Shirley Brown
Woman To Woman
Stax Records
www.concordmusicgroup.com

The Dramatics
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
Stax Records
www.concordmusicgroup.com

Rufus Thomas
Do The Funky Chicken
Stax Records
www.concordmusicgroup.com
By George W. Harris

We’re talking Soul Train here. When Afros were the size of the CBS Peacock, flop hats and big bell bottoms were as cool as you could get, and people actually invented dances that were fun as well as funky. These three latest reissues by Stax Records display the major aspects of the 70s soul movement, from Social Consciousness, to the dark side of Free Love, to just plain old good time boogie.

Shirley Brown was sort of a Stax answer to Aretha Franklin. In fact, some of the bonus tracks here even have her do covers of “Rock Steady” and “Respect,” just to make you wonder. She had a big hit back in 1974, the title of her biggest selling album. 40 years does change attitudes, however, as back then, the faithful wife was telling “the other woman” that she would fight for the man that she “cooks for and cleans for,” where as now, she’d probably say, “you can HAVE the bum!” So, while the female victim mentality is a bit dated, the grooves provided by the Memphis Horns and members of the MGs lasts a bit longer.

The Dramatics were sort of a updated version of The Temptations, with 5 part harmony and solo voices veering in and out of the funky beat. Their 1972 big hit, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” will get your head bobbin’ like nothing else, while the Afro Cuban “Get Up and Get Down” and the ballad “In The Rain” don’t trail to hard behind. Lots of mixed messages here, with songs glorifying drugs (“Mary Don’t Cha Wanna”) as well as warning about them (“The Devil Is Dope”), but that was the 70s for you.

Most surprisingly, the disc that you’ll probably listen to the most was initially the most trendy at the time. R&B pioneer Rufus Thomas, who made his name 20 years earlier with the novelty tune “Walkin’ The Dog” struck gold again in 1970 by wearing the WILDEST outfit of pink shorts, hat and go-go boots and starting a brand new dance craze with “Do The Funky Chicken.” The groove is indeed infectious and good natured, and the rest of the tunes (and outtakes) are just as good. A modernized mix of “Let The Good Times Roll” is a cooker, and Thomas’ take of “Lookin’ For A Love” is better than 99% of what passes for black music nowadays. As good natured as your crazy uncle, Thomas was as dumb as a fox his whole career-this disc is a HOOT!!