Round 1

Skorpio: Kelj Fel! (Pepita 1977) - The infamous Sarolta Zalatnay's backing band - Hungarian hard rock for dat azz. Solid shit if you like some loud, vaguely funky cock rock with one track in particular that struts with a fierce stomp. I've heard several of their LPs and this is the best one I've hit upon yet.

Piramas: Pyramid (Pepita 1977) - Another decent Hungarian hard rock LP. Not quite as tasty as the Skorpio but good enough to keep.

Kenguru: OST (Pepita 1976) - Funky rock soundtrack. It's no "Pound" or anything but again, it has its moments. Probably more of a "producer's LP" - I wouldn't play this out at a club, but I might on my radio show.

Illes: Human Rights (Pepita 197?) - Hungarian rock album dedicated to Angela Davis. Dope ass concept but the execution feels conventional to me.

David Bromberg: Demon In Disguise (CBS 1972) - Folksy country rock record with a decent break on the song, "Sharon."

Swing to Fitness (Melody House 197?) - One of the better Melody House LPs in terms of breakbeats. (And that's about it)

Yokohama, California: S/T (Bamboo 1977) Obscure Asian American folk album out of Los Gatos, CA. Mostly folk-style tunes with one uneven attempt at Last Poets-esque spoken word ("Vegetables").

Emilio Santiago: S/T (CID, 197?) Solid Brazilian funk/soul LP feat. "Bananeira," "Brother," and a few other quality tunes. Recommended.

John Cadman Trio: On the Harbour (Mix 197?) - Filipino Austrialian album by a lounge act. Features a surprising cover of the Bar-Kays' "Humpin." More than a novelty LP but not exactly 5-alarm blazing either.

Myrth: S/T (RCA 1969) - This one has been in the back of my stacks for a while and I finally listened to it - wish I had done it a lot sooner. It's an interesting rock album that blends soul, pop, funk and psych influences. I'm really feeling this - really swining compositions and the vocals, though very much specific for the era, sound good to me. Also laces you with a breakbeat on the instrumental "Myrthiolate," though the best song on here is the first one: "Gotta Find a Way." It also has bird sounds in between songs. Go figure. Anyone else know this LP? It's great, right?

The Big Band of Al Cobine: Hate to See You Go (SPR 1975) - Private private Indiana LP of big band funkiness - has a good cover of "Hikky Burr."

Michael Urbaniak Constellation: In Concert (Polskie 1973) - Concert album recorded in Poland by that country's famous jazz vionlist. Pretty spacy, free fusion jazz. Solid production pieces with bits and pieces of sonic weirdness strewn throughout. Lo fi breakbeat on "Seresta." This LP actually sounds better than I remember it.

Klaus Wunderlich: Hammond Fur Millonen (Helion 1973) - Mostly terrible B3 LP with a shining moment on the very funky version of "Summertime." DITC fans know what's up.

Daniel Janin: 12 Super Success No 30 (Les Treateaux 196?) - French exploitation album that has mostly uneven selections but the songs that end both sides are fly funky instrumentals ("Trip For a Trap," and "Fat Fat Fellow")

Joe Cain: Latin Explosion (TIme 196?) - Excellent Latin album by one of the best arranger/producers of the late '60s and early '70s.

Qrquestra Olivieri: A Swingin' Combination (Speed 196?) - Solid boogaloo LP with "Wabble With Boogaloo," and the very, very dope "African Guajira."

Leroy Hutson: Love Oh Love (Curtom 1973) - Excellent '70s soul LP by one of the masters. I know Justin's feeling this kind of vibe. The B-side is KILLING shit especially when it closes with "As Long as There's Long Around."

Freidrich Guilda: As You Like It (MPS 1970) - Decent MPS title with a nice acoustic cover of "Light My Fire" (Klauss Weiss on drums).

Tito Puente: Tito Unlimited (Tico 1974) - Nice, disco-era Latin LP with the equally excellent "Vibe Mambo" and "Margie's Mood." That whole Side B is actually all really good, atypical Latin tunes.

Pete Eye Trio: S/T (Cavern 197?) - Private press jazz album with notable covers of "Cissy Strut," and "Dem Changes." Not essential but I'm not mad having found it for cheap either.

Moonglows: The Return of the Moonglows (RCA 1972) - Doo wop meets '70s soul album with the surprisingly funky "SIncerely" (maybe not that surprising since Harvey Fuqua did produce this LP).

Ju-Par Universal Orchestra: Moods and Grooves (Ju-Par 197?) - Killer soul/funk instrumental album with some Latin influences mixed in too. Trust me, you'll like this.

Pete Moore: Exciting Sounds of Tomorrow (Rediffusion 196?) - British instrumental album with at least one decent groover with "Catwalk."

Love: Reel-to-Real (RSO 1974) - Features an unexpected (and quite good) cover of "Be Thankful For What You Got."

The Little Boy BLues: In the Woodland of Weir (Fontana, 196?) - Wizard woodsy psych rock feat. "Seed of Love," aka Jay-Z's original "PSA" beat. I'm not into the whole album but that one cut is on friggin' fire.

Crystal Mansion: S/T (Capitol 196?) - Folksy pop rock with "And It Takes My Breath Away" - a song so feel good groovy that it justifies purchase of the LP just for that.

The Son Seals Blues Band: S/T (Alligator 1973) - S'okay funky blues album with "Hot Sauce" and "How Could She Leave Me," but not much else to really get down with.

Variations: S/T (Amour 1977) - Oakland funk outfit (decidedly post-P-funk) with Perfect Circle working as one the rhythm section. As the song goes, "Don't give me no Watergate/just give me some funk and I'll be straight."