Funk Soul Sisters (BGP)

Is Funk Soul Sisters "classic and rare female funk," as the blurb on the back promises? It's rare, beyond a doubt. None of these 20 tracks were anything resembling hits, and only a few names here and there will ring bells with those outside of inner soul collecting circles, those including Fontella Bass, Loleatta Holloway, and Millie Jackson. Is it classic? No, although it's respectable woman-sung soul-funk from the late '60s and early '70s, mostly from small labels. The vocals are stirring and the arrangements tight, yet as often happens on anthologies of these sorts, truly compelling riffs and top-of-the-shelf songs aren't in abundance. It's obvious, too, that some of these performances were extremely influenced by bigger names such as Aretha Franklin, without matching the inspiration. It's agreeable stuff in spite of all that, though perhaps below the standard of most other volumes in BGP's oft-excellent series of rare soul-funk from the '60s and '70s. Some of the better cuts include Valorie Keys' "Listen Here," which has a sassy jazzy playfulness; Paula Lamont's "One Monkey Can't Stop the Show"; and Spanky Wilson's jagged cover of "Sunshine of Your Love." As usual a few (three, to be precise) previously unissued cuts dot the compilation. ~ Richie Unterberger