Search - Oscar Brown Jr :: Fresh

Oscar Brown Jr. Boogies Down !

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 06/01/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"O.K. Quick warning... of the funk era Oscar Brown albums currently in print, I think MOVIN' ON is the better one in terms of overall production consistency and lyrical content... but this one is still... how should I say - - RUFUS + CHAKA funky... lot's of crisp boogie funk style fatback drum, clav, tight bass and slick studio horns...

definitely worth gettin' - - especially for the intensely bumpin' tracks Chicken Heads, Expletive Deleted, Rilly and Granny...

Unfortunately, I can't say all the tracks are inspired, but its definitely still a pretty fun album...



As for the band... I only have the digital version, but a bit of research tells me that the band features numerous Chess/Cadet session men like Henry Gibson, Phil Upchurch, and Art Hoyle and that it was recorded in Chicago and produced by Jerry Butler - - and released in '74.



The album also features a remake of his classic BUT I WAS COOL... though I can pass on it, hearing it definitely made me want to re-listen to his original version of the tune...



All in all, if you're looking for prime examples of the political activist/singer/songwriter Brown... this album probably isn't so much what you're looking for (give or take a line here and there), however... if you're a fan of bumpin' 70's "Dr. John" type funk, and like me, totally dig Brown's cool hepster persona (as far back as the days when he was penning lyrics to songs like Dat Dere and Work Song) then you WILL dig this baby...



Hope the labels get around to putting out some of Melvin Van Peebles albums too !"