Can You Dig It? Music & Politics of Black Action Films: 1968-1975 [Import, Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Soundtrack
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B002GUJ13E
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,314 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Roy Ayers - Coffy (Coffy)

2. Gene Page - Blacula (Blacula)

3. Johnny Pate - Shaft In Africa (Addis) (Shaft In Africa)

4. Willie Hutch - Brothers Gonna Work It Out (The Mack)

5. Don Costa - Soul Of Nigger Charley (Soul Of Nigger Charley)

6. Marvin Gaye - T Plays It Cool (Troubleman)

7. Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street (Across 110th Street)

8. J.J. Johnson - Willie's Chase (Willie Dynamite)

9. James Brown - Down And Out In New York City (Clack Caeser)

10. Quincy Jones - They Call Me Mister tibbs (They Call Me Mister Tibbs)

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Isaac Hayes - Shaft (Shaft)

2. Joe Simon - Theme From Cleopatra Jones (Cleopatra Jones)

3. Roy Ayers - Aragon (Coffy)

4. Gordon Staples - All Strung Out (Mean Johnny Burrows)

5. Brer Soul & Earth, Wind And Fire - Sweetback's Theme (Sweet Sweetback)

6. Johnny Pate - Truck Stop (Shaft In Africa)

7. James Brown - Make It Good To Yourself (Black Caeser)

8. Isaac Hayes - Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile (Shaft In Africa)

9. Edwin Starr - Easin' In (Hell Up In Harlem)

10. Don Julian - Lay It On Your Head (Savage)

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2009 two CD release. Can You Dig It? charts the rise and fall of black action films from 1968-75. As well as featuring a double disc collection of the stunning music from these films, Can You Dig It? comes with a 100-page booklet, mini-film poster cards and stickers! This release covers music from such classic 'blaxploitation' films as Blacula, Shaft, Across 110th Street, Super Fly, Foxy Brown and Black Caesar amongst many, many more. Includes many super fly obscurities that'll make you hot including tracks from Don Costa, Grant Green, Dennis Coffy, Don Julian and others. Soul Jazz Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One bad mutha of a compilation, baby. Solid !, October 20, 2009

By 

Scott McWade "dubs" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Can You Dig It? Music & Politics of Black Action Films: 1968-1975 (Audio CD)

Great selection, sequencing and sonics. The book is focused more on the genre within the film industry, not with the music, specifically. The music was the best part of many of these films and it comes shining through, brilliantly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, March 7, 2010

By 

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber Print DJ ... (Mahwah, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Can You Dig It? Music & Politics of Black Action Films: 1968-1975 (Audio CD)

This is fantastic on one level: if you have never gotten into Blaxploitation music and want to know where to start, this has many of the absolute essentials

Remember, Blaxplotation is a film genre, not a musical one. A lot of these films--making African-Americans into superheros in the early 1970s was a major political statement--had soundtracks that encompassed soul, funk, jazz, and in many cases, experiments and genre cross-breeds that these artists would not try on their proper albums.

Everything here is great and if you just want a run down, this is most of what you need. But if you are serious, you really do want to use this as a guide for the soundtracks you should start hunting for. There is plenty out there and most are solid if not classic albums with tons and tons of interesting detours.

You will not go wrong with these crib notes--just remember, they are not the books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best collection of "blaxploitation" tunes, February 1, 2010

By 

Cecilia C. Hull (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Can You Dig It? Music & Politics of Black Action Films: 1968-1975 (Audio CD)

There are a few collections of great songs from the 70's "blaxploitation" films, but this is the best I've come across. Three simple reasons: (1) There are absolutely no weak songs -- this collection is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. (2) The sound quality is awesome -- the songs sound better here than they do on the original soundtrack CD's you can buy. (3) The booklet, while not exactly great history or great writing, is much more comprehensive than anything you'd find in a comparatively priced collection.