Rocafort Records get massive props for services to funk and soul once again with this vinyl 7″ containing two absolute dancefloor heaters from little-known 70s outfit Body & Soul a.k.a. Body And Soul. Both of the cuts on this release appear on what looks like the band’s only LP from 1971 and neither appeared on their only single from the same year which means, yes, Rocafort have dropped another massive funky ‘first time on 45’ release! The B-side consists of the faster tempo track – in this case a proto-disco cover of The 5th Dimension’s chilled summer soul classic Stoned Soul Picnic. One suspects this will be many people’s preferred cut and yet the monkey’s with the label on making low-slung psych-soul groover In The Beginning the A-side. A Sly Stone-ish affair, it kicks off with a grand extended rock-guitar vamp before the super funky rhythmic groove kicks and piano and horns join the party in a rather New Orleans-ish manner. Hence, no doubt, the refrain, “I don’t want to make it too funky in the beginning/ Because I want everybody to understand.” Oh – they’ll understand when they hear this!
(Out 20 June on Rocafort Records)
