Three of the 5 songs on the album were covers of songs originally released yesteryear Soul music artists. "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (by Sam & Dave), who recorded at Stax records (with the Stax musical rhythm section), as well as "Chain of Fools" (by Aretha Franklin) who recorded that vocal alongside the classic Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section at Atlantic Studios inward New York.
Two members of the musical rhythm department on Franklin's recording (Gene Christman as well as Tommy Cogbill) perform on Memphis Underground.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tertiary song, "New Orleans", was also released yesteryear R&B creative soul (Gary USA Bonds), who recorded inward Virginia.
So though the solely 1 vocal was certifiably of Memphis vintage, the conglomeration of immature New York jazz musicians alongside 1 of the most storied Southern musical rhythm sections proved to endure 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 1 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 majority Fear as well as Loathing on the Campaign Trail. In the article The Battle of Aspen, Thompson states that his "Freak Power" crusade used Mann's recording of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" every bit the background music for their commercials.
Another writer, the British author Stewart Home, every bit a tribute to this Isle of Mann album, titled his 2007 new (some telephone outcry upwards 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 business office out of means first--this is a well-made belatedly '60's jazz-pop album played yesteryear corporation musicians as well as the championship runway is infectious as well as bears repeated listening's. I intend that Isle of Mann is non an all-time corking flute player, but he is a rattling skilful 1 as well as he's at his best when he gets to travel inward an easy, lazy groove, similar the championship cutting or "Chain of Fools": he has a dainty languid mode 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 work is that the album is solely 35 minutes long to start out with, therefore cutting out that melody as well as you're left alongside 28 minutes. Seems similar Rhino could accept reissued this on a disc alongside roughly other of Mann's albums, similar they've done alongside reissues of other Atlantic materials similar Charles Lloyd.
Anyway, that beingness said, in that location are roughly really odd things going on inward this album. Isle of Mann used to larn a bad rap for beingness also pop, also "commercial", as well as admittedly he tin tend to play alongside a pretty low-cal touch, at to the lowest degree when compared to, say, Roland Kirk. But when he wanted to practise this jazz-rock album, he teamed upwards alongside a fairly gritty bunch of guys, i.e. the Stax studio hounds, rather than a line-up of the commons jazz studios wizards. This contrast would endure odd enough, but therefore Isle of Mann brought along Sonny Sharrock, 1 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, roughly other avant-gardist who was before long playing alongside Weather Report, on bass.) The Stax guys, who started the vocal sounding therefore funky as well as gritty, current of air upwards sounding similar Boy Scouts when Sharrock starts his strafe-and-destroy feedback solo. All this arranged yesteryear a flute purpose participant who was idea of every bit "light" as well as "commercial". You start to wonder what darkness lurked inward the pump of Mann. It's worth getting this album simply for this outrageous musical moment.
I start got this on vinyl inward the mid 70's as well as was blown away yesteryear the jazz stone audio the band seat down. The championship tune,Memphis Underground, is nonetheless on of my favorite songs as well as I accept been listening to it for 25 years. Possibly the best driving vocal ever. The balance of the album is rattling skilful too. Lots of R&B experience as well as roughly wondrous jazz riffs. The guitar as well as vibe audio corking alongside Manns flute, as well as the musical rhythm department is stone solid. I replaced the quondam vinyl album alongside a cd as well as if I lost it, I would purchase roughly other inward a minute. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 listening treat.
I honey this album, specially side 2 alongside Chain of Fools as well as Battle Hymn. I start heard this on a $20 portable tape purpose participant 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 purpose participant was therefore bad that I idea all those Larry Coryell riffs from Chain of Fools were a Saxophone. I've nonetheless never heard a guitarist push clit off those kinds of intelligent but driving arpeggios before; non your criterion guitar playing. Herbie excels at grooves, non notes therefore he doesn't accept to endure roughly technical auto zombie. Not many jazz albums tin boast such a funky groove as well as musical rhythm section. I tin nonetheless larn people excited nearly this album who don't heed to jazz as well as accept never heard it. This for me volition e'er endure the penultimate Herbie Isle of Mann album as well as Chain of Fools volition in all probability e'er rest my favorite Larry Coryell moment, although he's had roughly other skilful 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 yesteryear 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 musical rhythm 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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