A Handful of Soul

Here are a couple of out-of-the-ordinary funky soul cuts to make your Monday a bit more fun. 

Found these digging at one of my favorite thrift stores.  One dollar records all day, the best kind of shopping. 

First is a very funky Temptations album, Puzzle People. It was 1969 and as you can see the counter culture revolution did not miss these guys. The cover alone was worth the dollar it cost me.  Luckily enough I actually found the cover first and came across the loose (paper sleeved) disc in an entirely different section of the room, it was obviously meant to be. 

This is their 11th album and it is decidedly trippier and funkier than the usual Temptations work you are probably used to. Heavy elements of psychedelic rock shine through which, along with some really  interesting covers including a version of Hey Jude, make this album worth checking out. You hip hop heads will recognize the "no matter how hard you try you cant stop me now" sample from Message From a Black Man.  History. 

Also pulled this interesting James Brown record from the same stack, Handful of Soul. Its obviously well worn but that doesnt take away from that special feeling that can only come from scoring an old JB, especially one you dont see too often.  Unfortunately (yes unfortunately) this is an experimental album that features JB on the organ only.  NO SINGING!?   While the album is funky enough, James's organ work is fairly mundane and a helluva lot less fun than hearing him go crazy on the vocals. It should be noted that this fact is somewhat made-up-for by the title of the first song: "Let's Go Get Stoned". 

Cheers.