Various - Miami Sound: Rare Funk and Soul from Miami, Florida 1967-74 2LP

Soul Jazz Records Miami Sound features rare and classic Funk and Deep Soul from Miami, Florida between 1968 and 1974. The album brings together million-selling artists such as Gwen McRae, George McRae and Timmy Thomas alongside artists little known outside of the sunshine state such as James Knight and The Butlers, Frank Williams and The Rocketeers and All the People.

Miami Funk, Soul and Disco was dominated by TK Records, founded by Henry Stone in the early 1970s. Through a myriad of associated record labels such as Alston, Blue Candle, Dash, Glades, Cat and more, TK Records made international artists out of Gwen McRae and her brother George McRae, Betty Wright and KC and The Sunshine Band, all in the mid-70s crossover period between Soul and Disco.

The music on this compilation shows the roots of this Miami Sound. All the artists and musicians on this album work together throughout the heyday of TK Records when it produced hit after hit on an almost daily basis. The house band (the equivalent to Motown's Funk Brothers) included songwriters such as Clarence Reid (AKA Blowfly, the adult comedian!), Casey Finch (KC from KC and The Sunshine Band) along with musicians Little Beaver, Frank Williams and Robert Moore. As well as being the in-house band, most of these artists also ran successful solo careers, making Miami one of the most musically creative hot spots in the USA.

The artists on this compilation include Helene Smith, Miami’s first lady of Soul, Frank Williams and The Rocketeers (featuring a very young Little Beaver on vocals), George McRae’s rare-groove classic "I Get Lifted" (written by Casey Finch), Timmy Thomas’ truly experimental track "Funky Me", Gwen McRae’s classic "90% of Me" as well as a host of practically unknown Miami artists who never managed to make it outside the city borders!

REVIEWS

“Soul Jazz Records latest curatorial masterpiece” THE WIRE

“Soul Jazz Records compilations are a virtual guarantee of great music” THE GUARDIAN

“Just as they did in New Orleans, Soul Jazz have unearthed a funky treasure trove in Florida’s vaults.” MOJO

“Another smartly curated trawl through African-American treasures from Soul Jazz uncovers a host of classic funk and soul from Florida between 1968-74.” TIME OUT