THE BEST FUNK/SOUL COMPILATIONS BY "VARIOUS ARTISTS"

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I know, I know—it's tempting to always put on Mothership Connection and anything by George Clinton.  But I'm telling you, if you like Funk/Soul music, the compilations are the way to go.  Back in the day, I was skeptical about any "Various Artists" records.  I was an album purist and you would be hard pressed to ever find me listening to a Greatest Hits album, let alone a compilation serving up selections by many bands.  Now, my perspective is a little different.

Here's the thing.  There's so much music that never found a wide audience.  It doesn't mean it wasn't any good—in fact, a lot of it is wonderful.  A band's lack of commercial success could be attributed to a variety of reasons. It could be bad timing.   The label could have went bankrupt.  Maybe the A&R who signed the band retired and the new guy doesn't like the music.  Maybe the radio programmer doesn't like the way the label head wears his tie.  You know what I'm saying? 

Anyway, there are some labels that specialize in compiling some of the best B-sides, rarities and misses onto one record.  Listening to these records is often a sureal experience.  You have to hear this music 

California Funk 

Cold Heat 

Strange Breaks And Mr. Thing

Strange Breaks And Mr. Thing II

Truth And Soul Presents: Cinematic Soul

Best Of Perception And Today's Records

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "RUNAWAY" BY DEL SHANNON

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"Runaway" by Del Shannon

One could make the argument that before The Beatles released Rubber Soul in 1965, Del Shannon's 1961 number one hit "Runaway" was the rock song to beat.  Why? In 1961 you weren't hearing such pessimistic and cynical songs on the radio.  If it was Rock & Roll, you pretty much sang love songs and only love songs.  Since "Runaway" is about losing love, it was absolutely ahead of it's time.  It was also innovative sonically.  Take the eerie organ solo, for instance.  It's dissonance and unpredictable twists and turns made it a very risky move for the time—and it probably influenced The Doors' Ray Manzarek.  In less than two minutes and twenty seconds, "Runaway" has three very distinct and equally melodic sections, which probably made fellow songwriter's jaws drop—for an entire month.  For four weeks, the song peaked at the highest position on the charts and in 2004, "Runaway" was included as #466 in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 500 greatest songs of all time.  

"Runaway" by Del Shannon

I also believe "Runaway" was a partial melodic inspiration for the Bob Dylan favorite "One More Cup Of Coffee."

"One More Cup Of Coffee" by Bob Dylan