Search - Joe Quarterman & Free Soul :: Golden Classics Edition

Interesting, but hardly essential.

ikaris | Marietta, GA United States | 11/13/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Sir Joe Quarterman and Free Soul make up one of many "second tier" funk groups that formed in the late 60s and early 70s. This CD comprises some of their best tracks and, if you are a hardcore funk fan, you may find it worthwhile. There is some nice horn and guitar work scattered throughout the disc. HOWEVER.....While I realize that groups like Black Nasty, Joe Quarterman and Free Soul, The Counts, Ripple, Black Heat and the like all have their fans and cult followings......It doesn't take a long listen to see why these groups are not considered to be on the same level as Sly, The Ohio Players, The Bar-Kays, The Commodores, Brick, Cameo, Slave, Kool and the Gang, Con Funk Shun, P-Funk, Mandrill, War, The Meters, etc. They are interesting groups to be sure, but I would only recommend checking into them AFTER you've obtained more essential funk first.For one thing, I find the music by these "second tier" funk outfits to be extremely repititious and unoriginal. After about 4 tracks, the music begins to sound alike and run together. One of the things that distinguished great groups like the Isleys or Earth, Wind & Fire was their diversity.......an innate ability to flawlessly shift from hard funk, to soul, to ballads, to jazz......seemingly effortlessly. You'll find no such variety or diversity here. Track 10 is pretty much on the same groove as track 1.Secondly, many of these "underground" lesser-known funk groups were really intended to be back up bands first......and that is a big part of why there is a sameness to the music. It doesn't hold up well on it's own.As long as you realize this going in, and you just want to add some depth to your r&b collection, then you might be interested in picking this up if you find it for a bargain price. There's no question that there were a number of talented funk groups in the early 70s and that inevitably some groups would be nudged aside; just remember, though......"second tier," rare groove-style groups are second tier for a reason. After 4 or 5 tracks you'll see why..."