Looking for L.A. mid-70s jazz-funk

[Diskos]

Hi!

I'm looking for more albums of a certain style. I didn't know this style could be called like that (see title) until I read an AllMusic.com review of the Taxi Driver soundtrack and its last couple out-of-line but wonderful arrangements by Dave Blume (click for sample):
Dave Blume (arr.) - Taxi Driver (Reprise) (1975)

Also of this style is Rhythm Heritage (Discofied, 1976) and Dave Grusin's "3 Days of the Condor" soundtrack (1975). I wonder whether you know other examples of this very particular kind of jazz-funk / fusion, obviously greatly bound to the mid-70s Los Angeles music scene. Typical I think is the slick and slightly synthetic feel, which could be a reason why it was derogatorily called 'fuzak' in the AllMusic review. Probably I love this so much for the same reasons the reviewer hated it.

Thanks!

[Disco Funk]

Stuff like this?









Disco Funk

[Diskos]

Yeah, you pretty much hit the mark! I think "Mysterious Flying Orchestra - Shadows" is the purest one. I forgot to mention another example, the great music to be heard on the Charlie's Angels TV series, composed by Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson. Occasionally a bit tacky, but most of the time very well-crafted.

[Diskos]

Anything else a bit closer to Cop Show Funk (Rhythm Heritage-like)?

[whitesockedfunk]

Thanks for these, I especially enjoy Lonnie Liston Smith!

[Disco Funk]

I'm glad you guys liked the tracks.

As for cop show funk, you could check out material by Tom Scott, Dave Grusin, amongst others. There's also the british library music stuff, which you can find on various compilations. Seek out labels like KPM, De Wolfe, etc... Just type in keywords like 'library' and names like Alan Parker, Alan Hawkshaw, Alan Tew (yes, a lot of those guys were named Alan for some reason), Keith Mansfield, Brian Bennett. They specialized in making music for TVs and movies. Here are some examples









Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

A few more examples






I also forgot to name Bob James, who's music was very sountrack-esque. He did the music for the TV show Taxi in the late 70s.



And Grover Washington's mid 70s projects, some of which included Bob James, also had the similar feel



Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

One more jam, from Idris Muhammad (Bob James' drummer on Nautilus)



Then there's this great number from Cedar Walton.



Disco Funk

[Diskos]

These are pretty interesting too, but the thing I meant was this L.A. mid-70s jazz-funk thing AND having at the same time cop-show-like qualities, like Rhythm Heritage, or 3 Days of the Condor (the best examples I can think of right now). Unfortunately, there's normally no way to see where they did their funky work, so you have to rely on your ear.

[buckaroo]

These are pretty interesting too, but the thing I meant was this L.A. mid-70s jazz-funk thing AND having at the same time cop-show-like qualities...

I think you mean something harder like this:



I close my eyes, and can just imagine droopy moustachioed, thick-sideburned cops, chasing a perp down a side street. :icon_surprised: A la Barretta, Police Woman, and all the other shows I used to watch...Heh

Freeze!!! :icon_smile:

This was a Quinn Martin post...

[Diskos]

I wonder how this moustache-cop image could come up, since I don't know a single moustached 1970s cop (at least not with this 1970s moustache). I know that track, although it's a bit too electronic / synthetic / 1980 for my taste.

[tyree_kevin]

A la "It`s Rough Out Here" or "Warp Factor II" by The Montana Orchestra aka The Philly Group / MFSB. That real cool jazzy / funky disco sound!

[Diskos]

A la "It`s Rough Out Here" or "Warp Factor II" by The Montana Orchestra aka The Philly Group / MFSB. That real cool jazzy / funky disco sound!

Warp Factor II is great indeed. It's Rough Out Here is a new one for me. Keep it coming, guys!

[tyree_kevin]

You can find "It`s Rough Out Here" on Rhapsody by The Montana Orchestra aka MFSB. Music, Downloads, Music Videos, Lyrics and Photos - Rhapsody

[tyree_kevin]

Apollo 440`s "Time Is Running Out" I don`t where they got those samples or if it is sampled but I`ve always admired this record. It`s fast, furious, has a 4/4 kick at about 125 bpms washed through dub. The record is the nain track of the SWAT movie. Pretty much everything you described.

[Diskos]

Apollo 440`s "Time Is Running Out" I don`t where they got those samples or if it is sampled but I`ve always admired this record. It`s fast, furious, has a 4/4 kick at about 125 bpms washed through dub. The record is the nain track of the SWAT movie. Pretty much everything you described.

Well, it's got to be from the 1970s, everything else sounds different too. Knight Rider and A-Team are already very different, although the same genre in a way.

[FranceJoliFan]