Funky Broadway
Jindrich Habada | Czech republic | 04/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First I want to thank to all who made this compilation alive. It's great effort. This double disc compilation contains all songs that Dyke and his both groups put on tapes in 66-71. In the past, few compilations was here, but not in this superb package and with so good liner notes. Heartful liner notes describes each musicians session individually. If you didn't know everything about his death, after reading liner notes you will know it well.
The music is absolutely extraordinary and the sound of this record is superior. Phoenix period gives more space for drummer and excelent Dyke's guitarist. This is absolutely musthave for all funkydrummer beginners. All previously unreleased songs are really treasures, especially both parts of "Funky broadway time" - that's funk gem. Nice interplays between bass, guitar and drumming.
In the Hollywood period Dyke joined musicians from 103rd street rhythm band and it's guarantee of quality alone. But surprisingly it's Dyke who's in the front of the crew. He has all songs absolutely under control and his vocals are more vary and powerfull. "We got more soul" has really strong message, in "Black Boy" i can't believe it was never released before. And "It's your thing" cover is better than original.
Thank all people for releasing this beautiful anthology, and remind me the times when funk was born. (excuse me for my poor english)"
What a great effort put on this compilation !
detakoizu | Naha, Japan | 02/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The funk master of the 60s Dyke & the Blazers bring us the original rhythmic and groovy funk from their jam sessions which made their sound looser and rougher than that of JB. The re-issue men have put a greater effort on his two-disc compilation than their other bests : reviving their full-length versions which were originally cut as singles with two parts, unissued tunes, many precise informations, heartful liner notes and many photos. This treatment is well worth the value of this overlooked group hidden behind the history."
FAN-FUNKIN-TASTIC!
Hilton Royale | Norway | 12/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dyke & The Blazers, one of very few funk bands that could stand next to James Brown & The JBs without
blushing too bad.Two and a half hours of smoking grooves that should be worth anybodys money. If you
love raw funk, and especially James Brown, you got to have this.
Hit Me Again, Two Times!
Gotta Gotta Have This!
Three Times!
Gotta Gotta Gotta Have This!!
The songs on both discs are presented in full length versions.
On Disc 2 Dyke Arlester is joined by musicians from The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, a supertight unit
that somebody once branded "stonerfunk". After listening to everything they recorded with Charles Wright,
it's not difficult to agree, they kind of had more of a rock n roll feel to their funk, but as The Blazers,
they serve the funk straight up.
The only thing you could hold against them is that the songs doesn't have a whole lot of variety, and Dyke
wasn't the greatest singer, but the man sounds cool, and it just goes to show that feeling and attitude
often carry more weight than ability.
Scratchy guitar riffs, fat horns, greasy organ and Dyke hollerin'!
"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1