This 4-CD box set anthologizes the London-based Acid Jazz label – founded by Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson – and the same-named scene that birthed it. The term was jokingly coined in 1987 by DJ/ producer Chris Bangs as a way to contend with the emergence of acid house. Unlikely as it was, acid jazz stuck and denominated a club scene that dev- oured rare soul, jazz and funk (and hybrids thereof), as well as the then-current music that drew from and sampled it. The scene produced groups that put their own — if sometimes reverential to a fault — spin on it, and the label eventually extended its reach across continents by releasing music from the likes of the Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai.
Disc one reflects the foundation – the cult favorites and classics spun by the club and warehouse…
320 kbps | 735 MB | UL | CL | BS | RG
…party DJs, ranging chronologically and stylistically from bop (Mark Murphy‘s 1961 version of Miles Davis’ “Milestones”) to post-disco funk (Dinosaur L‘s “Go Bang! #5,” released in 1982, mixed by François K). Discs two and three switch between proper Acid Jazz releases and selections championed by the scene. The above-mentioned groups are represented with key cuts, and so are James Taylor Quartet (in contemporary and full-on throwback modes), the Isley Brothers-referencing Night Trains, the seemingly kitschy but storming Snowboy, and tranquil rockers Mother Earth. Among the highlights not issued on the label: Gang Starr‘s “Jazz Thing” (a history lesson and fresh DJ Premier production at once), Soho‘s “Hot Music” (a sample cut-up classic), and Young Disciples‘ “Get Yourself Together” (contemporary soul released on Talkin’ Loud, another Peterson venture). Incognito, a U.K. jazz-funk group established half a decade prior to the scene, are acknowledged with the inclusion of their Jocelyn Brown-led version of Ronnie Laws‘ “Always There.” Disc four is devoted to stoned grooves from the likes of Paul Weller, Cypress Hill, and Jhelisa. The box itself is sturdy and contains a booklet of track information and excellent liner notes (from the label’s Dean Rudland), as well as a 50-page hardcover book that showcases the label’s artwork, and a Brand New Heavies 7″ single. Done with the high level of care expected from the Harmless label, it should be a delight for anyone familiar or new to acid jazz and Acid Jazz. — AMG
CD1 Put It All Together & What Do You Get
1-01 José Feliciano – Golden Lady (4:20)
1-02 The Isley Brothers – Love The One You’re With (3:39)
1-03 Gil Scott-Heron – Lady Day & John Coltrane (3:34)
1-04 Tyrone Davis – Is It Something You Got (7″ Version) (2:34)
1-05 Alice Clark – Don’t You Care (2:48)
1-06 Spanky Wilson – You (7″ Version) (2:10)
1-07 Erma Franklin – Light My Fire (2:39)
1-08 Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers – Right On (4:39)
1-09 The Quik – Bert’s Apple Crumble (7″ Version) (2:11)
1-10 Jimmy Smith – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe Part 2 (4:58)
1-11 Mark Murphy – Milestones (2:27)
1-12 The Googie Rene Combo – Smokey Joe’s La La (7″ Version) (2:53)
1-13 Ivan “Boogaloo Joe” Jones – Black Whip (6:46)
1-14 Charles Earland – Murriley (6:28)
1-15 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – Expansions (6:05)
1-16 Dinosaur L – Go Bang #5 (François Kevorkian’s 12″ Mix) (7:33)
1-17 Chicago – I’m A Man (7:38)
1-18 Small Faces – I Can’t Dance With You (7″ Version) (3:11)
1-19 Sydney Joe Qualls – I Don’t Do This (To Every Girl I Meet) (3:12)
CD2 Something Happening At The Dance
2-01 Ballistic Brothers – Blacker (6:09)
2-02 Diana Brown & Barry Sharpe – The Masterplan (12″ Version) (7:05)
2-03 S.O.H.O. – Hot Music (12″ Jazz Version) (5:06)
2-04 Young MC – Know How (12″ Mix) (4:01)
2-05 Sugar Bear – Don’t Scandalize Mine (12″ Version) (4:13)
2-06 Nuyorican Soul – The Nervous Track (12″ Ballsy Mix) (6:28)
2-07 A Man Called Adam – Earthly Powers (7″ Mix) (4:55)
2-08 Jestofunk – I’m Gonna Love You (MC Turbo’s 12″ Sax Mix) (4:20)
2-09 The Apostles – Super Strut (4:20)
2-10 Stonebridge – Jazzy John’s Freestyle (12″ Dub Mix) (3:38)
2-11 Arthur Miles – Helping Hand (12″ Mix) (4:39)
2-12 Dread Flimstone – From The Ghetto (7″ Version) (4:35)
2-13 Espiritu – Bonita Manana (12″ Mix) (4:06)
2-14 A Tribe Called Quest – If The Papes Come (12″ Mix) (4:14)
2-15 The Brand New Heavies – BNH (5:52)
2-16 Galliano – Frederick Lies Still (7″ Version) (4:59)
CD3 How’d We Get Us Here…?
3-01 Gang Starr – Jazz Thing (12″ Mix) (4:48)
3-02 Young Disciples – Get Yourself Together (12″ Mix) (5:23)
3-03 The Brand New Heavies – Dream Come True (12″ Mix) (4:50)
3-04 The James Taylor Quartet – Love Will Keep Us Together (Ian Green’s 7″ Mix) (3:41)
3-05 Snowboy – The New Avengers (12″ Mix) (4:32)
3-06 A Forest Mighty Black – Fresh In My Mind (12″ Mix) (4:38)
3-07 Pharcyde – Oh Shit (4:29)
3-08 Chapter & The Verse – Black Whip (12″ Mix) (3:59)
3-09 King Bee – Back by Dope Demand (12″ Mix) (3:35)
3-10 The James Taylor Quartet – Theme From Starsky & Hutch (12″ Mix) (5:52)
3-11 Incognito – Always There (Radio Edit) (3:34)
3-12 Jamiroquai – Too Young To Die (6:03)
3-13 Mother Earth – Apple Green (4:24)
3-14 The Night Trains – Love Sick (12″ Mix) (4:26)
3-15 Humble Souls – Beads Things & Flowers (12″ Mix) 1 (4:05)
3-16 One Creed – The Ladder (5:03)
3-17 Primal Scream – Funky Jam (12″ Mix) (5:25)
CD4 Smokers Delight
4-01 Paul Weller – Cosmos SX 2000 (12″ Dub Mix) (7:19)
4-02 Mother Earth – Non Corporealness (6:04)
4-03 Mr. Scruff vs. Manasseh – Rassellas (5:55)
4-04 The Roots Radics Meet The Scientist – Movements In Dub (Roots) (5:08)
4-05 Dread Flimstone – Render Your Heart (12″ Mix) (5:02)
4-06 Max Romeo – Chase The Devil (7″ Version) (3:27)
4-07 Delroy Wilson – You Never Get Away (12″ Dub Mix) (7:22)
4-08 Emperors New Clothes – Leaders & Believers (UNKLE Mix) (5:14)
4-09 Snowboy – Astralisation (12″ Mix) (6:10)
4-10 Jeff & The Fresh Prince ft. Grover Washington Jr. – The Groove (Jazzy’s Groove Instrumental) (5:33)
4-11 Cypress Hill – I Wanna Get High (12″ Mix) (2:56)
4-12 Jhelisa – Galactica Rush (12″ Instrumental Mix) (6:01)
4-13 Sandals – Nothing (12″ Dub Version) (8:02)