Soul Records Presents: Afro-Centric Visions In The Age Of Black Power. Underground Jazz, Street Funk & The Roots Of Rap (1968-79)

I bought a book. “What a revelation” you may say! Well actually, I bought it a while ago on my travels up North a few months back. And it IS actually a revelation. The book is called “You’ve Never Heard Your Favourite Song” by Matthew Doucet.

What the book does is recommend 100 tracks across multiple genres “to make your world sound better”.

I’ve made a habit of dipping into it every day to explore and read about at lease one of his recommended tracks. So far the hit rate of remarkableness has been 100%.

In keeping with my current mode of musical exploration, I’m cracking open one of my many Soul Jazz compilations, many of which have gone largely unheard. This Soul Jazz Record is a real cracker with nary a wasted note. Now do yourself a favour and listen to something you’ve never heard before.

This record has also opened another can of worms - “Black Lives Matter”. Listen to this, read the liner notes and then watch “I Am Not Your Negro”.

• Allmusic.com - Review