Various: Daddy Cool

Elly Roberts reviews

Various: Daddy CoolDistributed by
Universal Music

• Cat.no: 9840510
• Format: 2-disc CD
• Released: June 2006
• Rating: 10/10

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Funk soul-blues brothers unite on a unique double CD collection aimed at (older) Father’s Day.Deliberately geared for cool dads to relive their‘boogie – shoes’ days from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

This whopping 40-songtracklisting includes some of the best known songs of all time, mostly fromthe Soul and Northern Soul genres. The majority are out and out classics,though the odd turkey does appear. Nevertheless, it’s a very impressiveline-up of absolute gems that should grace everyone’s record collection,which is also perfect for mobile DJ’s across the nation.

Funk features KoolAnd The Gang’s lesser known Jungle Boogie which broke them in the USA as amajor act in 1974, before they evolved into a smooth disco ensemble.Parliament’s ultra-smooth P Funk, which never charted in the UK, is an oddinclusion and not a dance track in any shape or form. The Equals’ Funky LikeA Train is a definite turkey. UK club hits Brick House (a double A-side from1977, No.32) by the Commodores and Sugarhill Gang’s Rappers Delight (1979, No.3)are top class examples of commercial funkiness.

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Disco gets are fair old dusting down too – Jocelyn Brown’s Somebody Else’sGuy, EWF’s Let’s Groove, and KC’s Boogie Shoes lead the dancefloor attack,whereas one-hit wonders Wild Cherry, provide a funk-rock edge from October1976.

Soul standards hold up the rearguard – Sam (Moore) And Dave (Prater’s) ’67stirring classic Soul Man, Marvin Gaye’s US hit Can I Get A Witness, andEddie Floyd’s continuing floor-filler Knock On Wood prove to be the best.

In a mellower mode, blue-eyed soul siren Lynda Lyndell’s 1968 VOLT gemWhatta Man (later popularised by Salt’n’Pepa in 1993) leads the pack,followed by (Reverend), Al Green’s second UK hit Let’s Stay Together,(Dr.) Nina Simone’s 1994 Feeling Good and anthemic wonder Stand By Me byformer Drifter Ben E King.

Best track by a mile, is the groundbreaking psychedelic Soul monster PapaWas A Rollin’ Stone (1973) by the incomparable Temptations.

Weblink:UMTV.co.uk

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The full list of tracks included are :

DISC 1:

1. Jungle Boogie – Kool And The Gang
2. Green Onions – Booker T
3. Mr.Big Stuff – Jean Knight
4. Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – James Brown
5. Brick House – Commodores
6. Shotgun – Jnr Walker And The AllStars
7. Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
8. Light My Fire – Stevie Wonder
9. Funky Like A Train – The Equals
10. Are You My Woman (Tell Me So) – Chi Lites
11. Play That Funky Woman – Wild Cherry
12. Whatta Man – Linda Lyndell
13. Knock On Wood – Eddie Floyd
14. Thanks I Need That – Solomon Burke
15. Think About It – Lyn Collins, The JB’s
16. Papa Was A Rolling Stone – The Temptations
17. Tom Cat – Muddy Waters
18. (P Funk) Wants To Get To Get Funked Up
19. Spooky – Dusty Springfield
20. Let’s Stay Together

DISC 2:

1. Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
2. Money (That’s What I Want) Barrett Strong
3. Soul Man – Sam And Dave
4. It’s A Man’s Man’s World – James Brown
5. Beat Goes On – All Seeing I
6. Shaft – Isaac Hayes
7. Rappers Delight – Sugarhill Gang
8. Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown
9. Get Down Saturday Night – Oliver Cheatham
10. Let’s Groove – Earth Wind And Fire
11. Family Affair – Sly And The Family Stone
12. Boogie Shoes – KC And The sunshine Band
13. ABC – Jackson 5
14. Can I Get A Witness – Marvin Gaye
15. Sweet Soul Music – Arthur Conley
16. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
17. Get Ready – The Temptations
18. He Was Really Saying Something – The Velvelettes
19. Feeling Good – Nina Simone
20. Stand By Me – Ben E.King

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