funk hails from Bakersfield of all places. A sweeping dancer but as indie as can be. See my last post. I think originally I started hearing about a new pocket of tunes that were making the rounds among the 'heads' and were getting the name 'free-soul' from mostly Japanese cats. The likes of Jon Lucien, Linda Lewis, Larry Saunders and JOB Orchestra. But, this was some time ago, and Free-Soul has come and gone as a genre. Nothing more than a name to help fellow enthusiasts via magazine and web. But, it turned me on to numerous gems. I have the Japanese to thank for turning me onto Linda Lewis, but that's another story (and a future post) and another chapter. So, this little tune, the flip to "You Can Be A Star" (Also Incredible- will post it soon as well) would also pass as Free-soul. Just kinda different, and well..free. Possibly meaning as well that it doesn't cater (or seem to) to any kind of pop standards. Smooth as hell yet still kinda home spun and hippy. Not really disco, but has the disco vibe. Not Funk, but very funky. In fact quite folky really. Just great rhythms, amazing harmonies and sweet brass melodies. Nothing like a space sweep to top it off. Just a genius soul tune, and indeed also a qualifier as indie-soul.

Luther Davis Group - To Be Free

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