Three of the v songs on the album were covers of songs originally released past times Soul music artists. "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (by Sam & Dave), who recorded at Stax records (with the Stax beat section), as well as "Chain of Fools" (by Aretha Franklin) who recorded that vocal amongst the classic Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section at Atlantic Studios inward New York.
Two members of the beat department on Franklin's recording (Gene Christman as well as Tommy Cogbill) perform on Memphis Underground.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 3rd song, "New Orleans", was also released past times R&B artist (Gary the States Bonds), who recorded inward Virginia.
So though the alone ane vocal was certifiably of Memphis vintage, the conglomeration of immature New York jazz musicians amongst ane of the most storied Southern beat sections proved to hold out the catalyst for creating strong, fresh music that sounds similar neither Memphis Soul nor New York Jazz. This unique audio appealed to a large audience.
The tape is ane of the best-selling Jazz albums of all time. Rolling Stone said "Memphis Underground is a slice of musical alchemy, a marvelously intricate combination of the "Memphis sound" as well as jazz lyricism".
Memphis Underground was a favorite album of author Hunter S. Thompson, who mentions it positively inward several chapters of his mass Fear as well as Loathing on the Campaign Trail. In the article The Battle of Aspen, Thompson states that his "Freak Power" drive used Mann's recording of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" equally the background music for their commercials.
Another writer, the British author art_Home" title="Learn Herbie Isle of Mann - 1969 [2002] Memphis Underground">Stewart Home, equally a tribute to this Isle of Mann album, titled his 2007 new (some telephone telephone it an antinovel) Memphis Underground. In the novel, Home makes multiple references to soul, northern soul as well as jazz soul music.
OK, let's larn the unproblematic part out of agency first--this is a well-made belatedly '60's jazz-pop album played past times venture musicians as well as the championship rail is infectious as well as bears repeated listening's. I intend that Isle of Mann is non an all-time slap-up flute player, but he is a really practiced ane as well as he's at his best when he gets to move inward an easy, lazy groove, similar the championship cutting or "Chain of Fools": he has a overnice languid agency on those cuts that brings out the essence of the tunes. I'm non that wild nearly his "Battle Hymn of the Republic", which seems similar a pretty corny concept, as well as the occupation is that the album is alone 35 minutes long to receive down with, therefore cutting out that melody as well as you're left amongst 28 minutes. Seems similar Rhino could select reissued this on a disc amongst to a greater extent than or less other of Mann's albums, similar they've done amongst reissues of other Atlantic materials similar Charles Lloyd.
Anyway, that beingness said, in that location are to a greater extent than or less genuinely odd things going on inward this album. Isle of Mann used to larn a bad rap for beingness likewise pop, likewise "commercial", as well as admittedly he tin tend to play amongst a pretty low-cal touch, at to the lowest degree when compared to, say, Roland Kirk. But when he wanted to do this jazz-rock album, he teamed upwardly amongst a fairly gritty bunch of guys, i.e. the Stax studio hounds, rather than a line-up of the green jazz studios wizards. This contrast would hold out odd enough, but as well as then Isle of Mann brought along Sonny Sharrock, ane of the most aggressive, "out-there" guitarists around, as well as allow him rip on "Hold On, I'm Comin'". (The vocal also has Miroslav Vitous, to a greater extent than or less other avant-gardist who was before long playing amongst Weather Report, on bass.) The Stax guys, who started the vocal sounding therefore funky as well as gritty, air current upwardly sounding similar Boy Scouts when Sharrock starts his strafe-and-destroy feedback solo. All this arranged past times a flute histrion who was idea of equally "light" as well as "commercial". You start to wonder what darkness lurked inward the heart of Mann. It's worth getting this album simply for this outrageous musical moment.
I showtime got this on vinyl inward the mid 70's as well as was blown away past times the jazz stone audio the band pose down. The championship tune,Memphis Underground, is yet on of my favorite songs as well as I select been listening to it for 25 years. Possibly the best driving vocal ever. The residual of the album is really practiced too. Lots of R&B experience as well as to a greater extent than or less wondrous jazz riffs. The guitar as well as vibe audio slap-up amongst Manns flute, as well as the beat department is stone solid. I replaced the one-time vinyl album amongst a cd as well as if I lost it, I would purchase to a greater extent than or less other inward a minute. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 listening treat.
I dear this album, specially side 2 amongst Chain of Fools as well as Battle Hymn. I showtime heard this on a $20 portable tape histrion exterior my barracks inward Nam inward 1969. We played side 2 over as well as over. Imagine hearing Battle Hymn inward that setting. The tape histrion was therefore bad that I idea all those Larry Coryell riffs from Chain of Fools were a Saxophone. I've yet never heard a guitarist line off those kinds of intelligent but driving arpeggios before; non your criterion guitar playing. Herbie excels at grooves, non notes therefore he doesn't select to hold out to a greater extent than or less technical car zombie. Not many jazz albums tin boast such a funky groove as well as beat section. I tin yet larn people excited nearly this album who don't head to jazz as well as select never heard it. This for me volition ever hold out the penultimate Herbie Isle of Mann album as well as Chain of Fools volition likely ever stay my favorite Larry Coryell moment, although he's had to a greater extent than or less other practiced ones on his own.
Track listing
"Memphis Underground" (Herbie Mann) — 7:07
"New Orleans" (Frank Guida, Joseph Royster) — 2:07
"Hold On, I'm Comin'" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) — 8:52
"Chain of Fools" (Don Covay) — 10:42
"Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Traditional, arranged past times Herbie Mann) — 7:12
Personnel
Herbie Isle of Mann – flute
Roy Ayers – vibes, conga on "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Larry Coryell – guitar
Sonny Sharrock – guitar
Miroslav Vitouš - "Fender bass" on "Hold On, I'm Comin'"
"The Memphis beat section"
Reggie Young – guitar
Bobby Emmons – organ
Bobby Wood – electrical as well as acoustic piano
Gene Chrisman – drums
Tommy Cogbill or Mike Leech - "Fender bass" (individual tracks non specified)
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