Customer Reviews

Big City Funk: Original Old School Breaks & Heavy Guitar Soul

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Biographically speaking, I have little to add to what the item description already states besides making sure you know that his being called "Funk brother" is--other than just being obvious by the groove coming of his guitar anywhere in this collection--because he was a permanent and deserving member of the Motown's stunning back-up band the Funk Brothers, between the late 60's and early 70's. By the way, it is his guitar licks you hear in The Temptations' "Cloud Nine."

This collection gathers tracks from his four solo albums for Sussex, between 1971 and 1974, and I believe also proves the worth and importance of Coffey's contribution to 70's Funk. From the opener and hit single "Scorpio" that just forces you to endless rewind, or the War-on-speed of Chicano and the bass groove on the "Theme of Enter The Dragon", to the obligatory slow-down, quasi Psych vibe "Lonely Moon Child" and "Garden Of The Moon" or the Starkey & Hutch ways of "Aide Sally Ride" ... this is sheer old Funk joy.

This music will grow on you like vine. Although not for everybody, as they say, and much more than a document of a certain time and place in music, this anthology rocks and grooves impressively. I'd bet even James Brown own a couple of his albums.

OK, so I'm glad that some of Dennis' Sussex material is FINALLY available on CD. But all four of those albums were pure gold. Why, oh WHY didn't they just release a 2CD set with all four albums in thier entirety? They certainly would have all fit. I'm guessing that is the eventual plan, but they want to double dip by making us pay for this, and then later pay for the more complete package when it finally materializes. Why not make the two versions available at the same time and let us have the choice?? I'm gonna buy this (my albums are rice krispies as hell) just to have the music, and like I said, I'm glad it's finally out there again, but c'mon guys!! Let us have 'em all!

I'm almost sure that this is no official release. First of all the overall sound quality lacks the brilliance and transparency of my old German and UK vinyl releases, which clearly speaks against the use of original tapes. I suppose this Best of collection has been transferred from (sometimes inferior) vinyl. I listened with my headphones on, several tracks reveal audible signs of vinyl, the source used for the last track (Outrageous) seems to have been quite wavy, you can clearly hear the needle pass the specific point of the wave. Other tracks, for example Ride Sally Ride, make me believe the vinyl should have been cleaned more thoroughly. Some cracks on various tracks are additional proof.
Secondly, at least the tracks from "Evolution", "Going For Myself" and "Electric Coffey" have been speeded up by at least one half-tone (reference: my original vinyl plus the "Scorpio" - track that was released on some Rhino CD compilations years ago).
I do have to say that I regret having bought this disc.
All collectors and admirers of Dennis Coffey's guitar playing should contact either him or record companies and say how desperately they are waiting for official reissues of his Sussex albums.

For anybody who listens to Dennis coffey's Phyche out funk, you'll agree that his style is a acquired taste. Not everybody may be fond to his buzzsaw guitar hammering but, you gotta give the man props for making some of the best contributions to funk and creating some of the most vicious breakbeats ever waxed.

Dennis Coffey's guitar style could've very well pioneered industrial metal long before Ministry and Nine Inch Nails knew the meaning of the word. For all of the funkateers who dig early Funkadelic, you'll appreciate Dennis Coffey's piercing guitar style. While other guitar players at the time were taking pages out of Jim Hendrix's textbook, Dennis was writing his own with gritty sandpaper riffs driving the main groove( check out "Son of Scorpio" for references). If you can get to that, I know you can get with the slinky gloom of the his remake of "Theme from Enter the Dragon". there's nothing I can say about his biggest hit "Scorpio" except that LL Cool J may ring a bell when you hear that breakbeat! He even manages to turn out some slow phychadelic jams with "Lonely Moon Child" and "Garden of the Moon"

I can go on and on about Big City Funk. I highly reconmmend this to anybody who appreciate deep funk and guitars.

1.) This CD was compiled by a European outfit who did not get permission to distribute it. They do not pay Dennis Coffey any royalties, but legally pursuing the party who issued it is too expensive. I confirmed this with Mr. Coffey himself.

2.) The audio on this CD is terrible. There is virtually no high-end frequency whatsoever, it sounds like a heavy blanket has been placed over the speakers. However, the worst part is:

3.) The pitch of all the songs is incorrect; most or all the tracks are sped-up faster than the original tracks on vinyl.

If you want to get the best-sounding CD of CF's solo work, PLUS get all the tracks in their correct pitch, buy "Absolutely the Best of Dennis Coffey" that was released in 2011. It has the majority of these tracks, and many others.

Don't contribute to a rip-off!

I had all Dennis Coffey's Sussex albums.Really, The first three, had the"groove", the last sussex album, Instant Coffey was okay, but the big thing was , that James Jamerson was hired to do the album, instead of Bob Babitt. I found this album at the Princeton Record exchange, and I must say, they have a very good staff, and their owner barry, very nice person, and He knows His music. Anyway, I agree with the last "reviewer", these four albums can fit on two Cd's, and I could be entitled, Dennis Coffey, The Sussex Years. Interesting enought, when Dennis Coffey created his guitar band, The first album, parts of the second album, the whole third album and none on the fourth, really featured the guitar band sound! As a matter of fact, the third album is an funkin album, for Dennis. He had the right ideal, a band of guitars with a little keyboard, every now and then. So, the problem with most complications CD's is , who is the one who's making it, and what are their choices, to be on the CD. Just like , the ill-fated Band Dennis came from, The Funk Brothers. I wouldn't say ill-fated for the Funk Brothers, just under appeciated. Their now released CD, "the best of", doesn't make any sense at all. Earl Van Dyke and The Soul Brothers made one album, then Earl made another album just with his name , without the "soul" Brothers. Yet, that album and the first one, could be on one CD, just Entitled, Motown presents The Funk Brothers. The best doesn't have, the very good intrumental cover of My Girl and Come see about me. Also, from the other album, I know they did "covers" of tunes, but it was on this album, that The Flick is on , and the writing credits, went, James Jamerson(His first writing credit), Robert White, Uriel Jones(still alive),and Earl Van Dyke. That's why I say, Recorded music, between 1968 to 1972 has many issues., and some good music is being either forgotten, or not being "brought back out" because of re-recording rights being held by some greedy past producer, waiting for a big pay day. When Motown lefted, it really did kill the spirit of Detroit.And, the real people who made the Motown sound, or in my opinion, the Detroit Sound, still are getting screwed out of repect, honor, and even their money.God Bless you Dennis, and the rest of the past and present Funk Brothers, you gave a new type of music, "Soul Rock"!!!