LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Before there was War there was Señor Soul, which saxophonist/flutist Charles Miller formed in Long Beach, California. He played on Brenton Wood sessions for Double Shot, who released their loose interpretation of Miriam Makeba's 'Pata Pata,' the hit that led to this blinding debut LP. Blending funk, Latin jazz and psychedelic soul, the group makes a range of material their own, led by Miller and vibraphonist Edwin Stevenson. Everything from 'Heard It Through The Grapevine' to 'Psychotic Reaction' gets the Señor Soul treatment, rendered with equal doses of sensitivity, humour and funky flavour. Long before Miller recruited members of Nightshift to morph Señor Soul into War, this top-notch debut is a stone-cold winner from first note to last, a must-have for all funk and Latin jazz afficionados.

Track Listing

• A1 Pata Pata 2:03
• A2 Lovey Dovey 3:13
• A3 I Heard It Through The Grapevine 2:40
• A4 Gimme Little Sign 2:59
• A5 Psychotic Reaction 2:03
• A6 Get On Up 2:45
• B1 Spooky 2:30
• B2 Poquito Soul 2:01
• B3 Sunshine Superman 3:05
• B4 Mucho Funky 2:57
• B5 Up Tight 4:37