More on Blaxploitation music

**jazz_pilgrim** · May 27th, 2002, 05:27 AM

This post is a follow-up to some of the debate there has been on the Board ocver the past couple of weeks regarding Blaxploitation influenced music.

Well, on Saturday night, they ran the film "Shaft" on one of our main TV channels. And I watched it - I think for the first time!! I must say - what a great film it was - it's got that really great Seventies atmosphere that we have been talking about !!
I'd give anything just to be ONE MILLIONTH as cool as John Shaft!!

And since we've been debating this music on the Board, I've was browsing through the CD shops in Central London the other night, and I was amazed to see the number of "Blaxploitation" compilation Cds there are out there!! Loads of 'em!! Most of them contain all of the trax that we've been talking about - James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Bobby Womack, Billy Paul, Esther Phillips ...
I shall certainly be picking a couple of these up!

One or two of these compilations are slightly dubious, for example, one of them contains Alphonse Mouzon with his 1981 jazz-track "By All Means". It is, of course, an excellent track, but is it Blaxploitation??

I'm now in the middle of putting together my next Minidisc compilation. And it's no surprise that it is heavily-influenced by the Blaxploitation era .. So far I've put on

Donny Hathaway - The Best of (CD) incl "The Ghetto"
Marvin Gaye - "What's Going on" - entire LP
Bobby Womack - "!Across 110th Street"
Stylistics - "People Make The World Go Round" (1971)

I've got about half on hour to fill up ...

So, what is the point I am trying to make?
The point is, that thanks to this Board, I have gotten seriously interested in one area of Black Dance music that I knew something about but not an amazing amount. So this has opened up a whole new area to explore and enjoy ..

So Blaxman, Sammyperez and Funky Dude, amongst others ---I OWE YA ONE !!!! :lol:

**Blaxman** · May 27th, 2002, 08:43 AM

Jazz, dont be surprised! This things happens here everytime! That's why this forum is great and beloved around the world. The same happens to me, I had my knowledgment about disco increased 100 times in here. Fantastic!!!! :grin:

About blaxploitation music, I'm really glad to share my passion with all you mentioned (Sammy, Funky Dude and certainly others).

Which "Shaft" movie are you talkin about? 70's or 2000's movie?

I like both but the 2000's soundtrack CD is very weak in my opinion. :sad:

If you dont know yet, visit http://www.blaxploitation.com - it's really worth to.

Good trip,

Blaxman

_________________
SENHORES DO GROOVE - BRAZIL

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blaxman on 2002-05-27 09:44 ]</font>

**jazz_pilgrim** · May 27th, 2002, 09:04 AM

It was the original Seventies film !! It was on very late and I really enjoyed it!! I heard that the remake wasn't as good.

I'll be checkin' out your web link tonight ... (after visiting www. Discomusic.com first of course!!).

See ya later ...

**sirius** · May 27th, 2002, 10:03 AM

Dear jazz pilgrim!
As I know there three parts of SHAFT, also
I like SUPERFLY, COFFY, CLEOPATRA JONES,
THE MACK and the sleazy-trashy BLACK SHAMPOO.
If you´re little into horror try BLACKULA,
SCREAM BLACKULA SCREAM and BLACKENSTEIN.
Such a big difference to the hiphop-society
nowadays...
Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

**Blaxman** · May 27th, 2002, 10:29 AM

On 2002-05-27 11:03, sirius wrote:
...there three parts of SHAFT, also
I like SUPERFLY, COFFY, CLEOPATRA JONES,
THE MACK and the sleazy-trashy BLACK SHAMPOO.
If you´re little into horror try BLACKULA,
SCREAM BLACKULA SCREAM and BLACKENSTEIN.
Such a big difference to the hiphop-society
nowadays...

Sirius, you're right. The original 70's Shaft trilogy is:

-SHAFT
-SHAFT IN AFRIKA
-SHAFT BIG SCORE

BTW, Blacula is a weak movie but its soundtrack is great. Gene Page is the man behind it.

Blaxman

**Mixmachine** · May 27th, 2002, 01:22 PM

checkout the movie "Across 110th street" out on DVD, the plot doesn't holdup as well as it did when I first saw it(I was 14 )but it's got that 70's feeling and great soundtrack of course.

**zeca azevedo** · June 1st, 2002, 03:56 AM

:D

**Funky Dude** · June 1st, 2002, 05:14 AM

Speaking of Shaft, back around late 2000 when the new Shaft movie was hitting the cinemas in Australia, all 3 Shaft movies were aired on free-to-air and the Shaft series was aired on pay TV, so I got the chance to see all of the early Shaft and they were fantastic. Unfortunately with Shaft's Big Score I set the clock timer to tape it but because the other movie ran overtime I missed the last say 5-20 minutes of the movie, DAMN!!! What's worse, none of the local video stores have this movie.

Anyhow I love the soundtracks to these movies especially songs like:
Shaft:
Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft/End Theme
Isaac Hayes - Do Your Thing
Shaft's Big Score:
OC Smith - Blowin' Your Mind (Theme)
And there are a few other cool funky tracks but I don't know the titles
Shaft In Africa:
Four Tops - Are You Man Enough (Theme)
Johnny Pate - You Can't Even Walk In The Park
Johnny Pate - Addis

Speaking of "You Can't Even Walk In The Park" by Johnny Pate, I've listened to the record version I've downloaded from Audio Galaxy and I've listened to the movie version when watching it and I notice that the movie version is more faster and has more wah wah in it. I was wondering is there a version of this song on record or CD that is the same as the movie version?

**georgeb** · March 17th, 2005, 06:28 AM

Blaxpoitation to this fotum!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D
You impessed me favourably.Blaxploitation music was always my favourite style of music.I agree with your lists.My suggestions are a little more "alternative".Try for the O.S.T. from "The taking of Pelham 1,2,3"which is a great jazz-funk blaxpoitation lp(produced by David Shire),"Diamonds" and "fear is the key" produced by Roy Budd,and the track "Nadine" from the O.S.T "Le serpent"by Ennio Morricone(Yes guys it s a real blaxploitation tune)

**georgeb** · March 20th, 2005, 05:09 AM

Shaft In Africa:
Four Tops - Are You Man Enough (Theme)
Johnny Pate - You Can't Even Walk In The Park
Johnny Pate - Addis

AMAZING SOUNDTRACK FUNKY DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am wondering If you have any informations about Black fist O.S.T.Someone told me that is a great blaxploitation soundtrack.I still haven t found a copy.The shopkeapers told me that is very rare(In Greece)

**originalbigm** · March 20th, 2005, 09:47 AM

I didn't see "Slaughter's Big Rip-Off" (1973) mentioned which in fact I've never seen and don't know if it can still be found in the video stores.James Brown along with Fred Wesley wrote the funky soundtrack for this which produced two great classic early roots disco tracks "Sexy,Sexy,Sexy" and "People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul".Also on the soundtrack is a cut entitled "Happy For The Poor" which is in fact a slightly uptempo version of the classic JB's hit "Gimme Some More".Also the late Lyn Collins appears on this soundtrack singing a nice slow ballad " How Long Can I Keep It Up".The movie starred Jim Brown along with Don Stroud.For fans
of the blaxpoitation genre I'd definitely check this one out.

**Jow** · April 8th, 2006, 05:15 AM

Don't forget Willie Hutch and and his Brother's we're gonna work it out awesome really :D

**Disco Funk** · April 12th, 2006, 09:31 PM

Other blaxploitation albums or cuts too look out for:

Willie Dynamite OST - JJ Johnson
Together Brothers - Love Unlimited Orchestra
Gordon's War - New Birth, Barbara Mason, and Badder Than Evil
Dolemite
Savage - Don Julian
Theme From Black Belt Jones (I haven't heard the LP) - Dennis Coffey
Three Tough Guys/Truck Turner - Isaac Hayes

Funky non-blaxploitation soundtracks to also check out:

Hanged Man - Bullet
Hell's Belles - Les Baxter
La Planete Sauvage - Alain Gorageur

Here's a website dedicated to the sub-genre:

Blaxploitation

Disco Funk

**jazz_pilgrim** · May 17th, 2006, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the link! I know quite a few people who will enjoy that website!

**qdearl** · May 18th, 2006, 10:51 AM

Another great OST is....

"Three the Hard Way" - the Impressions
A Curtis Mayfield Production

**soulsta** · May 19th, 2006, 07:38 AM

I am also a big fan of the blaxploitation era. I am not extremely savy in knowledge but the main movies and soundtracks I have tons of. I am still looking for claudine and mahogany. this is some good info you have posted threaders.

**Energyguy** · May 19th, 2006, 11:42 AM

Im really into this Blaxplotation music at the moment... found some great Lps/Cds over the apst few weeks. I was lucky enough to get the soundtracks to both ACROSS 110TH STREET & SHAFT - both are absolute corkers.

**eddie** · May 19th, 2006, 11:26 PM

Unfortunately, the Claudine soundtrack was reissued in 1999 and vanished about a year later. I saw a copy on vinyl go for over $40 recently online. Why is it so rare, even on vinyl? Anything else after that by Gladys Knight and the pips on vinyl, record stores tell me they can't even give away.

**visuals** · May 20th, 2006, 08:27 PM

There is one Blaxploitation soundtrack that I wouldn't mind getting my hands on if it would even SEEM to exist on LP,CD or otherwise and it goes by the name of "The Black Godfather". The flick stars Rod Perry & Jimmy Witherspoon and was released in 1974.
During the opening credits, A brother by the name of Martin Yarbrough or Martin Yarbourough is listed as scoring the film but I have been scouring the internet trying to find anything but no luck. I got hipped to the flick just last summer and have been looking ever since. I haven't watched the DVD in a while but the lyrics I remember off the top of my head were...Hey Jay-Jaaaay...... Make Them Paaaay. The tune was very simple with just a 2-note bassline and a lazy guitar lick throughout the track with the drummer in the background. The ballads are pretty smooth too.
Anybody with any info plz lay it on a brotha. I am starting to think that this was scored for the film only and never received a formal release in any format.

**Disco Funk** · May 24th, 2006, 08:56 PM

I haven't seen a soundtrack release of The Black Godfather. There are a lot of movies that never had a release back in the day. You have to be careful, though. There have been a number issues of soundtracks that never existed before, like Friday Foster and Black Belt Jones. They sound like they were taken from the audio of the film. Black Belt Jones only had a 45 release by Dennis Coffey, and it goes for mad bucks on Ebay.

Disco Funk

**visuals** · May 25th, 2006, 01:40 AM

You're right about that Disco Funk. Though I haven't seen the Friday Foster sndtrk around, I have seen a couple for Black Belt. The original Dennis Coffey version of the theme has been around for a while on one of the "Pulp Fusion" various artists compilation discs. Luchi De Jesus covered it on the Uncle Jr.'s Friday Fish Fry compilation.
I think Lalo Shiffrin?? <---incorrect spelling i'm sure) also did a cover of it as well.

**visuals** · May 25th, 2006, 02:19 AM

I have a few discs that were not scored from Blaxploitation movies but a few of the cuts I swear sound like they could have come str-8 out of some.

1> Shake Sauvage:The French Soundtracks 1968-1973
there are a few numbers on here (INSTRUMENTAL french numbers mind you) that were raw and gritty just as a blaxploitation flic would require. Shag party funk with a slight psychedelic edge

2> Mood Mosaic Vol. 11 (Feelin' Funky)
again, not blaxploitation but a couple of these tunes could pass as some. lots of funk here.

3> Mood Mosaic Vol. 8 (Funky In A Minor Mode)
not as many on this one, but it does have it's moments

4> Lightnin' Rod - Hustler's Convention
at certain points, a few tracks on this one has a blaxploitation feel to them. especially the ones that were backed by music. Kool & The Gang, King Curtis, Billy Preston, Bernard Purdie and more.

5> 24 Carat Black - Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth (1973)

**Disco Funk** · May 25th, 2006, 06:55 AM

Friday Foster was put onto CD by Universal or some other big corporation. While they put out the music without the dialogue, it's mono and very thin sounding. So I think they pulled it off of a mixdown tape they used for the film's audio.

I think you're thinking of Lalo Schifrin's 'Theme From Enter The Dragon'? I don't recall anyone doing a cover of Black Belt Jones.

Another great Mood Mosaic volume is #2, the one with Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry on the cover. There are blaxploitation-related tracks on that volume, like Baretta's Theme by Sammy Davis Jr, or covers by groups like New York Port Authority ('Gotcha' AKA Theme From Starsky & Hutch), etc...

Disco Funk

**visuals** · May 25th, 2006, 07:53 PM

Disco Funk...The Mood Mosaic that you are refering to "vol.2 (Barnie's Grooves)" was one that I completely forgot about...Thanks for reminding me*. That one has more blaxploitation-influenced tracks than any of the others that I own and I have almost all of them. Partners In Crime & Crippled Dick Hot Wax are very good at compiling these types of rare numbers on their sets. There was also a noteworthy tune from BDP's "Westbound Funk" compilation disc "Funky World by Silky Vincent" that sounds like it could have been jacked from a blax-flick. Monk Higgin's "Little Mama" was also another that I haven't seen mentioned in this thread.