- Format: CD
- Label: Ace
- Genre: Blues, Soul, Funk
Arlester "Dyke" Christian and his band the Blazers are second only to James Brown as trailblazing avatars of funk. While the record books point only to the 1966 hit Funky Broadway, the funk fraternity knows full well that Dyke was the man, with a pervasive influence in the transformation of R&B into funk.
We Got More Soul - The Ultimate Broadway Funk is the ultimate collection of this consummate black artist. The complete Dyke & The Blazers recordings 1966-70 - a whopping two and a half hours worth of steaming grooves - have been liberated from previously locked vaults, all presented here from the master tapes. The 2CD set is neatly divided between Dykes sojourn in Phoenix with the original hit-making line-up of the Blazers, and his later sessions recorded in Hollywood, when the singers sidemen were the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.
The original released versions of most Dyke & The Blazers material were edited down from lengthy jams, with Dyke riding the groove in his own inimitable manner. Meticulous tape research means we are now able to hear for the first time the full length unedited, unexpurgated takes, exactly as they were run down live in the studio. Classic items including Let A Woman Be A Woman, Stuff, Funky Walk, Funky Bull and Runaway People are sometimes twice as long as originally presented.
Additionally there are a staggering fourteen unissued titles, ranging from downhome R&B grooves such as Swamp Walk and Extra Funk, to dead-on-the-one funk workouts like Booga Jivin and Lets Do It Together, that really should have been released. Dykes socially conscious, street-hip side comes through on superlative numbers like Moon and Black Boy.
The lengthy liner note, illustrated with rare photos and memorabilia, provides a fascinating and intimate look at the life and tragic death of Christian. We Got More Soul - The Ultimate Broadway Funk is mandatory listening for all fans of heavy R&B and funk.
Track listing:
CD1
FUNKY BROADWAY PARTS 1 & 2
SO SHARP
SWAMP WALK
BROADWAY COMBINATION
UHH PARTS 1 & 2
EXTRA FUNK
CITY DUMP
DONT BUG ME
FUNKY BROADWAY TIME Part 1
FUNKY BROADWAY TIME Part 2
SHE KNOWS IT
WHY AM I TREATED SO BAD
TRIPLE FUNK
THE WRONG HOUSE
KGFJ PROMOS
CD 2
WE GOT MORE SOUL
BOOGA JIVIN
THE WOBBLE
BRING IT ON BACK
SHOT GUN SLIM
FUNKY BULL PART 1 & 2
BLACK BOY
ITS YOUR THING
LET A WOMAN BE A WOMAN - LET A MAN BE A MAN
FUNKY WALK PART 1 & 2
SOUL CAKE
STUFF
MY SISTERS & MY BROTHERS DAY IS COMIN
MOON
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
LETS DO IT TOGETHER
IM SO ALL ALONE
RUNAWAY PEOPLE
