Kicking Back (MP3) Joe Houston

£6.32

Genre:
Funk
Label:
BGP
Format:
MP3
Catalogue Id:
DVBGPM 292

This product is also available in these versions:
Kicking Back, CD (£8.11)
Big Town Records T Shirt, TS (£18.00)

In-demand funky R&B from the sax master, reissued for the first time.

1970s Los Angeles was a boom town if you worked in the music industry. The business had moved West to the sunshine in the late 60s and buoyant album sales meant there was plenty of money around. This trickled down to those who were already based there, of whom a significant number were veterans of the Central Avenue R&B scene of the 1940s and 50s. Pioneering indies such as the Bihari brothers’ Modern label continued to exist beyond its heyday, but by the end of the 60s its main business was budget LPs of earlier recordings. However, in the mid-70s owner Jules Bihari decided to launch the Big Town imprint for new material, and signed up a slew of artists, mainly those who had recorded for him in earlier years, including Joe Houston.

Born in Austin, Texas, Joe Houston was a master of the “blowing” record, where his distinctively raucous saxophone would blow over the top of a compelling rhythmic groove. Early hits such as ‘All Night Long’ were Southern Californian R&B classics which kept him in work from the day they were released. He settled on the West Coast in 1951 after a record he cut in Texas was picked up for national distribution by Modern. Although he never signed exclusively with the Biharis, he recorded for them throughout the mid-50s on several of their labels.

“Kicking Back”, Houston’s one Big Town release, has been largely overlooked by blues fans. Although he looks super-cool on the cover, who can blame them? Titles such as ‘Hawaiian Disco’ seem to mark the album as a cheap cash-in. In fact, the formula isn’t so far from his earlier records. The only difference is this time the grooves are no longer rocking R&B but instead resemble a blaxploitation soundtrack. Houston is on top form throughout and the music sounds brilliant. It is only in recent years since funk fans have started to dig a little deeper that albums such as this have started to be appreciated. Our first-time reissue is remastered from the original tapes.

Dean Rudland

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Side 1

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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★★★★

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