Wewantsounds: Mainstream Funk - Funk, Soul, Spiritual Jazz 1971-1975 Vinyl 2LP

"Wewantsounds continues its collaboration with Bob Shad's venerable jazz label Mainstream Records, and present a selection of 12 turntable-friendly tracks recorded between 1971 and 1975 and showcasing the label's superb blend of spiritual jazz, funk, and soul.Mainstream Records is one of the key independent jazz labels of the early 70s, together with Flying Dutchman, Strata East, CTI, and Black Jazz. Founded by legendary label man Bob Shad (who had been head of A&R at Mercury Records and set EmArcy in the '50s), the label concentrated on psychedelia in the '60s before switching back to Shad's jazz roots in the early '70s, signing a new crop of jazzmen fed on John Coltrane and Miles' electric experiments. Thus, was born the cult Mainstream "300 Series" with its distinctive artwork and outstanding music from which this selection is largely drawn. Giving their chance to many young jazz players and a few old friends, Shad recorded some of the most exciting jazz of the early '70s, mixing spiritual influences with funk and soul. It is interesting to note the Mainstream sessions included many of the hottest session players of that time such as Ron Carter, Eddie Henderson, Airto, Mtume, Earl Palmer, Mickey Roker, Merl Saunders, Cedar Walton, to name but a few. Shad also had a long-standing association with jazz divas showcased here with the opening track by Sarah Vaughan, a funkified version of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" recorded the same year as the original in 1971. Mainstream Funk also includes a selection of superb tracks by young Turks who'd cut their teeth as sidemen for Blue Note and Prestige in the late '60s and were given a chance to record their own music on Mainstream." - Wewantsounds

• 12 rare spiritual jazz, funk + soul tracks from the revered Mainstream Records
• black double vinyl pressing
• remastered sound
• housed in gatefold sleeve w/ rare photos + liner notes
• music label: Wewantsounds 2022