Sunday, November 1, 2009

Can You Dig It? Black Action Films 1968-1975
Released last month is this definitive story of Blaxploitation movie music on a double CD, double-double vinyl and download, with what promises to be an awesome 100 page book. Ok so a lot of these tunes are and have been available elsewhere, like on the ‘Pulp Fusion’ series, but I think this maybe the first time ALL the classic tracks have been available in the same place at the same time, and with the addition of the booklet makes this a must have for any fan of this Badass Mutha Funkin’ Music!

“The Black Action Films of the early 1970s gave the Hollywood industry its first African-American cinema – actors, directors, cameramen, editors and writers. These films discussed aspects of the African-American experience in the form of entertainment. Storylines interwove post-civil rights revolution with action stories, many involving pimps, prostitutes, drug dealers or private detectives.

The films also featured the finest funk and soul black music of the time as stars such as James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Willie Hutch and Roy Ayers produced some of their finest work, with film budgets allowing for the addition of huge orchestral arrangements by jazz legends such as Quincy Jones, Johnny Pate and JJ Johnson.

'Can You Dig It?' charts the rise of 'Black Action Films' from 1970-75. As well as featuring a double-CD collection of the stunning music from these films, 'Can You Dig It?' comes with a 100-page booklet, mini-film poster cards and stickers. Also comes in limited edition two volumes of super-loud double-vinyl editions”


CD1
1. Roy Ayers – Coffy Is The Color / (Coffy)
2. Gene Page – Blacula (The Stalkwalk) / (Blacula)
3. Johnny Pate – Shaft in Africa (Addis) / (Shaft in Africa)
4. Willie Hutch – Brother's Gonna Work It Out / (The Mack)
5. Don Costa – Main Title – Charley / (The Soul of Nigger Charley)
6. Marvin Gaye – "T" Plays it Cool / (Trouble Man)
7. Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street / (Across 110th Street)
8. J.J. Johnson – Willie Chase / (Willie Dynamite)
9. James Brown – Down And Out In New York City / (Black Caeser)
10. Quincy Jones – They Call Me MISTER Tibbs / (They Call Me MISTER Tibbs)
11. Martha Reeves and J.J. Johnson – Keep On Movin' On / (Willie Dynamite)
12. Dennis Coffey – Theme From Black Belt Jones / (Black Belt Jones)
13. Curtis Mayfield – Freddie's Dead / (Superfly)
14. The Blackbyrds – Wilford's Gone / (Cornbread, Earl and Me)
15. Willie Hutch – Theme Of Foxy Brown / (Foxy Brown)
16. Isaac Hayes – Run Fay Run / (Three Tough Guys)

CD2

1. Isaac Hayes – Shaft / (Shaft)
2. Curtis Mayfield – Pusherman / (Superfly)
3. Joe Simon – Theme from Cleopatra Jones / (Cleopatra Jones)
4. Johnny Pate – You Can't Even Walk In The Park (Opening Theme) / (Shaft In Africa)
5. Brer Soul & Earth, Wind and Fire – Sweetback's Theme / (Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song)
6. James Brown – Make It Good To Yourself / (Black Caeser)
7. Isaac Hayes – Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile / (Truck Turner)
8. Grant Green – Travelling To Get To Doc / (The Final Comedown)
9. Booker T and MG's – Time Is Tight / (Uptight!)
10. Roy Ayers – Aragon / (Coffy)
11. Edwin Starr – Easin' In / (Hell Up In Harlem)
12. Gordon Staples and The String Thing – Strung Out / (Mean Johnny Barrows)
13. Nat Dove and the Devils – Zombie March / (Petey Wheatstraw)
14. The Impressions – Make A Resolution / (Three The Hard Way)
15. Solomon Burke and Gene Page – The Bus / (Cool Breeze)
16. Jack Ashford – Las Vegas Strut / (Blackjack)
17. Don Julian – Lay It On Your Head / (Savage)
18. Galt MacDermot – Ed and Digger / (Cotton Comes To Harlem

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