Review: Julius Brockington - Sophisticated Funk (BBE Music)

If you didn't know that this album was a much sort after funk-jazz album form the 70s that was originally released on Today/Perception Records, you might think from the cover that it's a Chazza Shop Classic,

Even the cover versions have the hallmark (no pun etc.) of a cheapo in the racks at Woolies.

But let us stop there as Julius Brockington - even his name sounds like a old boy cricket team; isn't there a Lord Brockington XI? - but this guy is soul-jazz hot like Brian Auger. 

Supported by Willie Bear (really!) and his incredible bass, Anthony Blunt (what the spy?) on drums, Don Mitchell (guitar), Bobby Morton Jr. (Percussion) and produced by disco legend Patrick Adams, so you can see why your West Coast hip-community love this album for samples so much.

If you need bass, 'Cold Water' is as low as you can go and whilst I'm not so keen on their version of 'Let's Stay Together', 'Rock Steady' and 'If You Really Love Me' more than make up for that; along with the only Brockington original composition, 'Cold Water' and the 9 minutes of Isaac Hayes' 'Do Your Thing' (Wow! it's a monster track).

If you were being very harsh, Julius does sound like he's been to Blackpool Tower to see Reg Dixon (ask you grandparents) but you just gotta love the "in your face" vibe of it at a time when the likes of ELP/The Nice  were up there own organ prog rock/classical parahernalia.

And it's not just me that rates this album: Madlib, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and many more are fans so it's time to get this now as BBE have re-issued it so beautifully.  

As they say, don't judge a record by the cover.

Artist: Julius Brockington

Title: Sophisticated Funk

Release date: 17th February, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE658 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp