Mo' Mod Jazz [Import]

Various Artists | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Kent Records UK
• ASIN: B0000083LI
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,553 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. WADE IN THE WATER - Johnny Griffin Orchestra

2. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE - Johnny Gilliam

3. MONEY (THAT'S WHAT I WANT) - Freddie Roach

4. SOUL JAM - Booker T & The MGs

5. GOT MY MO-JO WORKING (BUT IT JUST WON'T WORK ON YOU) - Billy Hawks

6. (I GOT A) STOMACH ACHE - Junior Wells

7. GOT TO MOVE YOUR BABY - Lightnin' Hopkins

8. EYESIGHT TO THE BLIND - Mose Allison

9. GEORGIA ON MY MIND - Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers

10. GET THE MONEY - Mongo Santamaria Orchestra

11. CHOLO - Brown Brothers Of Soul

12. BLUE VIBES - Johnny Lytle Trio

13. SMOKEY JOE'S LA LA - The Googie Rene Combo

14. SPIDERMAN - Freddie McCoy

15. LIVIN' SOUL - Richard Groove Holmes

16. RIGHT ON - Boogaloo Joe Jones

17. MY TRAIN - Merl Saunders

18. YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN - Chris Columbo

19. BAD LUCK SOUL - B.B. King

20. YOU WIN, I LOSE - Little Johnny Taylor

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

The second installment in the Mod Jazz series conjures up the ultra-hip mod scene in an era when the DJ was experimenting with the musical taste of his audience by rediscovering new dance sounds from the 50s and 60s. This trend launched many DJs into searching out the more obscure offshoots of the traditional soul and R&B mod sounds of Tamla Motown and Atlantic Records - thus discovering blues, ska and jazz.

The music that was prevalent on the 80s UK Mod scene was never viewed as merely 'nostalgic', it was considered more of a continuation in the progressive attitude of the 60s. Although the classic Mod tracks that were already well known provided the backbone of the music scene, the Mod lifestyle dictated the necessity to seek out tunes had seldom been heard before.

The constant quest for elitism brought about the discovery of many fresh and exciting tunes that had previously remained undiscovered - possibly since they were first released.

The labels featured in this collection, such as Riverside, Prestige and Battle, are excellent examples of specialist labels producing first class originals as well as foot stomping cover versions that kept the dance floors of clubs like Sneakers, the Outrigger and the 100 Club heaving with bodies twitching to the hip-bending beats of years gone by.

The pace is set by the big band soul sounds of Johnny Griffin. The Hammond organ grooves of Freddie Roach carry it through into the city blues of Junior Wells and BB King. We shimmy around the outskirts of town with the urban blues from the likes of Lightnin' Hopkins and Mose Allison, sliding into the Latin jazz conga beats of such luminaries as Mongo Santamaria and Henry 'Pucho' Brown. Mellow modern jazz in the form of Johnny Lytle and vocalist Mark Murphy soothe the soul in time to bring us smoothly back down to earth from jazz heaven. Nice...really nice. -- Richard Early, Kent Records UK

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yoo-hoo let's boogaloo, August 22, 2003

By 

Andrew M. Schirmer "violist/student" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mo' Mod Jazz (Audio CD)

Having bought this on the strength of one track ("Smokey Joe's La-La" -- featured on David Holmes' classic "Essential Mix") I was pleasantly surprised with the overall quality of this selection. It's what those recent Verve "hipster jazz" collections should be. A diverse compilation with tracks in blues, latin, lounge (Mark Murphy's "Señor Blues"), and big-band styles related only in their being eminently danceable. The familiar--B.B. King, Booker T, Mongo Santamaria--and the obscure--Freddie McCoy, Googie Rene Combo, and just about everybody else. Richard "Groove" Holmes puts in a appearance which simply adds to the mounting evidence that he was the funkiest organist ever. Considering the size--22 tracks in all--and diversity of this thing, purchasing should be a no-brainer. A worthy follow-up is Willie Bobo's "Spanish Grease."