Eccentric Soul: Smart'S Palace / Various Eccentric Soul: Smart'S Palace / Various CD

Funky soul from Witchita, Kansas - an unlikely locale, but home to some really great music - courtesy of the Smart brothers, and their ultra-hip club! This wonderful entry in the Eccentric Soul series from Numero really brings that lost scene to life - telling the tale of the brothers, their club, and some of the wickedly funky artists that graced their stage - a host of obscure groups, singers, and instrumentalists who really made Kansas cook, back in the day! The groove here is plenty darn hard - as raw as some of the best funky 45s you might find from points north, warmed up with occasional southern soul elements - and always produced with rough-and-ready vibe that gets to the heart of the grit right away. The set comes with a beautiful 28 page booklet - filled with vintage photos, in support of the Smart story, told by Dante Carfagna and Rob Sevier - but even without this added feature, the CD itself would be wonderful - essential listening for fans of all things funky!

1. I'm Not Ashamed (Baby Neal ; the Smart Brothers) 2. I Was Made to Love Her (Theron ; Darrell) 3. Tell Her (Fred Williams ; the Jewels Band) 4. Barefoot Philly (Smart Brothers) 5. A Day in the Life (Chocolate Snow) 6. Lorraine (Baby Neal ; the Smart Brothers) 7. Everybody Needs Somebody (L.T. ; the Soulful Dynamics) 8. It's Your Love (Theron ; Darrell) 9. If You Really Love Me (Hard Road Featuring C.C. Neal) 10. Inflation (Chocolate Snow) 11. Don't Hate Let's Communicate (Kenneth Carr with John Smart's Band) 12. Herbie's Bag (John Smart's Band) 13. The Dance Got Old (Fred Williams ; the Jewels Band) 14. I've Got a Funny Feeling (Smart Brothers with Baby Neal) 15. Crazy About You Baby (L.T. ; the Soulful Dynamics) 16. Mercy Baby (Tim Jacob) 17. Dedicated to You (Hard Road Featuring C.C. Neal) 18. Let Me Be Your Christmas Toy (Chocolate Snow) 19. It's Like Heaven (Chocolate Snow)