Boutique labels like Numero Group and Light In The Attic have made careers out of rescuing artists from long forgotten vaults. Dozens of compilations of unknowns have been released, highlighting small indie labels and their limited output, and as hip as it may be to impress with a deep cut or two at your next DJ gig, so much of this music was forgotten for a reason. It just isn't first rate. Soul, funk and garage rock tracks of bands from a suburb of Detroit that had a quick day in the local sun make a great story but a not so great listen.
And with that, I present Ike Noble & The Uptights from Forrest City, Arkansas.
"Look A Little Higher" is a new collection from the Athens of The North label in Edinburgh and it collects a handful of the band's singles released on the Alley label in the late 60's.
When Ike Noble & The Uptights aren't doing their best James Brown impression, they are doing their best Otis Redding impression. I think this collection works because it is consistent. Unlike so many of the various artists compilations I referred to above, "Look A Little Higher" feels like an album.
Nothing here is groundbreaking, but almost all of it is solid.
This set has been released on vinyl and on CD, the latter with a dozen alternate takes that will no doubt wear out the welcome. You can find it here and over here.
5 comments:
On first listen I was hoping that this release came from 2022 but alas, that's not the case. Why is it that funk music no longer incorporates it's 60's input? This is great
Wait...I forgot to mention the late great Charles Bradley
James Brown/Otis Redding indeed!
Love this! Forrest City just happens to be down the road a few miles from Memphis.
Randy
Yes, sounds like a Dap-Tone record. That’s a good thing.
Wonder if any relation to Cliff Noble?!? Many thanks for turning me on to this, Sal!
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