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Compiled by the expert on such matters, WFMU’s master 7-incher Matt ‘Mr. Fine Wine’ Weingarden who gives us the low down on the sleeve notes. The combination of no James Brown productions and the choice of the rarest of soul, funk and R&B from King, Federal and Deluxe labels give this CD an unusual non-genre theme. Hotch-potch it isn’t as from the first ‘till the last, it’s solid. You try and stop dancin’.

The title comes from Lord Thunder’s ‘Thunder’ that is so Fine Wine as you know he loves an instrumental. And here’s another, ‘Chopper 70’ is a high-speed rev ‘em up and go funk yourself twin-carb.

Don’t be put off that you don’t recognise any of the artists. Like, ever heard of Peggy & Artie? Are they doctors? ‘How Do You Feel?’ I tell you, I feel like soul jerkin’ it Baby along with Jeb Stuart. How does Charles Spurling feel? Rumoured to have punched out JB himself, his ‘Let Me Be (A Steppin’ Soul)’ should never have been stepped over; and ‘That Woman’ is so good!

The likes of Fine Wine and Keb Darge may have the one and only single by the Swinging Seven (though you won’t find it on any Internet sales lists), ‘Football’ may be a strange title that kept this instrumental track off the radar. Likewise, The Presidents’ big horn funk ‘Peter Rabbit’.

Marie Quenie Lyons has two great tracks on this compilation, one of which you’ll actually know! ‘Fever’ keeps your temperature boiling on this high tempo version of the Peggy Lee classic.

Frank Howard’s ‘Do What You Wanna Do’ was apparently sampled by those 5 Borough Beastie b-boys but I think Robert Moore’s ‘Jo Ann’

There’s no need for JB withdrawal symptoms with any of these tracks as there’ Mickey Murray’s “uptempo funky Federal” ‘I Can Tell You’ and that touchdown winner, ‘Football’

You’ve got to be strong in a thunderstorm but you just know Vampi Soul will never let you down. Outta sight as always.

Hectic Mix nominations: All the instrumentals, ‘Your Key Don’t Fit It Anymore’, ‘That Woman’, ‘Let Me Be’, ‘Fever’, ‘Jo Ann’, ‘Fat Gal’, ‘You’ve Got To Be Strong’

Reviewed: V/A — Crash Of Thunder — Rare Funk & Soul From The King Labels (Vampi Soul) Cat No: VAMPICD 083 Release date: 23 April, 2007
Tracklisting
1. Chopper 70 (Wayne Cochran)
2. Football (Swinging Seven)
3. Thunder (Lord Thunder)
4. Soul Jerk It Baby (Jeb Stuart)
5. Fever (Marie Queenie Lyons)
6. Your Key Won’t Fit Anymore (Marie Queenie Lyons)
7. Old Grandma (Robert Moore)
8. Jo Ann (Robert Moore)
9. Which Way (The Presidents)
10. Peter Rabbit (The Presidents)
11. Let Me Be (A Steppin’ Soul) (Charles Spurling)
12. That’s My Zone (He’s Pickin’ On) (Charles Spurling)
13. I Can’t Tell You (Mickey Murray)
14. Fat Gal (Mickey Murray)
15. The Book Of Love (Clarence Murray)
16. How Do You Feel (Peggy & Artie)
17. Do What You Wanna Do Part 1 (Frank Howard & The Continentals)
18. That Woman (Charles Spurling)
19. I Got It Made (In The Shade) (James Duncan)
20. You’ve Got To Be Strong (James Duncan)

Links:
www.vampisoul.com
Mr. Fine Wine on WFMU with the playlists and archives of the ever brilliant Downtown Soulville show.
Grooovy Sounds Unlimited & Mr Fine Wine Present Vital Organs
Fever (1956) en wikipedia
www.beastiemania.com
Keb Darge www.myspace.com/kebdarge
Lost & Found @ Madame Jojo’s with Keb Darge and Andy Smith 1950s to 1970s “original rhythm and blues, rockabilly, Northern Soul, ska and raggae”, Every Saturday 8-10 Brewer St. W1 10pm to 3am £8 tel. 0207 734 3040 — 23rd June DJ Derek.