Rudy Ray Moore - Dolemite (Generation International - 1975)

Rudy Ray Moore was a succesful comedian when he jumped in the Blaxploitation wagon, shooting allegedly one of the baddest (and consequently seminal) movie ever made, Dolemite. Dolemite was already a successful character he used on his comedy routines he just morphed into a badass muthafucka that fight the Man and clean up the ghetto. For the soundtracks, Rudy Ray Moore hired session musicians whom he collectively titled The Soul Rebellion Orchestra. Ben Taylor and Mary Love provided the signing parts while Rudy Ray Moore can be heard toasting on Flatland. The overall result is a raw funky and soulful ride with one of Blaxploitation most enjoyfull soundtrack. I just regret that the sound on this 2006 Relapse reissue is below average. But it allows to find, with the complete Dolemite soundtrack, the Human Tornado soundtrack as well and radio spots made to advertise both movies. A must-have with plenty to sample. Some fellow blogger have already posted this album.

 Download => Rudy Ray Moore - Dolemite

La Onda Vampi (Vampisoul - 2011)

With La Onda Vampi, Spanish reedition label Vampisoul offers a quick look on its recent releases. The menu is written on the cover: 60s R&B, Spanish ye-yé, highlife, latin soul, tropicalia, psych intrumentals, boogaloo, afrobeat, flamenco rumba, iranian rare groove. My personnal favorites are the Czech psyche beat of Marta Kubisova's Ja Tu S Tvari Nemennou, the dubbed cumbia of Frente Cumbiero and Mad Professor's La Bocachico and of course Joe Bataan's Latin Soul Square Dance. This compilation can be acquired for a bargain price and is a perfect sonic antidote to the every economic crisis in the old world.

Download => La Onda Vampi

Memphis 70 - The City's Funk And Soul In The Decade After Otis 1968 - 1978 (BGP/Ace - 2008)

This excellent compilation explores the underground Memphis soul and funk scene that exploded in the wake of Hi and Stax success. Beyond those two labels greatest artists, dozen of bands and singers were fighting to get their share of wealth. Only a handful succeeded but all let magical testimonies on wax. Memphis 70 features artists from the Enterprise, Sounds Of Memphis, Bar 102, Select-O-Hits, XL, Fretone, or Philiwood rosters with a few Staw unissued songs. Hightlights are Smithstonian's hard gospel, Mississipi Mud, Blackrock's Blackrock Yeah Yeah psychedelic soul, break diggers favorite Mel & Tim's Keep The Faith, already used by Madlib and DJ Premier, and Lillian Hale's deep funk, Don't Boom Boom. All the other tracks are scorchers in fact so this record is worth having and you can built an entire hip hop career by sampling them.

Download => Memphis 70