V/A, Blue Funk (2001)
I bought this when I was working in a music store – it was something of a novelty to order in vinyl (we sold CDs and DVDs only). But every now and then you could get hold of something and I ordered this because I’d become hooked on Grant Green – and there were plenty of cool things on this 2LP comp; Bobby Hutcherson I was a big fan of, Lou Donaldson too. This album is packed with great players but – in some sense – they’re the lesser known guys and this collection highlights some of the funk playing from the Blue Note roster, lots of guitar and organ sounds – all very cool. And it was pretty cheap, from memory. I remember I had to have it. And since having it – for a decade now – I’ve never played it right through more than once. I’ll play a side at a time (one side then stash it back away) or I’ll sometimes use it if I’m playing a DJ-set. It’s a kick-ass record. I like that I’m still finding gems on it; still finding new contexts for this music.

Sample Track: I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Grant Green)

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown