VA - CAN YOU DIG IT? The Music and Politics of Black Action Films 1969-75 (2009)
Artist. VA
Album. The Music and Politics of Black Action Films 1969-75
Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/souljazzrecords
Label. Soul Jazz Records
Genre. Funk
Bitrate. 256Kbps; 44,1Khz
Soul Jazz turn their attention to 'The Music and Politics of Black Action Films 1968-75' on an expansive 2 x Double vinyl and double CD set compiled with their usual attention to presentational detail replete with hugely informative sleeve notes. 'Can You Dig It?' charts the creation of the first African-American cinema industry within Hollywood and it's equally important soundtracks from the likes of Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Quincy Jones and Isaac Hayes, laden with music that would come to define those pictures almost as much as the imagery and topical content itself. Faced with a decline in cinema-goers in the late 1960's due to the increasing prevalence of Television, Hollywood began to exploit the potential of African-American audiences by investing in black films with a mind to "crossing over" into white audiences in order to yield larger returns. One of the first and probably best known of these was 'Shaft', produced in 1971 with a signature soundtrack that's become about as well-known as any of that decade. But, this being a Soul Jazz compilation, they've dug far deeper to round up some 18 tracks of lesser known but equally deadly funk and soul from the prime films of this era. Volume 2 includes legendary cuts like Curtis Mayfield's 'Pusherman' from Superfly, Brer Soul & Earth, Wind and Fire's 'Sweetback's Theme' from Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, Brown again on 'Make It Good To Yourself' from Blac Caeser, Grant Green's percussive freakout from 'Travelling To Get To Doc', Roy Ayers 'Aragon' from the '73 classic Coffy, Jack Ashford's 'Las Vegas Strut' from Blackjack, or The Impressions' sul stunner 'Make A Resolution' from Three The Hard Way. Seriously badass comp, essential for all pimps, pushers and funk fiends! (Plus a double-must-have for the scorchin' Pam Greer picture sleeve!!!)
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Roy Ayers - Coffy Is The Color
02. Gene Page - Blacula
03. Johnny Pate - Shaft In Africa
04. Willie Hutch - Brother's Gonna Work It Out
05. Don Costa - Charley - Main Theme
06. Marvin Gaye - 'T' Plays It Cool
07. Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street
08. J.J. Johnson - Willie Chase
09. James Brown - Down And Out In New York City
10. Quincy Jones - They Call Me MISTER Tibbs
11. Martha Reeves & J.J. Johnson - Keep On Movin' On
12. Dennis Coffey - Theme From Black Belt Jones
13. Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead
14. The Blackbyrds - Wilford's Gone
15. Willie Hutch - Theme Of Foxy Brown
16. Isaac Hayes - Run Fay Run
CD2:
01. Isaac Hayes - Shaft
02. Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
03. Joe Simon - Theme From Cleopatra Jones
04. Johnny Pate - You Can't Even Walk In The Park
05. Brer Soul & Earth, Wind & Fire - Sweetback's Theme
06. James Brown - Make It Good To Yourself
07. Isaac Hayes - Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile
08. Grant Green - Travelling To Get To Doc
09. Booker T & the MG's - Time Is Tight
10. Roy Ayers - Aragon
11. Edwin Starr - Easin' In
12. Gordon Staples & The String Thing - Strung Out
13. Nat Dove & The Devils - Zombie March
14. The Impressions - Make A Resolution
15. Solomon Burke and Gene Page - The Bus
16. Jack Ashford - Las Vegas Strut
17. Don Julian - Lay It On Your Head
18. Galt MacDermot - Ed and Digger
Try (Part 1 & Part 2) & BUY!!!