golden state funk

When Ace purchased the catalogue of noted San Francisco studio Golden State Recorders recently, foremost amongst the projects slated for release was a compendium of some of the compelling grooves laid down by Bay Area funkateers in the facility in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some items have already slipped out on BGP comps such as Superfunk, but with "We've Gotta Groove: Golden State Funk", we present a full-length celebration of the best funky soul to emanate from San Francisco in those years.

Incredibly rare funk singles by the likes of the San Francisco TKOs, Windjammers, Love Experience and Mel Davis will no doubt catch the eye of the hard-core collector, but this highly listenable compilation can also boast that over half its contents are unreleased, with some red-hot sounds from the likes of 87th Off Broadway, 60s soul thrush Ramona King, future Janis Joplin sideman Snooky Flowers and the inimitable Wally Cox.

Master tape sound, in-depth liner notes and some eye-popping pics complete the package. Regionally-focused funk comps have become an increasingly popular showcase for the obscure delights beloved of the afficianados, and "We've Gotta Groove: Golden State Funk" is one of the strongest to have come down the pike.

Track listing:

1. Poor Sad Child Parts 1 & 2 - WINDJAMMERS
2. Are You Together For The New Day? - LOVE EXPERIENCE
3. Can't Get Enough - 87TH OFF BROADWAY
4. Devil's Got Your Mind - SAN FRANCISCO TKOs
5. House Party - WALLY COX AND THE NATIVES
6. I'm Glad I Got Over You - JEANETTE JONES
7. Hearing Things - SNOOKY AND THE COSMIC FLOWERS
8. I've Gotta Groove - JULIO ZAVALLA
9. Love Machine - ALONZO SMITH
10. Herm - SAN FRANCISCO TKOs
11. Sweet Talk - MARVIN HOLMES & THE UPTIGHTS
12. You'd Be Good For Me - JEANETTE JONES
13. Why - 87TH OFF BROADWAY
14. Za Zu (Alt with sound effects) - WALLY COX AND NATE BRANCH
15. Mini Skirts - SNOOKY AND THE COSMIC FLOWERS
16. Just Another Smile - MEL DAVIS
17. Acilady - SAN FRANCISCO TKOs
18. Super Chicken - RAMONA KING
19. Rock Steady - RUBY DELICIOUS
20. Vida Blue Part 1 - JIMMY BEE