Livin' In The Streets / Vol. 1

AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger  [-]

The first volume of this Ace Records series, compiling some overlooked and obscure collisions of soul, funk, disco, and jazz from the late '60s and 1970s, is actually not as good as the second installment. Still, hats off are in order for getting a relatively solid and sonically consistent anthology of this genre together, though a few of the outings are standard-issue '70s funk-soul-jazz fusion. Isaac Hayes (with his cover of "Use Me") is the most famous artist, the lineup being tilted toward some of the finer moments of funk-soul journeymen like Caesar Frazier and Ripple. Some left-field highlights, though, are Tammi Lynn's previously unreleased interpretation of "Light My Fire," embellished by some mighty suggestive groans; Cal Tjader's truly peculiar take on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," with some space-age electronics and wah-wah guitars; and Dave Hamilton's previously unissued, soundtrack-quality eerie "Marriage Is a State of Vibes," with its lean funk strut. Veterans of the '50s rock and R&B scene make unexpected updates into the psychedelic soul era on Preston Love's "Chili Mac" and Preston Epps' "Afro-Mania," while the Sonny Constanzo Big Band's "New Beginning" sounds in places like a TV pit orchestra suddenly getting a whole lotta soul. [This U.K. import is not available for sale in North America.]

Isaac Hayes- Use Me 0:00 Tammi Lynn- Light My Fire 5:46 Caesar Frazier- Mighty Mouse 9:48 Spanky Wilson- You 15:11 Pazant Brothers- Loose and Juicy 17:27 Houston Person- Sweet Buns and Barbecue 22:39 Jacqueline Jones- One Monkey Can't Stop The Show 25:46 Cal Tjader - Gimme Shelter 29:22 Ripple - I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky 32:14 Idris Muhammad - Brother You Know You're Doing Wrong 35:40 Dave Hamilton - Marriage Is A State Of Vibes 41:20 The Fatback Band - Mister Bass Man 44:54 Preston Love - Chili Mac 48:12 Preston Epps - Afro-Mania 51:49 Sonny Constanzo Big Band- New Beginning 54:38 (this gets cut off at the end)